The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-01-28

rants. The plea is timeworn and very
familiar, that to remove the county Of
fees would ruin the property of all
Corunna residents, and that out of pity
alone this small sop should not be taken
from them On that ground have SUI
pervisors in times past denied the right
of the voters to decide according to
their preferences. We cannot but feel
regret that anyone should suffer loss by
such q move, and extend our honest
sympathy to the individuals affected.
But is it business to give any such con-
siderations weight? Should not the
greatest good to the greatest number be
the aim, and the personal interests OF
few made subseIvent to the welfare OF
the manyg Since when have courts ard
county offices existed only for the main
tenance and support of a town which
claims little beside on which to existg
Gentlemen of the board, such consid-
erations should not attach to this ques-
ton.
Do the already overburdened taxpay-
ers of the county want to vote S4O,OOo
for new building in Corunna, OF IN
definite shape, size and plan, which Is
liable to require as much more to COM
plete when once begun? Do they want
to put thousands of dollars of new wine
into old bottles in the way of repairs to
old and confessedly inadequate build
ings? The one or the other must be
done unless the seat be changed. The
county has at Corunna a fair piece OF
land and good Jail. The progressive
ness and liberality of Owosso people
guarantee that they will insure the
county against loss of present invest
ment. Owosso does not invite the
county to come within her borders with
out offering to give the necessary land,
as good Jail buildings as desired and
sufficient donation toward the erection
OF court house to insure, with reas-
enable amount from the county, last
ing monument worthy county OF 3d.
00U population and 81, 3s0, 900 assessed
valuation. The present proposition for
$40, 600 is foredoomed to defeat. The
same citizens who have no faith in it in
its present shape, would favor tangi-
BILE proposition which would mean,
with Owossos financial aid, worthy
court house in a worthy city. Owosso
will present a substantial offer at the
proper time, that the county may be
assured of her good faith.
These are few of the many reasons
why Owosso's requests and those of
the voters from all over the county
should be heard. The Board of Super
visors can fairly do but one thing, and
that is to submit the removal of the
county seat to the voters. There is no
doubt but that any member OF the Board
will hesitate to smother question upon
which a probable, or even a possible
majority of the county desire to express
themselves. To deny to the voters the
right of expression when the trifling ex-
pense is unworthy consideration, is to
derogate from the principles of republi-
can government. No demand, by a
probable moiety of county's voting
population, of right to vote on any such
question has ever been denied by a
board of supervisors, in the history OF
Michigan, except through bribery, or
the local prejudice and narrow, selfish
interest of some individual on the
board. No honest. fair and competent
official, whatever might be his personal
interests, will ever fear in such a case
to face the decision of the whole coun-
ty, and to accept the verdict of the ma
jority for the benefit of the greatest num-
ber Knowing the high character and
sound judgment ofthe present members
of the Board, we are perfectly confident
of the submission of the county seat
question to the people, and once with
them, Owosso can trust their judgment.