The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-14
THURSDAYS SESSION.

| THURSDAYS SESSION.
The County Board met at nine
o'clock Thursday morning and after
| the reading Of the minutes, Chairman
Gum called for the reports of stand
| ing COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Dresser made report from the
COMMITTEE to settle with the County
Superintendent of Schools. The SER
vices of the County uperintendent
for the past three months amounted
to S364 and $325.6S was spent for print
ing, stationery etc. Six lots of school
land, located near Ransom were sold
for a total of $l95.
Mr.. Donlevy--As there is no other
business before the Board, | believe
Mr.. Moloney ought to be called as he
was to address us t his morning.
Mr. Chairman-The gentleman is en-
gagged in suit in the Circuit Court
but will be with us at ten o'clock.
We might take recess until that
hour.
A recess was then taken until ten
o'clock. During the hour, Supervis-
ors formed themselves in small groups
and talked very cOntdentally. The
indications are something is going to
drop before the Board adjourns.
COUNTY ATTORNEY MOLoNEY.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen:-It
is difficult for one to say very much
about the swamp land matter. My
attention has been called to the act
passed in 1850, but very recently. The
several acts of Congress and this state
have been before the Supreme Court
Of the United States and this state
several times. The State Supreme
Court differs from the higher court in
several points. The lands in Arkan-
saS were given to that state for the
purpose of drainage. The second
point was in reference to the Secretary
of State who was to make out lists
and send them to the different states.
Our Supreme Court said the title
didn't pass from the U. S. to state un-
til the secretary of the interior had
made out the list and patent had
been issued. The moment the act
was passed, the title was vested in the
state as per the decision of the United
States Court. The State Court said
the states ought to abide by the opin-
ion of the higher court. The plots
and files for the state were filed in the
auditors Office in 1855. Our legisla-
tnre passed an act in 1852, granting
all the swamp lands to the respective
townships. In 1859, an amendatory
act was passed by the State Legisla-
ture. These amendments reversed the
idea, embodied in the act of Congress
in 1859. The different counties are al
lowed to appropriate the lands as they
pleased. A list was to be filed within
80 days after patent had been issued
where there had been a cash sale of
the swamp lands, the u. S. was to
refund to the different states, the
cash paid for the lands in that state.
If any lands in La Sale county, given
in 1850, remained unsold, and if any
lands were sold after that year, the
the county of La Sale is entitled to
receive the cash value of the SALE
The extent Of the lands in this county
should, be examined into as necessary
before any money can be recovered.
The letters sent me by Green b. Garner
l do not like to read as they may lead
the public to believe that and other
county officers have not been doing
our duty. am convinced he was try
to impose upon me. He tried to justi-
fly himself afterward for writing such
letters. | believe he is an adventurer
as no careful man would write such
letters. If everything was fair he
could come here and make his PROPOSE
ton. | thought there was a dog in
the fence somewhere and | believe it
yet.
have begun 10 tax cases in the
County Court and will file more de-
claratiOns soon. About $500 has been
paid in by 20 or 80 persons since these
suits were commenced.
Mr.. McLauchlan-What about the
suits against the railroad companies.
Mr.. Moloney Judge Blanchard
gave an opinion in the case of the
People V, The Gas Light and Coke
Company, for back taxes. He held /
had a right to bring the suit, under
your orders. This decision holds
good in all cases now pending. The
railroad suits were brought TO get a
fine of 81 900 to Sl0,0 for a failure tn
file schedule of property. The news
papers OF the county got a wrong idea
Of the case, however.
Mr.. Moloney then explained to the
Board his means Of prosecuting the
tax cases and said he expected to get
several judgments against these cor
poratiOns in few days.
do not think ii advisable to refer
the decision OF Judge blanchard to
the Supreme Court, replied the Coun-
ty Attorney In answer to question
asked bv "Dec."
On motion Of Mr.. McLauchlan, the