Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-28
MORNING LEADER.

ed up the bill to change the territorial limits Of
the City of Cleveland, by asking for the read
ing Of the petition of Mr.. Mason and o.aers,
and the remembrance of the City OF Cleveland
against the same. Mr.. TayIer, of Maho,.ing,
author of the dismemberment bill, advocated
the passage Of the measure. Mr.. Slade replied
to Mr.. Tsyler, and ably and conclusively expos.
ed the injustice and impolicy of the proposed
dismemberment The array Of facts and argu-
ment which Mr.. S. presented settled the ques-
ton for the session by an immediate vote on the
passage of the bill, which stood yeas IL, nays
49, r Isn.a
We heartily commend the following abstract
of the remarks of Mr. SIade to the attention
of our readers. He said in substance, that +.
The principle involved in the bill was of
great importance to all the cities in the State,
for not a city could be found that had not large
tracts of unimproVed land within its limits
Pass this bill and you will have repeated appli-
cations of the same kind for relief The Sem
ate ought therefore to hesitate before inaugura
ting such policy. uf.4L--a-E -,b /
The Senator from Mahoning (Mr. Tayler) has
stated certain things connected with the histo-
~ of this matter, which, be has doubtless de- :
rived from others. Some of them may be cor
/ rect, but some of them, Mr. s. was confident
wers incorrect. %
He would further say that last winter psti-
tons were presented 10 the House asking for a
dismemberment at Sterling avenue, which were
referred to a committee of seven. The com
mittee went to Cleveland, examined the terrific
| ry, and the petitioners and thecity by its May
or were heard at length, and that committee af
ter full argument and examination reported ask
ing tc be discharged from further consideration
of the s,bject, which was agreed to. iij
Now the same question is presented, the line
being Case Avenue Mr.. Slade then proceeded
to show that the Legislature had no power to
pass such an act. 1t is conceded it has no pow
er under the Constitution to create corporate
city. Can it then destroy one! Admit the
power involved in this bill, and it can go on
cutting off slice after slice, until It's corporate
/ powers are extinct nt saw
Again, no law can be passed inparing the OBJ
legation of contracts Cleveland as il now ex-
lists has created debt of over six hundred thou
sand dollars, and the lenders of that money have
a right to look to Cleveland as it now exists for
payment. E
True the bill proposes that the part cat of
shall not be released from the payment Of the
debt. alu
But how can it be collected The city can
not collect tax to East Cleveland, nor can
East Cleveland levy and collect such a
tax. The result therefore would be, an ex-
emption of the part eCt from taxation for the
debt. -a7i
The Legislature at its last session had under
consideration case from Springfield, in which
relief was sought upon compromise ike that
in this case, which provided that ''no farming
lands should be taxed for city purposes, except
for school and road purposes, unless the same
shall be laid outin town lots or outlots not ex-
ceediDg five acres" The land has been taxed
under the Constitution as in Cleveland. The
Committee reported Il at the Legislature had
no power to give relief, and that report was
agreed to. =. I&t3
A word as to the history of this case. The
Senator from Mahoning has charged that the
territory was annexed in 1850 by ffaud-that
Mr. VIM. Case who was here opposing it, being
| candidate for Mayor, suddenly ceased all OPP
position--tbat the opponents of the measure
supposed all idea of passing it had been given
over, but that in the latter days Of the session,
there being then no railroads or telegraphs to
+ Cleveland, the bill was brought up and by some
!, means not very well understood, passed
The Senator doubtless believed what he said;
but in some of his charges he was certainly
mistaken, as he could easily ascertain by fuli
enquiry.
\ Of the petitioners for this bill-being thirty
seven-se7en of them, perhaps more, did not
live on the territory but were landholdsrs
there, come large and some small. Some had
! purchased since annexation, and some since
the Court had decided that the land must bs
!, taxed for all purposes. These did not occupy
!, the same position as those who owned proper
ty there when annexation took place In 1850,
and had far less cause of complaint.
D Remonstrances have been presented from
$ seventy persons residing on the territory
s against the passage Of the bill The Senator
intimates that these do not reside on the terri
tory Now, sir, this remonstrance is drawn
by the Mayor of Cleveland and sent to me by
him. and purports on its face to be signed by
| men living on the territory, and 1 90 not be-
Iieve the Mayor of Cleveland would attempt 70
Y perpetrate fraud on this Senate The Senator
asked me if knew the demonstrators. Most of
them are Germans, and l am not acquainted
e | personally with them. Most of them, pre-.
n sume, are mechanics who have bought and i'm
= proved little lots and are now sending their
= children to the city schools. u l-
The City Schools of Cleveland are, believe,
% the best in the State, and it is not to be won
e dered at that these men, thus enjoying their
r. advantages, should demonstrate against being
;. turned out into East Cleveland fine school
: built not very far from portion Of the territory
:, sought to be cut off If the petitioner viii
III paw them for their houses and lots and thus en-.
le able them to buy again within the line Of Case
N Avenue, perhaps they will not object to the
o, passage of this bill. Ait--
q The petitioners complain of heavy taxation
"A This grows out of the prices asked for the lanc
!. when the appraisement was made. 1t was held
at high rates and consequently went upon the
duplicate at high rates. Soon after prices wen
Il, down and the demand ceased, hence the bur
er den is more seriously felt A new aPpraise
IN ment the present year, will remedy this com
ID plant to great extent
:. Petitioners complain they have no benefit O
gas The extension of gas is work Of time
~ Gas posts are extended now, think to Ca5t
DC Avenue, and as these petitioners and their fam
lilies go to and fro they have the benefit of them
s, will add that in some Of the thickly settler
er parts of the city public gas posts have as ye
been established.
Then, as to Water Works: the Commission
:! srs are laying pipe as fast as their means an'
~ the demand win justify; and, as with gas
OF many streets in the thiekly settled parts of th
lie city have as yet no water. -
ty But is claimed the petitioners have no beHe
in fit of the Fire Department, Why do they no
y organize Fire Companies as in other parts ofth'
= city The Department is voluntary one an'
st the city does all in its power to aid in the for
I'D nation of companies. True, the Fire Depart
as ment is stronger in the lower part Of the city
as il ought to be- for there lies the greatest dan
. ger from FIRE. Some of these petitioners d.
be business there and own property there, an'
: while they hear the fire bell ringing thfOugi
J the night they give themselves no uneasness
'e for they know the gallaat Firemen viii do al