The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-10-06
Our Harbor Again.

lhe action OF the majority OK the board
of Trustees Of our village, in refusing to
submit to vote Of the electors the ques.
lion of issuing harbor bonds, or tie ques>
tion Of an amendment to the present law
requiring vote upon the question Of a
direct tax to raise money for the harbor
completion, makes il obligatory upon US
20 say word 10 our readers upon this
important autjsct.
These vie Trustees assume to know
more than our Senator and members Of
Assembly in relation to the opinions and
wishes Of the people OF the village aud
county upon the subject Of the harbor.
They seem TO have forgotten, while strut
ting about in their brief authority conferred
upon them by the people, that they are
but the servants OF the people. They
oppose the hartor law, which could not
become effective without the approval Of a
majority Of the people declared at the
b,IIo, box, but they will not trus. the law
to the people. They assume that the
people ale opposed to il, but IN favor Of
the payment OF a direct harbor tax in
preference to the issuing Of EarDor bonds !;
tut when asked to submit the question in
that form. so AS 10 ascertain the wishes Of
the people, they refuse wthou, Offering
any excuse or apology, and none can be
found except n their Jack-assvencss.
The act authorizing the citizens OF the
village to vote to issue harbor bonds, made
j, the duty of the Clerk Of this wonderful
Board of Trustees to publish or post
notice. tha, an election would be held on
The question Of issuing bonds at the last
spring election. lie dicideQ that the
people were opposed 10 the law, and gave
no notice IN violation of his sworn duty.
The Trustee. at their session last Tuesdav
night voted down resolutions which covoi-
ell the entire ground of theiI previously
deiared assumptions regarding tie wishes
Of the people on the subject, and for fear
that the question might again be brought
before them with a view to the vote which
is to be takcr. in the couaty at the Noyem-
Der election on like law, adjourned for
four weeks, thus dcpriying the people Of
the village Of voting upon the one law,
thereby making it useless frr The people
of the county 10 vote upon the other law.
The law which authorizes the issuing Of
county bonds provides that such bonds,
If voted, nre not TO be delivered to the
harbor commissioners unless the village
shall have frs, issued and delivered its
bonds, in the discretion Of the county
Supervisors. We regard such provisions as
prohibition, and no one can for q moment
suppose tha: tho county would either vote
lis bonds or direct Tax, unless the village
had previously voted the same. The
question Of issuing county harbor bonds is
before the people, but ne the action of the
village authorities have taken the vitality
out Of that law, and rendered it Intellectual
FOR its intended purposes, the people if
they vote upon it a. all will vote unan-
rnou.ly against it. They may say as this
village has killed the law, it may bury it,
and not vote at all. We think they will
do this, as there is no reason Why poll
should be opened for votes on the ques
ton. The Sheriff gave notice Of an
election in the county on the harbor ques-
ton as by the law he was directed to do
Why did he not do as the village clerk
did, decide that the people were opposed
TO the law, and refuse to give the notice
required by law lIe is a Democrat and
obeys the law, whether it suits him or not
No. so with these loyal fellows, these
Republican officials Once 10 office thew
become lawIess, not exactly from Chilli
tary necessity" but because i; may suit
thar csprila ar