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 quest ion of controversy between them
was and Is pending in the courts awaiting ad Judi
cation.
1t will he seen by this recital that three grave
questions met the railroad committee well al
so as tho general assembly at the very thres hhod
OF their Investigations.
First, Is the general as sembly bound to main.
tain in good faith, the acts of previous legisla-
turesy
Secondly. has the citizen or 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, was 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. 1t was in the hight of these questions
that the majority refused to strike out section
nine, which is so obnoxious to the Star editor.
1t was in the light of these questions, and mot
to give railways wider field, (Which it does not,
for expressing 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 those 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
emily opposed measures instituted by men who
were the acknowledged champions of the people,
that he favored voted for, and defended a tmeas-
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
proveable. He asserts what the people of Ma.
haska 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 McAllister where the substitute
is printed in full, and commend careful perusal
of the came. AS to the final charge That he be-
traye 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 Adventures in journalism who lend them
selves to do the dirty work of very small cliques
engaged in an 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
Representatives 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 are too undignifed for further
notice, have to say, however justly may be
liable to the charge of inelegance in phraseology,
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
an intelligent public judge. 1 cannot better
close this review OF his ebulitions than to give
the following paraphrase, whose only merit is its
graphic portraiture of the Star Co:
Flicker, flicker title Star,
How all wonder what you are,
Lost amid thee fog and mist,
First You founder, then You twist.
Again you founder, then you twist,
Lost amid the fog and mist.
L. +. ELLSWORTH,