Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-01-20
The Bond Question Again.

LASCAsTE, TEXAS, January 10th, loZ.
Editor Herald.
On the 22nd, 23d and Oath of the pres
nnt month the people of this county will
be called on to determine at the ballot box
as TO whether the county will issue bonds
to the amount of seventy FIVE thousand dol
lars drawing ten per cent per annum and
thereby negotiate a loan of such amount OF
money as the said bonds will bring in the
market, being responsible for the bond
value Of said bonds and interest thereon,
TO help finish the Court House and build
bridges in the county. Section ffth Of the
act under which said election order was
made, contains these words "Aud II two
thirds of the qualified voters Of the county
shall have voted in favor Of the propo.
sii on al such election, then 1t shall be
the duty of the county TO make such or
dcrs," &c. The act of May 3lst 1871, Sec
ton hh says, "That persons duly regis
tered and holding certificates of special
reCistra lion, issued under the provisions
Of this Act shall DO deemed qualified vo-
ters," Sc.
1t is not my intention to discuss the
merits or dement's Of the proposition IN
this communication; suffice it to say the
the county Court had no discretion as to
whe Their the proposition should be submit
tie to the people as has been done by that
body. The first section of the act of April
18th, 1871 made such the duty of the Conrt
whenever petition signed by fifty free
holders Of the county was presented TO
them asking such au order. The petition
Was presented and thus the court had no
election in the matter.
was net present at the term of the
court when the order for tho present cleo.
ton was made, but had been l should
not demurred TO it, no matter what my
individual opinion might have been in rp-
gard to,,'he oxpediency of the proposition.
The members of the county court are but
servants of the people and it is their duty
to carry out the wishes of the people when
expressed, and when not expressed to as
aertain, il possible the desires Of the peo-
pie on such grave questions, as effect them
pecmuiarily, and especially as there is no
such thing AS COM htutionai Sque0mishneH
can come to tn ,ir aid in thsse matters. |
am further more clearly o; the opinion
that two-thirds Of all these holders Of
special registration, as shown by the
books of registration. must vote in favor
OI lHt pTopoSlilOH DriOTS tHt COuit
act on il in any way; and not that the
question 10 TO b e considered determined
because ,wo-thirds Of these who actually
vote shall have voted in favor of it.
The present system Of registration IL so
inconve lent and repulsirs to the people
that it is extremely difficult TO get any,
thing like q fair expression in a speOiSl
election Of this character, aud the court
will do well not TO assume anything that
is left Ambiguous. Neither does il follow
as matter ofcourse that il the prc.eOt
proposition is not oarriel, that direct tax
alton will 10 rescrted 10 10 order to eithsr
finish the court house or build bridges
such as are contemplated. The court
hcuse is the properly of the people OF
Dallas county and not of any special 10
cality; the bridges contemplated are for
the uss and benefit Of the entire county,
and il a majority OF the people are opposed
10 being taxed further at present either
TO finish the court house or to build the
said bridges, the county court has neither
a legal nor an equitable right 10 enforce
any such thing.
Respectfully R. S. Cur.