Smyrna times., 1869-02-03

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p'e 10 act as policeman. These are in the main
''c features OF the bill proposed by the citi-
AeES TWO years ago but which was defeated
then. 1t is hardly a new charter but ratbcr
al amendment to our present one, as many of
Tic sections are unaltered. The necessity for
Such Oil has been seen and felt by large
majority OF our citizens. Drunkenness unon
our streets has been allowed to pass unnoticed:
ro"dyiSm and vuFgarity have received little or
no check by the authorities Of the town. and
burgiaries have been committed without the
least effort to detect the perpetrators and bring
them to justice. Nor, indeed, is such a
state OF things surprising, and cannot well be
remedled under our present charter. 1t is dis
tasteful to any set of men to have to execute
their own ordinances; hence, while we NAV
have most excellent statutes upon orr hooks
we lack IN this essential particular-an execu-
tive olhcer who shall be responsible for the
good order OF the town. This want the new
Charter proposes to supply The opponents
OF the measure change their tactics this winter.
Two years ago they said the movement should
come directly from the reople-that it should
have been agitated earlier in the session of the
Legislature so that they could have had time
TO scrutlnze it more closely, ETC. In the pro-
posed Charter is a clause authorizing the Coun-
ell, should they deem it advisable, to borrow
not exceeding $25, 600 for the use of the town.
This Is " the feather that breaks the cameps
back" now they say it may increase their
taxes. Have not the Commissioners under the
present Charter the power to assess taxes ad
tdttum Have they not always deferred to
the wishes of a majority of the citizens so far
as the necessities of the case would allow?-
Shall not discreet freehOlders be elected in the
future, whom the people can trust, under eth.
er the old or the new Charter? A compari
son has been made between the assessed value
OF the property of prominent citizens on both the
petition and the remOnstrance. So far as we
have been able to ascertain fty-nine (59) free
holders, representing three hundred thousand
dollars, (S3OO,0O are pettioning for this bill
and seYenty-four (14) up to this writing, resi-
dents OF the town and doing business here ioin
them in the petition. These one hundred and
thirty three (l33) petitioners also represent in
capltatlon thirteen thousand three hundred
dollars (Sl3,300) making in all three hundred
and thirteen thousand and three hundred dol
lars ($3l3,3O0) represented by the petitioners
On the other hand, SO far as we can with GER
talnty aud candor state, the opponents consist
OF about twenty (2O) trecholders representing
one hundred thousand dollars ($IO0. .OOO) to-
gether with thirty (30) residents doing busi-
ness in the town. These, with their propertv
and capltatlOn, represent about one hundred
and five thousand dollars ($lO5, ,OOO.) 1t will
thus be seen that the demonstrators are wo-
fully In the minority, whether taken on the
property basis or numerically, and to be con-
slstent with the democratic principle should
yield with as good grace as possible. But what
will our Legislature do? VIII they ignore the
great principle that majorities should ule?-I
VIII they yield TO the influence of few against
the many? Will they not rather show by their
action that they think and act upon the fucts
above set forth?
1t is simply a contest between progression
and iogyism. The gentlemen interested in
this matter will not allow it to die. If tits not
passed this winter it will be presented at sue
cecding sessions Of the Legislature unit! they
do succeed