Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-04-29
THE TOWNSHIP BOND BUSINESS.

in favor OF +. A. Crook, on some @l,oUu
OF coupons Of Lexington township.
The county judges had previously filed
q written answer which the U. S. court
held to be insufficient. They again,
through their attorney, Judge VIM.
Young. attempted to satisfy Judge
Krekel, but he would not be satisfied
with anything less than compliance with
his msndamus, and. last Saturday, Or
dered the county judges to be taken
into custody by the marshal. They
were kept in charge OF that officer until
Tuesday. though given the privilege OF
going about the city. and on that day
Judge Young withdrew his former an
swer and filed a plea against the writ Of
mandamus, to the effect that the writ
was not issued until Two days after the
regular annual levy had been made and
consequently could not then be complied
with. Judge Krekel sustained that plea.
and discharged the county judges, but
served upon them another writ requiring
them to make the levy at the next May
term, and make return September 4.
We are lead to understand that 1t has
been iutimated to our representatives,
who are now at the state capital, that a
far compromise would be accepted by
the bondhelders.
The situation is q grave one. and de-
serves more serious treatment than that
of the mountebank or the political dem
agogue. In the imposition Of these
township debts the taxpayers of the
county were g%rievously wronged. The
act under which tho bonds were issued
has been declared by the state supreme
court to be unconstitutional and void,
and that court has not changed its
opinion in this respect. The United
States supreme court in the Harshman
case held the same view, but afterward,
under pressure of the %boDdnolders. re-
versed itself. All this happened sever
al years ago. and the bondholders have
since been dlligent in their efforts to en-
force collection. but always unavailingly.
Quite recently they have been a little
more active, but we see no good reason
to suppose that they are any nearer their
object than they have been IN the past.
True, their zeal and combination OF
effort make q crisis in the affair, which
must be met, but, unless the people are
betrayed by traitors at home, they will
not succeed. The county Judges may
be ridlculed, but ne one who has self
respect will accuse them of neglecting
or being untrue to the peoples inter-
ests, and the bondholders themselves
are the best witnesses as to the intelli-
gence of their resistance. They never
promised to rot in Jail, OF to do any other
extravagant thing, but they did. promise
to be faithful to the people, and never
by any act of theirs to permit the collec.
ton Of this debt unless first instructed
to do SO by the people, neither will
they. whether they are rewarded for
their frmness or not. But, "as occurred
IN the beginning of this contest, it is
now necessary for the people to act, to
make plain their desires, and to stand
by the county court If they wish them
to continue the fight. With the people
at its back there is no reason to doubt
that the court can succeed. without them
it may have to resign, or be mulcted IN
heavy fines which will financially ruin
two OF the judges at least. The resig-
nation OF the Judges means the appoint
ment Of other Judges by the governor,
and the others may be all wrong as
these are all right. The county court
will meet Monday, and the prominent
citizens from the involved townships
should be in attendance to learn the sit-
uation.
Now, as to the proposed offer Of COM
promise. Judge Krekel, we are told, is
quite friendly to our county. because
OF it's liberal compromise OF its still
large and burdensome county debt. He
says that where a county or township
offers . reasonable compromise he will
do all in his power TO prevent their be
ing ver-burdened or oppressed, but
where they show no disposition to do SO
no will do all 10 his power to enforce the
law as it is construed by the United
States courts. We are assured that be
will be exceedingly lenient to our town.
; ship. should they extend what he deems
to be a fair compromise. Very we'll !
The Intelligencer labored hard to Sc
cure the last offer Of compromise made
by the people. 1t thought rather toe
little was offered, go cents). but the
q ceilings preliminary to a vote would
recommend no more. They had some
reason OF their side, too, as they offered
just what the bonds were then quoted
at on the market. They took a little
jump up aiterward, but the offer was 9
bona file one, and vas just 20 cents
moro on every dollar of the debt thar
was ever received by the people in any
sort of value. Still. we say. without
conceding anything that has been CON
! tended for, that If the compromise Cal
> be made it would be we'll 10 make it
Interminable lawsuits and strife ar
wearing and expensive, and many
man pays a claim that he considers IN
Just 10 avoid the worry and post OF lili
. cation.
. But we warn the b%ondholders, in n
captious spirit, that they had better no
indulge in abuse Of the people or thel
chosen agents in this matter. A YER
d little of that kind of slush will 60
long way to prevent any amicab!e gel
b Element OF the business. Another thing
b we do not believe the people OF til
townships will move in the matter III
t. less they have more clear assurance
{. than we have here been able to give the
=. as to sOme definite offer that will |
accepted If it is rendered. They are ll
Phil. Sheridan was at New Orleans, n,
of q bit afraid. They know that they ha,
Of the county court between them and tt
processes OF the United States cour
Should it be forced to make levi
- they still have the county clerk betwe,
them ami danger, and should all the
- fail they are not at all uneasy that thi
cannot take cara of thoir oup R,t III,