Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-15
OFFIcE-3i7 WEST WATER STREET.
TELEPHONE NO, IS.
THE COUNTY SEAT.
A Few Facts for Careful Consideration
Affidavit of John Greer.

Below we print an affidavit of Mr..
John Greer, who was member of the
Board of Supervisors at the time the
question of building new court house
was submitted to the voters. 1t shows
the reckless way in which assertions
are made by the Calmar organ and how
facts are manufactured upon which to
base arguments, by which the people
are sought to be misled:
winnesheik Co. SIS
I, John Greer, being duly sworn, on oath
say, that referring to the statements made In
the Cdtndr Courier of March 10th, iS99. In ref
following language Is used, speak OF the
condition OF the court house: "Was IL good
enough last summer when the people OF the
city on the side track endeavored TO force a
new one on the county by taxation? Did they
not get the Board of Supervisors and Grand
Jury to I'm a measure) condemn the OLD court
they did not consider 1t longer Mt for use of
the county, mot just these words but OF the
same substance) the evident intention being
TO make tn 2 building OF q new one necessity
and. In fact, almost compulsory?"
The facts are briefly these: The law imposes
upon the Board OF Supervisors, not the city
Of Decnrsh or the citizens Of Calmar, The dYty
holding court, for county offices, aud the care
and safe keeping Of the records and papers Of
the county, but does not authorize them TO
ex pend for such purposes more than S5,OOO.oO
without n vote of the taxpayers. The Board,
simply to relieve themselves from censure, In
case OF loss, submitted the question OF build
ing a new court house to the voters. as the law
directs, thereby placing the responsibility
where IL properly belongs-upon the people
whose records are to be preserved or lost.
And ] further state that such action was not
taken at the suggestion, or at the request, of
any of the citizens IF Decorah. and that not
one of the citizens of DecOrah appeared before
the part of the Board. nor did the Grand Jury
act or report thereon except after having made
an examination of the court house and offices
and consultation with the Board.
further say that l was member Of the
Board at the time the court house question
was submitted, and know whereof speak
JOHN GREER,
Subscribed and sworn TO before me this 18th
j. CAMERON,
Notary Public.
Why should the people of Decorah
be so eager to secure new court house,
thereby increasing the burden of their
taxes, when it would not bring directly
or indirectly any more business to De-
corah than comes through the present
one?
1t is not used by the people of Decor
all as hall or place of amusement.
We have church room sufficient to ac-
commodate all worshippers; two good
opera houses, and several commodiOus
halls. A new court house would be no
more benefit to any citizen of DecOrah
than it would to any other citizen OF
the county who is interested in the safe
keeping of the public records and docu.
ments.
Decorah pays its full share and more
of the taxes of this county, besides pay.
ing municipal taxes for the city govern.
ment and improvement, and it is out
rageous to ask the citizens of Decorah
aye, threaten them, if they do not pay
i'm addition to their county, city and
state taxes, the ,ohote Of the county tda
for ne,O court house, that the county
seat will be moved to Calmar.
The proposition is monstrous, and NJ
fair minded man, having in his heart
the .precepts of the Master-"Do untt
othere as we would that others should
do unto you"-will for moment ait
or abet such a proceeding.
When the people of the county votet
down the proposition to build new
court house, they decided that the ole
one is sufficient for the present needs
of the county. No other question wa
presented to the voters.
Thew did not determine by their vot.
to put the county seat up at auction, t.
be sold to the highest bidder; and thos'
who are now aiding the Calmar real Is
tate speculators against their O,on inter
ests, to try and force Decorah to build ,
new court house, which the people hav,
decided is not needed, may find wher
1t is too late to repent, that they have
most seriously burned their fingers il
pulling chestnuts out of the fire for tn,
Calmar operators ofthe deal.
THE Northeastern Iowa Press Ass0
citation convenes at Oelwein tomorrow
| for a two dave, session.