The record-union., 1899-10-07
HOT MEETING AT OAK PARK.
OPPONENTS OF LOCAL OPTION
HAVE AN INNING.
Sanitary District Campaign About
the Warmest the Village
Ever Had.

Fully 200 electors, all chock full OF
enthusiasm, attended the anti-sanitary
district meeting held in the PAVILION
at Oak Park last night. Despite the
rounds Of applause with which the
points made by the speakers We're re-
ceived, the meeting was orderly
throughout, and the auditors gave the
closest attention.
David Hicks called the meeting to or
der and introduced J. f. Calderwood
as Chairman. Mr.. Calderwood in turn
introduced Hon. Frank d. Ryan OF this
city, who spoke for half hour and
made a forcible argument.
Mr.. Ryan said he was not present
for the purpose of telling the people
what they should do, but, rather, to
explain the law governing sanitary dis
tricts, and the results which might be
expected from such when formed.
1t was, he said, not question OF
temperance or intemperance which
confronted the citizens of Oak Park
The village had been built up by those
who wished to build up homes where
they could live without being taxed to
death. The question of temperance or
intemperance had nothing whatever to
do with sanitary districts, and the Act
authorizing their organization did not
contemplate regulating the liquor traf-
fc. He had read in the Record I'm
ion" a synopsis of a lecture delivered
the night before, in which the lecturer
confined himself to the question of tenn
perance, as, implied in the formation Of
sanitary districts He warned his au-
dience not to delude themselves with
the idea that in working for the forma-
ton Of a sanitary district they were
working in the cause of temperance,
for nothing could be further from thu
intent Of the law.
Mr. Ryan said if the people desired
to form a local municipal organization,
he would advise them to do so in the
usual manner, but not as sanitary
district. If they desired to have the
advantages of a municipal corporation,
and did not wish to incorporate as a
city he suggested that they petition to
be taken into and made part OF Sacra-
mento. Sacramento is live city. and
with it's debt paid, it's taxes would be
much lighter than those which would
follow the formation Of a sanitary dis
trict, which would be governed by a
board Of hve directors. He called at
city convention held on Thursday night
entailed upon it's candidates the prom
ise TO keep city taxes down to the 81
mark.
Mr. Ryan mentioned the speeches
made at Oak Park by Attorney ]. H.
Liggett and Albert NJ. Johnson in fa-
vor Of a sanitary district, and said that
the former had discussed the law pro-
"a Of 5fS
tricts, and the latter generalized, dis
cussing trusts and other things which
had nothing whatever to do with sani-
tary districts, and which savored Of
politics.
Then Mr.. Ryan took up the law re-
lating to the formation of sanitary dis
tricts, and to clinch his preliminary
statement that the law had nothing
whatever to do with the question of
temperance, read the title Of the Act
and pointed out that in it there was no
reference to licensing saloons. From
that he argued that the alleged tenn
perance clause would fall, inasmuch as
the Constitution provides that nothing
shall be valid in any Act unless the
same be summarized in the title.
Mr. Ryan commented on the Act as
uE IGdds dAQ Dc4ulSu Oul lndl LAIC
agents Of such districts were empower
ed, as soon as elected, to appoint and
pay all necessary agents and assist
ants, and that without limit, which
meant that they could, if they desired,
appoint all their friends and relatives
as agents, and see to it that they were
paid by the property owners taxed to
support the district. He did not know
whether or not Oak Park desires a
sewer system, or was ready to pay for
such system, but he did know that such
system was contemplated under the
law. 1t also allowed the district to
erect a garbage crematory and empow-
cred the Board of Directors to impose
fine Of not more than 500 on any
person who disposed of his own gar
bage. He did not know whether Oak
Park wanted a crematory or not.