The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-10-29
important Amendment to the
Constitution.
Protection from Legal
lied Robbery
To BE Voted at November
Election.
Letter from Hon. D. Hall
From Milwaukee Journal CT Commerc

rum MIlWduhCC OOUTuaI u
WATERTo TN. Oct. nth. 1874.
The Legislature of 1878 by joint resolu-
tions OF Senate and Assembly, approved Of
the following, as an amendment to our State
Constitution, which chapter 81 of the laws
of 1874, submits to vote of the electors at
the ensuing November election, to-wit
"No county. city, town, village, school
district, or other municipal corporation,
shall be allowed to become indebted i'll any
manner or for any purpose. to any amoants
including existing Indebtedness in the aggre-
gate, exceeding five per centum on the value
of the taxable property therein to be ascer-
tanned by the last assessment for state and
county taxes previous to the mourning OF such
indebtedness Any county, city, town,
village, school DISCREET, or other municipal
corporation, mourning any Indebtedness as
aforesaid shall, at or before doing SO provide
for the collection of direct annual tax sCf6-
cient TO pay and discharge the interest on
such debt. as il falls due, and discharge the
principal thereof, within twenty years from
the time of contracting the same"
This proposed amendment is copied from
the present Constitution Of the State Of
Illinois, into which it was incorporated upon
the recommendation OF Judge Davis of the
0upIOIuc NOuIG VI bu0 OultCu SbdGC6a W
whom it was drafted.
It's adoption by our state would seem to
be demanded by every consideration affecting
the public welfare and the protection Of the
rights of private property. The enormous
railroad debts oftowns. counties, cities and
villages are held valid by the courts under
the taxing power of the state, which, with
out the proposed constitutional check is un-
limited, where the purpose is public, as the
courts hold bonds, given in aid of railroad
construction to be.
No man in Wisconsin has any security for
the protection of his estate or earnings under
this unlimited debt creating and taxing
power, except in the conservative forces
existing in the community around him.
Often have these been found insufficient.
Entire communities, misled as to the profits
of railroad investments, or as TO the safety
of loans of credit to secure their construction.
have been reused from their delusion to find
that the irresponsible majority had contract
ed debts which could be paid only by gen
eral and sweeping co2fscation of private
property, and those who manage public
affairs, to find that they have not even the
choice of evils, to escape the disgrace of re-
pudiation by vain attempt to enforce the
legaized robbery of The tax payers.
The common form of municipal bonds and
coupons, the courts hold to be commercial
paper. and, if they import upon their face
a compliance with the tel ms of the lew under
which they purport to be issued, and the
signatures are not forgeres, that the people
have no defence to prevent judgments upon
them in favor OF those who have taken them
in the usual course of business, even though
the sole purpose for which their issue was
authorized has been defeated.
In other words. all that is essential to the
validity Of such bond is the legality of the
form and the genuineness of the signatures,
although every recital in it is false, and
every other provision of the law has been
violated in its issue. The gigantic frauds
which have been, and may be, thus perpe:ra-
ted, by aid of the law merchant, most strong
ly impressed me with the necessity of this
amendment, when presented it for the ap
provai CT the Legislature. And as the people
now have an opportunity to fortify their
vested rights, trust they will not let it pass
unimproved.
What is proposed is simply to place rea-
sonabe limitations upon this power Of taking
and pledging private property for any public
purpose whatever, so that debts hereafter
contracted under it will be paid, and really
aid in the construction of public improve
ments, instead of going to build the fortunes
of sharpers and swindlers and expressing
men who should be protected and not plum
Gered.
To this end il is to he hoped that all who
have any regard for the honor and welfare
of the State, every one who has anything al
stake, or who cares for the security OF the
rewards of honest industry, will vote to make
this amendment y part of our organic law,
that it may there stand against the most
common and dangerous firm of municipal
robbery, a protection SIRE and forever change
less Yours oc; r
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