The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-03
ReplY to Tax PaYer.

We cheerfully publish the communicA-
ton of " Tax Payer" although his inti-
nations, in one or two places, that we
might refuse to do so, does US injustice, and
indicates that he has quite an exalted idea
of the formidable character of his argu-
ments He undoubtedly believes that he
has launched an " iron-clad Merrimac," inn
pregnable and destructive but, with the
faulty Of most of the New Charter advo-
cafes, he has permitted one or tive promi-
nent advantages which he coneeIves the
New Charter possesses over the Old, to 80
fill his head, as to entirely lose sight of all
the Inconvenience that might result from
change in the organic law of the city. Be
fore noticing his arguments, may be well
to correct some of his misstatements.
1t is true the advocates of the Old Char
ter objected to agitating the question at
this time, and signed aremonstrance against
restricting it at the coming April
election. Their remonstsance was disre-
garded, and the Council passed resolution
ordering vote to be taken. Then the
friends of the public schools went to work.
The New Charter men had already selected
a gentleman who had refused to sign the
Temonstrance as their candidate for Mayor,
and the lines of battle were being formed
with considerable rapidity ON both Sides
While the contest was progressing at "long
range" and some time before so much as
"bayonet charge" was thought of, the
military genius at the head of the New Char
ter forces, discovered that, as things stood,
they would be defeated, and change of
front was absolutely necessary If victory
perched upon their banners. A "change
of front was ordered and executed; and
nor, says "Tax Payer" there is no ques-
ton of Old or New Charter before the
people. We are aware of that but the Gd-
Uoedtes of the Old and New Charter are be-
fore the people, and to them we design
paying our attentions.
The proposition to print the New Charter
majority in the Council. They have no
majority there. On the contrary, the Old
Charter members of the Council recon-
mended that both Charters be printed and
submitted to the people for inspection This
was objected TO, and rather than have both
printed, the Neao Charter men concluded it
was best to publish neither, and according
ly the whole scheme was voteddown aTheg
feared the Iight, for their deeds s0ers eOiS"
We are aware Of the 18th section of the law
quoted by "Tax Payer" Il is in view Of
that section that we have always urged the
people to be careful who they selected for
their Couneilmen. We trust that the threat
of " Tax Payer that if majority Of
New Charter men should be elected it may
be taken as a verdict against u.s." (meaning
the friends of the Old Charter and schools.)
will be estimated at its true value. We
tell the friends of the schools the threat ia
not an idle one. If Mr. johnson is elected
Mayor and a majority of New Charter men
are placed on the Council Board, the Char
tsFwT @itnodt submitting the question to a
vote Of the people. Ii is consoling to find
at least one Of the friends of Mr.. johnson
honest enough to say what he thinks and
what they design doing.
Tax Payer bases his advocacy of the
New Charter on two prominent reasons.
LIST, That under the New Charter the iuris-
diction of the city may be extended over
adjoining lots and contiguous territory,
thereby compelling the owners Of said
property TO share in the burthens of the
city. End, That, while under the present
Charter the city can derive no revenue from
4" our hundreds of coffee houses. hear sa-
looms, restaurants, and other forms Of e,o0
shops, under the New, this crying eOil will !
be remedied and thousands of etollar,
aoiH annually be poured into the eitv treas,,r,, ,
AS to the first of these propositions il i
sufficient to reply that it is questionable
whether, under the New Charter, EaIaroe-
ments adjoining the city can be ANNEXED
regardless of the lshes OF the residents of
those Engagements. 1t is still more ques- |
tionable whether they could be compelled |
TO pay taxes to liquidate city debts which |
they had no voice in contracting. t'Tax