The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-02-12
County Fire-ProOf Building.

Ny attention has been called since my return
from the East to, what lie to me, most unex-
pected opposition to the appropriation made by
the Board of Supervisors, at their late session,
for the above purpose by several OF our local
county papers prominent among which are
the Hartford Day Spring, and | am told also
| have not seen them-by the Republican, Of
Decatur, and the South Haven Sentinel. 1 am
surprised at this, because it is in my opinion
a measure so eminently just and proper, and
urgently necessary for the security Of the pub
lie records and the amount appropriated so
very small, that opposition from such quarters
was not at all anticipated. 1t is apparent the
ground of this opposition is entirely OF local
character, and relates entirely to the place
where the proposed building is to be erected,
and that no one does, or will, pretend that such
building Is unnecessary. And it is supposed
and claimed by those who oppose the measure,
that the erection OF such building at Paw
Paw will have tendency to fix the county
seat there. and have an influence to prevent Its
removal. Now as to that, theamount required
to be expended Is :" so very small" and the
cost OF the proposed building, even il the whole
was to be borne by the county, so Insignificant,
that it can, underiany circumstances have but
very slight influence in that direction. The
amount appropriated was $1,000 only. 1t Id
expected that the building will cost not much,
If any, below 5000, which will necessitate the
raising Of 81, 900 from sources other than the
County Treasury. Now the equallzed assessed
valuation of the county for 1874 was 99,0O0,O 900.
On thus equalization 81, 900 would be one-ninth
OF mill on the dollar, and even If the whole
were to be paid by the county, and special
tax raised fol that purpose, it would amount to
only one-third of mill. The whole amount
would be less than one-eghth OF the state tax
paid By the people Of this county for 1874, and
precisely one-ninth Of the county tax for that
year. Let citizens take their tax receipts for
1874, and calculate what would be their pro-
portion. The amount is 80 small then that it
would have no perceptibe bearing IN that
direction. The truth is, when the people wish
to remove the county seat, and can fix upon
the place to which to remove it, by MAJ ority
OF the votes of the county, they will do 1t
without reference to a matter OF 80 small i'm
portance as the cost OF building like the one
proposed. But while the county seat remains
where it is, l deem it duty which can not be
avoided, or lodged, or shifted, by the Board OF
Supervisors to provide for the safety OF the
county property wherever it may be; and in
that respect, so far as am concerned, and so
far as my duty as one Of the Board Of super
visors is concerned, or my action as such is
concerned it wodld make no difference where
the county seat is situated; and il it we're in the
west northwestern extreme of the county, or
on the southeast quarter Of section SO in the
township OF Porter. it would not change my
duty or action in that particular. And in this
connection would further say that can not
go 70 the extent that many do, in their ideas Of
obeying the instructions OF their constituents.
In all matters OF a purely local character and
where the interests OF those l immediately
represent alone are affected, | should deem il
my duty to obey the known wishes or in
structions of my constituents. But where as
public officer, and sworn to the faithful dis
charge OF the duties OF such Office certain
duties are imposed by law | can not (much
as l respect the opinions OF my fellow men,
and hope shall never be Indifferent to those
opinions) even ct the behest OF npe-tenths or
any other number Of the people who may have
elected me- neglect or prove recreant to that
duty. This last remark is made in reference to
those gentlemen who while admitting the
pressing necessity of some such provision as
contemplated, for the safety Of the records,
vet opposed 1t on the ground that the people of
their respective townships we're opposed to it,
Now the law (see Compiled Laws page 225,
sec. 4i6) expressly provides that each county
shall provide such buildings and keep the same
in repair And another section of the statute
provides that the Board Of Supervisors shall
represent their respective counties, and have
the care and management thereof. This duty
Is thus made imperative, aud the responsibility
OF it can in no wav be shifted or avoided-not