The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1897-02-05
cnARKsBURG W. va FEBRUARY s 1897.
80. XXxvI.--NO. ID.

the charter which are as object
ionable as the license features,
and are an open menace to the
prosperity of the community and
the rights of property holders.
and especially to property hold
ers Of moderate means and abili-
ty. The limit of taxation is ex-
tended to S1.oO on, the hundred
of valuation. and the most ex-
tensive powers are given TO the
council in relation to the making
of public Improvements, the
loaning Of the credit of the town
to supposed public enterprises.
the creation of debts for work
undertaken by the corporation at
the instance of those having an
ak to grind and who shall have
worked up a fictitious public ex-
preston in favor of such work.
and other powers that cities of
ten times the population Of our
town, would scarcely dare to
think of vesting in their govern
ing body. Indeed, when the
document is critically examined
and analysed, it is only a matter
of amazement thatany one should
have the temerity to ask the peo-
pie to saddle themselves with
such q government, and intrust a
body like our town council with
such extraordinary powers.
There are some who are carried
away with the notion that we are
a city of something more than
magnificent distances" and not
simply a country town with a
population of possibly not over
thirty-tiye hundred Inhabitants.
Others again, have the boom
mania, and imagine it possible
to build cities cut of country
hamlets by wind and paper:
These Also ans pid smic insani;
| aEy 81 mama, for running in debt
for public Improvements, Undue
ing extrayagant corporate sub,
scriptions to publicworks, an ex-
ample of which we have recently
had in the vote of the two dis
tricts of Clark and Coal subscrlb-
ing a large sum to the capital
stock of a railroad corporation
formed to enable some clever
gentlemen to get rid of certain
coal lands upon which they hold
options. Other instances of the
development of this epidemic
insanity will readily occur to
your readers. And it must not
be forgotten. that thefaint whisp-
erings about the town building
an electric light plant, an expen-
sive system of sewerage for the
accommodation of a few who are
pressing it, the building of q
bridge across Elk creek to reach
the magnificent and costly (?) new
Depot recently erected by the B.
& o. r. R. Co. are all embryo
projects which await the consum-
nation of this scheme of town
government provided for in this
contemplated charter. The OPP
presiveness of debt and the bur-
den of increased taxation are not
matters of any Importance worthy
the consideration of the advo-
Gates of this extensive change.
Possibly this is because those
who vote the debt, and the coun-
ellis or bodies which create it and
issue bonds, do so without much
hesitation. as the burden is ex-
pected to fail principally, on pos,
terity. This mapia for creating
public debts is becoming so gem
eral in cities, counties, and school
districts, and the creation of
large and burdensome debts en-
tered upon so thoughtlessly and
with so little regard to the abili-
ty of the taxpayers and the eff
feet of it upon the prosperity of
the community, that it would
seem as if the time had come to
call a halt. and to restrain the
taxing power and its abuse by
those entrusted with its exercise.
$3.50 ~ tho rich who ran