The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-29

nicipal purposes and as the railroad companies
had refused to pay these taxes for the three years
| last past and as the city authorities had sought
to enforce the collection OF these taxes, the
whole question of controversy between them
and fs pending in the courts awaiting ad judi.
| cation.
| II will be seen by this recital that three grave
| questions met the railroad committee as we'll al
| tho general assembly at the very thres hhold
| OF their investigations.
First, Is the general as sembly bound to main
tain in good faith, the acts of previous legisla-
| lures?
Secondly. has the citizen corpora tion who
has conformed in good faith to the provisions Of
law right to claim protection by the faithful ex-
ecution of law?
Thirdly. AS the questions of controversy be.
tween the cities and the railroad companies; and
the questions as between the legislative authori-
ty OF the State against the assumptions of those
cities are so intimately interviewer one with the
other; and as the first question could only be ad-
justed in the light of the second, it not poll
cy, nay verify was it not duty, imperative to SO
direct legislation as to reach the most speedy
but also the most equitable adjudication of the
questions. It was in the hight of these questions
that the majority refused to strike out section
nine, which s SO obnoxious to the Star editor
1t was In the light of these questions, and ''not
to give railways wider field, (Which it does uot)
for depressing the people, as the Star basely in
sinuates that voted to retain the sec ton, and
fatter myself that the people of Mahaska will JUS
tfy that vote. 1t will be seen that vital interests
are here involved as to the stations, towns and
rural districts through which hose roads run
Should the courts sustain the doctrines asserted
by these cities, nothing but a change of their
charters will relieve them from the tribute claim
ed by those cities.
"After having shown that Mr.. Ellsworth persist
were the acknowledged champions of the people,
that he favored, voted for, and defended meas
ure which Mr.. Duncombe, the acknowledged
railway king of the House had the audacity to
present, that he betrayed the trust and confidence
reposed in him by the people who elected him. |
we now leave it with him and the people to say
whether our allegations are true or false"
As to the first part of the above extract he as |
sumes to have shown what is not proved nor
proyeable. He asserts what the people of Ma |
has ka know to be false, and shows himself to be |
a wicked maligner or a stupid dolt. AS to the |
second part if he refers to the substitute offered
by Duncombe embracing the theory of the Kea- |
bles amendment, have only to refer the reader |
to my answer to McAlister where the substitute
is printed in full, and commend careful perusal
of the same. AS to the final charge THAT he be-
tray ed the trust etc., have only to say that |
very cheerfully refer that to the people of Mahas
ka county in whose intelligence and sense of just
ice have more confidence than 1 have in the
mere adventurers in journalism who lend them
selves to do the dirty work of very small cliques
engaged in IN ignoble purpose.
With regard to the protest SO prominently ar
rayed by the star, it is a sufficient answer for me
to say that the majority of the signers were the
of counties in which cities are
located, and most of them reside in cities.
The Star insinuates in its editorial of last week
that my answers to McAllister's article and the
Stars illusions too undignided for further
notice. have to say, however justly may be
liable to the charge of inelegance in phraseology
or want of dignity in tone, have truth on my
side. As to the truthfulness, the dignity. the
high moral tone of the attack made on me, let
m intelligent public Judge. 1 cannot better
close this review OF his ebulitions than to give
the following paraphrase, whose only merit is it's
graphic pOrtraiture of the Star Co:
Flicker flicker, little Star.
How all wonder what you are,
Lost amid the5 fog and mist,
First You founder, then you twist
Again you founder, then you twist
Lost amid the fog and mist
L. f. ELLSWORTH.