The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-05-10
Edit0ri0I Comment.



"The above is true copy of the deposited
certificates of Paw Paw with the accom-
panying contract. There are eight five
thousand, ten one thousand and a S366.44
premium; total SoO,366.44.
"rhe reader will notice, first, that these
certificates are the personal property of
Paw Paw, and are no legal security to
the county; second, that this peculiar
document is only private contract from
Farson, Leach 4 CO. to Paw Paw, and
contains no legal promise of dollar for
Van Buren, county.
"The reader will notice that the official
signature of the township of Paw Paw
does not appear in the entire document.
"There is cunning mention of the
$4,000 that Paw Paw is to contribute
towards county buildings, but you will
notice that Paw Paw does not officially
say it will be contributed. Nor do Far
son, Leach a. Co. say so. This, reader,
voter of Van Buren, county, Is the boosted
$4,000 in cash and free site that Paw Paw
has proclaimed in glaring head lines, IA
good faith bond" For this, l2supervisors
agree to sell lin opposition to the known
will of the people) the convenience and
economical conduct of the public bust
ness; they go a step farther and vote to
add S24 63356 of the county's money
without authority or law.
although our prosecuting attorney
expressed the opinion before the board
that the supervisors could appropriate
much larger sum, one thousand dollars
is the largest amount that the board may
appropriate, In any one year, except by
a vote of the people at regular session.
Perhaps it would not be out of the way
to state for what the people of Paw Paw
did not, by an almost unanimous vote,
saddle upon themselves tax of $4,000.
First: 1t was not to make an uncon-
ditional gift to the taxpayers of Van
Buren, county.
Second: 1t was not to assist in the
erection of court house at South Haven,
in case the people had voted for the re-
moval of the county seat to that place.
Third: TWAS not to build new county
buildings at Lawrence nor at any other
place than at Paw Paw
The conditions attached to such certif-
Gates of deposit were correctly quoted by
the Times, as follows:
The certificate of deposit hereto at
tached is issued in payment for like
amount par value of the bonds of Paw
Paw township, Van Buren, Co., Michigan,
bearing per cent interest and dated
March u, 1901, out of total issue of
$4,000, and the following are the con-
ditions upon which this certificate of
deposit is payable:
Eirct That tha hoard Of
of Van Buren, county, Michigan, shall by
proper action determine to construct "A
new court house and Jail in the village of
Paw Paw at a cost of not less than ZOO
Secopd-That the said board of super
visors shall adopt plans and specitica-
tions for such buildings and cause re-
liable and competent architect to esti
mate the cost thereof.
Third-If such estimated cost exceeds
the sum of $4,000, that said board of
supervisors shall make unconditional and
certain provisions for money required to
construct such buildings in excess of the
sum of $4,000 TO be contributed by Paw
Paw township.
Fourth-That the said board of super
visors shall enter into contract or con-
tracts with one or more responsible con-
such court house building under the
plans and specifications adopted as afore
said
After the above steps have been proper
ly taken by said board of supervisors,
this certificate will be paid solely for the
purpose of paying for the ground to be
used as site for such buildings on the re.
QUESTION drawn on county treasurer of the
person from whom such site is purchas-
ed or for the purpose of paying for labor
or material actually performed or furnish
ed in the construction of such buildings,
upon the acquisitions of the contractors
for the same, drawn on the county
treasurer under the terms of their
contract or contracts with said county.
1t is further understood and agreed
that if the board of supervisors of Van
Buren, county, Michigan, aforesaid shall
fail to properly determine upon the con-
struction of new court house for said
county in the village of Paw Paw, Michi-
gan, by July l, 1901, then and in that
event this certificate is to be returned to
the undersigned at their bank in the
city of Chicago, ILL.,, and they will return
to the township of Paw Paw its bonds
evidenced by this certificate.
Dated, Chicago, ILL.,, April II, 1901.
larson, LEACH & Co.
"The reader will notice" that such certi-
ficates are made payable "solely for the
purpose of paying for ground to be used as
site, or for the purpose of paying for
labor or material actually performed or
furnished" in the construction of new
county buildings at Paw Paw, and that
they are payable upon acquisitions of
the contractors drdUn on the county
treasurer,
Language could hardly make this
matter palmer. Yes, this is Paw Paws
$4,000 and S36644 in addition thereto,
and it is placed absolutely and un-
reservedly at the disposal of Van Buren,
county for the erection of new county
buildings at Paw Paw and for no
other purpose whatever, and every dollar
of it will be paid without a murmur as
called for in the construction of such
buildings.
These certificates of deposit are the