The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-02
THE RAILROAD QUESTION ALREADY
DISPOSED OF

1t seems to US that the persons who are
trying to get q debt of $4,000 saddled
upon this town might as well save their
wind, on that question, and go to work for
individual subscriptions, for the question
has already been decided, as far as this town
is concerned. We have procured, from Sen
ator Webster, a copy of the railroad char
ter, and publish, for the information of the
people, the section which authorizes towns
to vote on the question as follows
10. Any township under township organi-
zation, on or near the line f the said railway,
may also subscribe to the capital stock of said
company, in any sum not exceeding fifty thou
sand dollars; but no such subscription shall be
made until the question has been submitted to the
legal voters of the town in which the subscription
is proposed to be made and the clerk of each of
said towns is hereby required, upon the presenta-
tion of petition, signed by at least ten citizens,
who are legal voters and tax payers of the town
ship for which be is clerk, In which petition the
amount proposed to be subscribed shall be stated,
TO post up notices in at least three of the most
public places in said town, which notices shall be
posted not less than ten DAYS before the day of
holding such election, notifying the legal voters
OF said township to meet at the usual places of
voting in said township, for the purpose % vo-
ting for or against such subscription which elec-
ton shall be held and conducted in the manner
provided by law for the election oftown officers.
Now, the question is this: The clerk
having complied with the law, and the peo-
pie having decided the matter. has the mi
nority the right to another trial? Ought a
minority to be permitted to annoy and haf-
rass the people by continual trials ? Sup
pose the people had voted for subscription,
the minority might then petition the clerk to
call another election to try and vote against
subscription. And ifthe majority should then
be against subscription, the minority might
still petition for another trial And if re.
peated trials can be had, there is nothing to
hinder ten men from petitioning to-day, and
ten more tomorrow, and 80 on through ev
cry day in the year, thus having an election
every day. 1850.
"But they have had repeated trials n
some towns in Henry and PEORIA says one
of the advocates of voting people in debt
without their consent. Well what if they
have9 That don't decide anything. Be
cause their town clerks did not not know
any better than to call second elections
that does not settle the matter. Nor does i
do the railroad any good to hold second
elections, for stock thus voted is Illegal and
no taxes can be collected 10 pay it. MOI
would any competent court fail to enjoir
township officers from issuing bonds TINS
voted
There ought to be an end to the question
sometime and we claim that, the clerk hav
ing complied with the law,he is not required
to call any more elections ON the subject
and that he should be enjoined from doing
so, If nc undertakes it and that a subscrip.
ten would be Illegal, if voted under such
circumstances and that no court, ifappeal
ed to on the subject would either order the
clerk to call another election, or order the
township officers to issue the bonds if voted
after once defeated. IF an election ia regar
ded as conlusive, when the people vote for
subscription, 1t certainly should also be re-,
garded as conclusive when they vote agains,
subscription--and we believe the courts viii
SO decide. At any rate, if we were town
clerk, and the people had had an opportuni
ty to vote on the question once, snd had de