The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-05-14

April I'd, but 1t fails to show where
anything inconsistent with our state
ment occurs. 1t prints in promi-
nent letters these words: "In any
case Owosso's faith and credit de-
mand that its contracts be honestly
carried out" but it neglects to simi.
larly emphasize the equally impor-
tant words, Gas should also Mr.. Ash
ley's" Why does the Independent
want Owosso to carry out CONTRACTS"
and yet Mr.. Ashley not carry out
his agreements? Again they choose
to emphasize the words: "The city
voted to give them S2o,ooo," which
is undoubtedly true, but what were
the conditions, what were the con-
tracts, under which Owosso was to
give them $40, The only way to
determine definitely what were the
conditions in the contracts between
Mr.. Ashley and this city, is to
turn to the official proceedings of the
Council at that time, since here and
here only can be found the facts re-
garding this matter--tatks, which are
as unalterable as the laws of the
Medes and Persians, facts which no
one can galnsay and which no Com,
Dick or Harry can dispute. Now,
we defy the Independent to point to
the first syllable, wherein this city is
bound, directly or indirectly, morally
or legally, to pay Mr.. Ashley any
money and we defy them to show
that any other proposition was made
to or considered by the Council, ex
cept the question Of the "advlsability
of buying $4,000 of first mortgage
bonds" ." Moreover, at the time the
$4,000 of city bonds were donated
to Mr.. Ashley, many of our citizens
said amen, believing it was better to
donate Slo, 900 outright, rather than
buy twice that amount of railroad
bonds, since these bonds might be-
come as worthless as the Wabash and
some other roads, in which case this
city would have $4,000 to pay, in
stead $4,000.
Thus this city was in no wise obli-
gated to pay Mr.. Ashley any more
money and the sole and only ques-
ton, which was decided at the spring
election, was whether it was expedi
ent to pay Mr.. Ashley $4,000 TO
build competing line between
Owosso and Durand, connecting the
links of the T., A. A. & N. Nj. R'y at
these points, and the electors decided
it was not public bOAty. Many OF
our most influential and far seeing
citizens advocated donating Mr.. Ash.
ley this additional bonus, believing il
was business policy to thus secure
another competing line-and we are
not prepared to say they were wrong
but majority of our citizens did say
so and the majority must rule. I'm
der the legislative act authorizing
Owesso 10 issue bonds and borrow
money, it was required that the loar
be ratified by majority of the elec
tors. Now, if this had already beer
authorized, it would not have beer
necessary 10 again vote upor
it, but the question at the election
this spring was distinct and entirel,
different from the one formerly votec
upon, or else no new vote woulc
have been necessary 70 enable the
Council to legally issue these bonds
Now, Mr.. Independent, you have
charged that Owosso repudiated it
railroad debt and broadly intimatec
that we were "malicious liar" be
cause we called that statement untrue
and, after having made that sweeping
charge, PROVE it; and to do so, 80,
must show definitely, fully and con
cisely, from the official action of thi
city, these four things:
Ist-Just when and just whereas
this city obligated itself to give Mr.
Ashley any money, and
2nd-What were the conditions il
the Contracts" between Mr.. Ashle
and this city.
3d-That Mr.. Ashley has carrie,
out his part of the agreement an,
Owosso has not, and
4th-That Owosso will not pei
form its contracts, even should MI
Ashley have done as he had agreed
You must show those four propo
sitions, before you can secure til
first scintilla of evidence, tending t
: show that Owosso has repudiated il
railroad debt; we especially insist tina
you show the first two proposition
from the records of the city actin
in its official capacity as a corpora
tion through its duly elected officer:
5 and we would call your attention t
the fact that no action taken by privat
. citizens is legally or morally bindin
, upon the city, until such action
f. ratified by majority of the electors
| We have thus given what we be
, lieve to be a fair statement Of tn