Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-26
DOES THE END JUSTIFY THE
MEANS7

There has been no change in the city
administrations attitude on the 500
proposition. The members of the city
council supported by the Tribune and
the people for reelection stand now
just where they have stood right along
in favor of doing all in their power
10 assist the committee of Bismarck
citizens in making good their repre-
sensations to the 500 people that ter
minal properties would be given the
company as soon as required. Even
the minority members of the city ad-
rtinistration are in favor of the com
ing of the $780," but they question the
majority's plan. The state constitu-
ton prohibits a donation on the part
of a municipality to any railroad. or
other corporation or individual unless
authorizd by a two-thirds vote of the
people. 1t was thought that inasmuch
as n%inety-nine per cent of the citizens
Of Bismarck are anxious that the ne
sotiations for the building of the 500
shall not fail and would be perfectly
willing to- assist the citizens commit
tee to the extent of a few lots of no
yalue-unless other roads are built
and Bismarck becomes a city of i'm
portance-technical obstacles would
not be thrown in the way. And to avoid
the constitutional prohibition the lots
in question were decided to a private
citizen for a considerations real con
sideTation-not to the railroad COM
Dany. There never has been nor is
there now any intention of selling or
deciding these lots to any railroad cor
Inration. The question of how city
property is to be sold is an open ques-
ton. We are now under the. general
law and our new city charter, SO far
as our vested rights are concerned,
simply says that Getty property can
Only be sold by a two-thirds vote of all
the aldermen elected" Two-thirds
voted to accept the proposition of E
A. Williams to pay SIG for the lots an6
- I'D oicI l liz lCSoluIiOl
over the mayors veto, Alderman
Smyth being the only alderman out Of
the eight voting to sustain the mayor
The money for the lots was paid into
the city treasury and the treasurer
receipt taken therefor. Ninety-nine
per cent of the people of Bismarck are
satisfied with the result. Possession
CT the lots has already been taken, no
by the railroad, but by individuals
who have abandoned lands desired b,
the r~ight-of-way committee. Thi
action of Alderman Smyth places I.
cloud on the title in that it brings be
fore the court the question of wllethe
the selling of these lots to an individ
uai is not in fact beating around tn
bY,sh," especially in view of the rea
CHS giyen-verbally. not of record
fer the ~advisability of selling flo
d nominal consideration. If a
Individual cam sell a lot for 81 can tn
city, Who is the judge of adequat
consideration The law may be con
flsingacn this subject and the court
may say that as a matter of public pol
iey this OF disposing of cit
property is not wise and would be
had precedent. But this was such a
exceptional case, public sentiment wa
o fayorable, 1T seems a pity that an
individual should have gone SO far a
to place the matter where a judicia
discrimination might defeat the will {
the people and in effect work almos