Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-04-22

IL tiidI any HuAIiucu eleClOr at any
genera! election is qualified, and as
the non-taxpayers generally exceed
the taxpayers, the taxpayers having
everything to lose and the non-tax-
payers having nothing to lose, the
taxpayers are at the mercy of the nou-
taxpayers, or, in other words, in the
power of an irresponsible crew and of
their hirelings.
Does the Act ever protect the tax
payer with a trustee, himself prop.
erty-owner or taxpayer? No.
by section Z "any person may be a
trustee who shall have attained the
age of Fl years, and shall be male
citizen of the United States, and who
shall have been an inhabitant of the
town or village at the time of his
election, and resided therein one year
next preceding" etc, etc. The fore
going are the only qualifications re-
quired of a trustee. True, taxpayers
are not always honest, though they
may be interested in a Just admins.
tration of the law. Is it new thing
to see taxpayer betray his co-taxpay-
ers, when by SO doing he augments his
worldly goods? But that is no an
swer, because check in particular
instance may prove futile, that there
should be no check at all.
BY section 6 of said Act, it is FRO.
vided among other things, that said
Board Of Town Trustees may punish
any one OF it's members for disorderly
behavior in their presence, and even
with the concurrence of four of the
Trustees to expel member. This is
a dangerous weapon in the hands of
the Trustees. Who is to Judge of
such disorderly behavior? Why, the
Trustees. The question is by law
specially delegated to them; they are
the only tribunal to determine the
fact, from which lies no appeal. 1t is
giving the Board of Trustees power Of
contempt much beyond that enjoyed
by courts Of justice, and whenever
one Of their members should become
obnoxious to the other members, a
finding Of disorderly behavior will for
ever expel such member from said
Board, without any power in said
member for redress, even though he
may be innocent of the charge, there
being no appeal or review but in the
Board OF Trustees. Now, if such a
power can be used in a deserving
case, it can equally be used wrong
fully, since the remaining members
are amenable or answerable but to
themselves. This being tac fact, sup
pose one Trustee to be honest and to
protect his constituents. while the re-
maininS Trustees are L.,noac:,. anu
the tools Of jobbery? They will first
seek to win over the honest Trustee,
first ~ tlattery, or bribc, etc, next by
coercion; and if they do not succeed,
then they expel him, and that is the
end OF tho other court or tribunal
having any power to review over their
action. Whether just or un Just, the
question is final with the Trustees.
The people are denied the choosing
OF their own servants.
But here is the climax: BY section
10 an oligarchy is established with
powers unknown to every republican
govcrnmcnt-wlth an appointing and
removing power unlimited, and great
err than even the President of the
United States possesses, for ne is re-
strained by the Senate, while the
Board of Trustees is its own boss, in
any and all things at pleasure relative
to appointing or removing, or com
pensating. | doubt whether such a
power exists in any town government
even of the autocratic empire of all
the Russias. Yet such a government
is proposed for the administration of IA
republican town. Verify, it mus. be
said that those who passed this Act
knew either too much law, or had very
little sense; for such an act is I'M
worthy Of any democratic or repuAli-
can Legislature, and is black spot
on the Legislative intelligence Of the
Territory of Idaho. | would suggest
before we seek to incorporate, to first
seek to have Il Legislative guardian
for the appalling fact s,ares
Us in The face that we are not able to
le@is!ate for our protection. A Beard
OF Trustees absolute and despolic, to
be the choice OF any people-to APP
ply to a free people TIE leather stra p
or iron rod at pleasure, is it Il myth or
Il reality: Look and read section 10
Of said Act and judge for Yourselves,
and If you wish to apply the same as u
protector Of your destiny, why, then
may Gon have mercy on you.
by section i said Board of Trus-
ices is empowered 20 borrow money
is often as it please, and TO any cx.
.ent it pieascs, with the concurrence |
If the people to be taxed. That is a
imitation. Bat said Board in the |
ans sectou is also authorized to bor-
ow money when and as many times !
IS it peaSeS, and pledge the credit OF
he town th>"etor, providing that the
mount does not AZ any one time ex-