The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-09-18


been raised ST. 100 by the assessor since the meet
ing OF the town board and without notice to
him. He asks an abatement. Referred.
Fades presented the petition OF several cltizens
for rebate of tax paid on piece OF church prop
srty in Sreator and also that the lot be stricken
from the assessment books. Referred.
Fades presented a petition from streator ask
ing the appointment Of George f. Belford as jus.
tice Of the peace to ill a vacancy. Prayer
granted.
Burgess presented a petition from the high.
way commissioners of Farm Ridge and Nermil-
lion in which it is recited that bridge erected
over the Vermillion river cost So, 81, OF which
the county has paid $4,000 They ask slS9.67
more. Referred.
Bellnghausen reported the sale OF effects OF
Jacob Shellingbacker, pauper, for So o,-paid
to the county agent. Report adopted.
COURT HOUSE.
Armstrong, chairman OF select committee on
new court house, made n partial report, submit
ting written opinions by Judges Leland and Ell
drcdge and County Attorney Mayo on the lcga!
aspect of a change in the location of the new
court house.
The opinions agree that the court house site
cannot well be changed.
Judge Leland sums up as follows, giving his
conclusions:
|. That as the law now stands the court house
should be erected on the west half of Block IL.
p That the law requiring this TO be done may
be repealed.
3. That if the law be repealed and another site
be lawfully selected the present site with its
buildings can be lawfully sold, and the proceeds
10. l,,iIJ i,,,y thn mo sill
Judge Eldredge traces the history of Block II
as the public square, indicated by the law of 1881,
showing it to be reasonably certain that 1t is the
site mentioned in the law; and concludes
4 am unable to find that the act of Jan. ID,
1881, has been repealed by any subsequent legis-
lation. On the contrary, by sec. 3, of an act in
relation to sites for county buildings, approved
March =, 1873, laws, 1875, PIP. 66-7) this act OF
1851 is recognized as an existing law, in force,
and it is therein specially provided that the act
of 1873 shall not operate to repeal II or author
ze change of site or location of the public
buildings fixed or located by or under the last
named act"
8 In view of the foregoing facts and the leg.
slaton upon the subject from time to time, ana
the recognition of the law of 1881 by the General
Assembly in the enactment of the act of 1873, |
am of the opinion that the Board of supervisors
cannot now change the location of the county
buildings without legislative authority so to do,
provided, as matter of fact, the identity OF the
| public square" is sufficiently established as
hercinbcforc stated
Mr. MayUs opinion, published several years
ago, is to the same effect.
Supervisor Parr submitted the following reso
luton:
Resoi,ed, That it is the sense of this Board that
we should provide at once to build new court
house on the present site.
Lewis offered this as a substitute
Nored That the partial report be adopted and
that the committee be requested to report further
as to the practicablity of building at the present
time under the original resolution.
Ferguson offered the following as an amend
ment TO the substitute
Resol,ed, That the committee report as to the
practicasity of building a new court house, and
If they report in favor of building they shall re.
port as to the most available location; and what
action this Board should take to obtain such 10
cation
Which amendment was acceptcd-Adams, Arm
strong, Barton, Beach, Burgess, Centre, Cover
| ton, Drackly, Dresser, Fades, Ferguson, Flaher-
ty, Fox, Hodgson, Hoffman, Hoge, klove, Low
man, the McIntires, Metzger, Miller, Nelson,
O'Donncll, Palmer, Parr, Singer, Stornfont,
White and Mr. Chairman, voting aye; and Bel,
| inghausen, Fisher, Hclmig, Lauf, Pool, Reed,
Reynolds Stevenson and Wylie, no.
Miller, from the committee, asked to be relieved
from further acting with the committee. He
was not relieved.
Adjourned to 0 A. NJ. Friday.