The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-10-15
Township Organisation.

The law gives so men the power to have
an annual election called for voting on the
question of whether township organization
shall be continued or abandoned, and
every time the Board Of Supervisors hap
pens to tread on somebody toes we see a
petition and a call tovote on that question
This year, in equalizing the assessments
for the various townships in the county,
few people were not fairly treated in equal
izing townlots, We do not think it was by
any design or that it was through any
fault of the system of township organiza-
ton, but that it was either through neg
lect, or ignorance, or want OF compre-
hension of the duties of the committee on
equalization. That this should be urged |
as reason for abandoning township organiza-
ton, or for requiring the people to 60
through the Formally of voting on the
question, does not seem to be good rea-
son,
The people of this county adopted the |
system after some years of discussion, and
adopted it by avery large majority. Several
Unsuccessful efforts have since been made
to do away with the system, and now We
are, on the 4th of next month, to have
another trial, and another chance for dis
satisfied people TO make fuss.
| There are some reasons why three men
| -. .,o.,,,,,,.. a. 10 anuntYr huSinaCS bot
ter than eighteen men. There are some
reasons why one assessor for the whole
county can make more equitable assess
ment than sixteen township assessors.
There are some reasons why the sheriff
can collect all the taxes better than six
teen township collectors-but they mostly
lie on the fact that it would make his of
fee very fat one, instead of scat
tering the same amount of commissions
among sixteen men.
Ga the other hand there are a good
many reasons why it will be better for the
people to continue as they are, under town
ship organization Among them are
these: With Board of Supervisors it
is almost impossible for any ring to run
county matters-with three men it is an
easy matter. Among eighteen men there
is likely TO be more watchfulness, more
careful regard for the rights of the people
they represent Rings are among the
most dangerous foes of economy and hon
est government. | Under township organi-
cation rings are more difficult to form and
manage, and therefore the interests of the
people are safer The assessing and col
Letting of taxes by townships prevents, to
some extent, the formation of a centraliz-
ed county government, and keeps the man
4 agement of such matters nearer the hands
Of the people So too, of the matter OF
= roads and bridges The system of town
q ship organization is also great educator
Y 1t teaches men how to transact public bus
= mess. Where the matter Of assessment Of
; property, collection Of taxes, laying out
t and repair of roads, building bridges, etc
= etc, is in the hands OF three men, the mas,
n Of the people in such counties remain il
4; comparative ignorance on these subjects
G But where these matters are attended Il
in the townships and by the people direct
ly interested, they are then compelled u
study these subjects and fit them
z selves to discharge their duties properly, o
/, lose the respect Of their fellow townsmen
Its true that occasionally men get electe'
VI TO township offices aud to the Board o
e Supervisors who are unfit for the position
but that is not the fault OF the system
Is it is the fault of the people who elect them
n We must expect occasional cases of tina
<. sort-but even then, with an honest desir
1t TO do right, such people are generally anx
q Ious to receive the advice OF those who ar
/ better informed, aud so no great harm ca
ID be done The system of township organ
&c ization compels considerable number c
men in each township to study and i
l. themselves for their duties. and it especla
u Iy commends itself TO the boys and youn
nj men Of the township who feel disposed
n qualify themselve, for the various office
It in the gift of their townsmen. 1t encou
ne ages, also, the formation of good habits an
r. morals, in the young, that they may d.
serve well of their neghbors and be pr,
Is terred by them for places Of trust an
er honor
1t, On the whole We think the people vi
is do well to vote to preserve and continu
st. the system, in this county, instead of doir
ed away with it, producing confusion in cou
to ty matters, going back to the old precin
10 system, and reestablishing a central eoun
dcspotism in the county buildings.