Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-05-26
BAKER BRIDGE BONDS.
Abilene's Position as Stated by the
Council Committee.

btii tAPioh"hO'J M w WV D'~s Nb
bonds:
Your committee to whom was re.
ferred the matter Of the alleged claim
OF Grant township against the city OF
Abilene for a portion Of the principal
and interest on the so-called Baker
bridge bonds, begs leave TO submit the
the following report.
About 1882 Grant township OF which
the territory now embraced within the
corporate limits Of the city Of Abilene
was then a part, voted and issued it's
bonds for 5000 bearing 10 per cent
interest to build what is known as the
Baker bridge. For the purpose OF pay
ing the interest and principal OF this
obligation a tax was levied In the
usual way upon Grant township in.
Guiding the territory now embraced In
this city.
In February 1885 Abilene became q
city Of the second class and separated
from Grant township for taxation pur-
poses. About August, 1885, a levy OF
! mills upon the taxable property Of
Abilene for interest on these bonds was
made by the city council. The amount
of this levy was collected and turned
over by the county treasurer direct to
the township treasurer. No part OF
the result of this levy ever reached
the city treasurer. The amount col
lected on the levy was $S36.2O.
About August, 1886, a further levy
was made In the same way, being one
mill for sinking fund to pay principal,
which was also upon collection turned
over to the township treasurer.
Amount collected for interest S66l LOG,
for sinking fund 1851 .0G.
No further levies have been made for
these purposes and there Is not now
and never has been any money In the
hands Of the city treasurer which could
be used for the payment Of these bonds
or the interest thereon.
Before Abilene became city Of the
second class and while IL was part Of
Grant township, the sinking fund
which had been collected from both
territories WAS invested In county poor
house bonds to the amount OF $4,000
aud bearing interest at per cent, The
amount of these poor house bonds and
interest are a credit upon the amount
due upon the bridge bonds.
The bridge bonds were never n
liability Of the city Of Abilene in its
corporate capacity, nor can H. even
become such an obligation. The law
distinctly provides the means of raising
money for such obligations and the city
has nothing to do with IL,
Section So Of article 2, chapter 10 OF
the statutes provides that in all cases
where bonds have heretofore been OF
may hereafter be voted and issued by
any township aud after said vote any
portion Of the territory of such town
ship has been or may be detached
therelrom, IL shall be the duty Of the
trustee of said original township which
authorized and issued such bonds t.
levy tax upon all the property which
constituted and was comprised withI
the limits Of said township at the DAFT
said bonds were voted, to pay til,
interest and principal Of such funds
and in making such levy aud 1t
ascertaining the per centum OF tax I,
be levied for such purpose, he shall b,
governed by the last assessment rol
made and returned to the clerk Of thi
county, embracing and covering TIN
territory which was included in tn
limits Of his township on the date tina
such bonds were voted, and he shal
levy the same per centum upon tn
property which has been detached iron
his township since the voting of sucl
bonds rs upon the territory which still
remains within the limits Of his town
ship.
Your committee therefore report
that Grant township has no claiL
against the city of Abilene and IL
action can be maintained against III
city for any sort OF contribution upo
these bonds or the interest thereon.
IL conclusion and for the genera
information of the council, your con
mittee will offer the suggestions whic
have occurred to it during the invest
cation of this claim. The territor
embraced in the present city OF Alb
lene was liable to taxation by tn
township authorities for these purpose
in accordance with the law as citeC
The township authorities have neglect
ed their duties aud at present have los
a portion Mt least, and we apprehend, a
Of their rights, Should the townshi
trustees hereafter certify levy to III
council for either principal or intsrel
upon these bonds the matter should b
seriously considered before the levy
made. The interest is all matter {
past due Indebtedness and the princip,
of the bonds will be due July LIST, an
that will then become past due befoI
a levy can be made. A levy for pal
due obligations of this sort is not pc
mitted by law, On the contrary IL
law wisely provides that levies for tn
: nnrnose ahall IVA made during n seri,