Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1885-04-22
the INCORPORATION LAW.
Some OF Its Obnoxious Features lndi-
Gated by Man Competent TO Judge
Of Their Bearing.

TO TIE EDITOR OF THE TINES
After considering the very importan,
Act passed by the last Territorial Leg
islature, entitled San Act to Incorpor-
ate Towns and Villages" and the mo-
inentous effect the same will have
detrimental to the well-being Of any
community thoughtless enough to put
the same into operation, it occurred to
me that if my views and understand
ing of the same were right, might
make myself subservient to the public
good by calling to notice the salient
points which believe worthy of the
severest criticism and condemnation.
would be wanting in justice to you
should | not herewith declare that
have been encouraged to this step by
the timely and judicious remarks rela-
tive to said Act and its possible effect
en- the public good, in your valuable
paper of the 18th instant.
Thinking, then, that though you
may not altogether coincide with my
views, YOU will yet consider my effort
Of sufficient moment to allow it space
in your valuable paper on the ground
that it may have the effect of calling
public attention thereto, that they will
digest the same, and after having ana
lived the contents of said Act, they
will be in IL position to determine
whether or not they will have said Act
put into operation over them.
| am so much the more anxious to
call your and the public attention to
said Act and its contents, because,
you and |, and presume the public,
are at this time hardly aware Of its
existence, far less of its contents, for
the only opportunity granted Us for
anal ysis :. is the incomplete trintln.
thereof in the lnter-I labs; and yet /
was aoprlsoa that a petition has al
ready been circulated with 4 view Of
getting subscribers sufficient to enable
the aspirants anxious to have said Act
to operate over the community of
HALEY to present the same to the
rresen: session Of the Board of County
Commissioners Such hast. and hurry
accuses a gully intent, especially
when the public, who ale invited to
rivet their own letters, have, to the
knowledge of said aspirants, not yet
had an opportunity of knowing of
what ,hey are called upon to do, or to
act understandingly in the premises.
Like you, il the public after knowing
what they are called upon to do,
should determine to have the town in
corporatcd, why, have no objection;
but do object that they should be
guided into II trap for few persons
private end and purpcse-and to this
end is the present criticism.
iSy section OF said Act it appears
that Wherever Il ma jjority of the taxa
BILE male inhabitants OF any town or
village within the Territory of Idaho
shall present petition to the Board
OF County Commissioners of the coun-
tty in which said town or village is
situated, etc, etc, praying that they
may be Incorporated and police cstab-
lished for their local government, and
the County Commissioners shall be
satisfied that "A majority of the taxable
male inhabitants Of such town or VII
lage have signed such petition, and
that the PRAYER of the petitioners is
reasonable, the Board of County Com
missioners may declare such town or
'il!ase Incorporated, etc, etc. The
foregoing is the opening Of the Act,
and offers an apparent security to the
people BIZ restraining the signatures
or demands TO the taxable inhabitants
Of the town or village; but it is
snare, for leaving alone the fact that
signatures are usually too easily OBJ
famed, because of the confidence that
a sicncr generally puts in the appli
cant, together with the desire to please
and of want of knowledge of the
object and effect of his so signing IA
petition, there remains the fact that
The Act embodes within it the e,e-
ments of tyranny and oppression,
which altogether Eu..iies the apparent
protection given to the taxpayer in .
anil by section thereof. /
For instance, the required sigma
lures. being misunderstanding that /
the Board of Comfy Commissioners
declare TIE town to be incorporated, !,
what then? BY .ection = of said Ac.
it is provided that the corporate pow.
RS and duties OF every town or village
81 incorporated shall be vested in d
Board of Trustees, to consist of five
members; that such Board is first to
he appointed by the Board Df County
Commissioners. and tie following
Boards each year thereafter are to be
'eleetrd by the qualified electors re.
l'lrg in >uch town or village. Query.
Who are tn" qlaiii;ad electors: Only
he taxpayers, or any inhabitants of
lie town proa'iScuon.ly? Since tho l.