The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-09-14
RalIrnad Rnnda.

The communication which we
print this morning, on the subject of
the Straight Line Bonds, will be read
with interest. notwithstanding the ac-
ton Of the Council on that matter on
Monday evening.
Every prominent tax payer will, we
think. bear US out in the assertion
that when the vote was taken on issu-
ing $4,000 in bonds to the Evans
vile & Indianapolis Railroad Com
pany. the voters we're given most dis
tinctly to understand that the bonds
were not to be Issued until the
road was finished. The speeches
that we're made. and the articles that
were written, were all designed to
make this impression upon the minds
Of the people. Vote the bonds" it
was urged. "They will not be issued
unless the road is finished, and if We
get the road we can we'll afford to pay
the bonds" Had it been generally
understood that the project was to
issue The bonds before lick of cork
l1as struck on the road, the proposition
would have been voted down By
greater majority than that recorded
in its favor. So far as the city is
concerned, there could be no lodging
in fulfilling her obligations. When
the railroad is finished she could
by no possibility refuse to issue the
bonds. The courts would compel her
to issue them. But how stands the
case with the parties representing
the railroad? They are under obi
cation to do nothing. They are not re-
quired to begin work at any specific
time. So far as we can understand the
thing, there is. in reality, no contract
whatever between the city and rail
read. IL was. therefore. 3 very sensible
proposition offered By Mr.. Heilnan
demanding that contract DO entered
into between the city aud Railroad
gathorities before the city issue her
beads. This proposition. however,
the Democratic members Of the City
Council voted down. By their votes
they declared that the city was not
entitled to any protection whatever.
The only reason urged-if that
could be called q reason-for issuing
the bonds ana placing them be.
yond the control of the city was
that suggested 81 General Shaekel-
ford. He said If the bonds we're is
sued the company would have some-
thing to hypothecate, which would
not be the case with a mere contract.
We cannot understand how the bonds.
30 long as they remain il the hands Of
q committee, who would not sur
render them until the company had
fulfilled the conditions stipulated,
will be any more available than con-
tract. If the committee should sur
reader them before the road ii com
pleted. such surrender would be a
swindle on the tax payers. We con.
Tess that this haste to have the bonds
issued aud placed beyond the control
Of the city, looks to us very much Ike
good sized cat under the meal If
Fellowes & Co. intend to build the road
in good faith why don't they letthe city
alone until they have complied with the
conditions on which the city prom
ised to issue it's bonds. As the case
now stands, 50 soon as The bonds are
printed and properly signed. they win
% placed in the hands OF Q commit
tee, and from that time they will pass
beyond the control of. the CITY. This
may be business like and proper. but
we confess that we cannot regard e
"a that light Our present inpreg-
sion is, that $500, 600 more viii ba
swallowed uo By the old Straight Line