The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-05-19
ATKINSON ACT
HELD TO Be VALID
SUPREME COURT HANDED DOWN AN
OPINION ON TUESDAY LAST
RORIARTY'S POSITION AFFIRMED
Mandarin, issued Compelling the Officer,
OF Atkinson Township to Turn Over
Books and psptn.

Hon NJ n Moriarty, attorney for
Iron River Township in the supreme
conrt OF this state in the matter of the
dispute over the act disorganizing
Atkinson township and attaching il 70
Iron River township, received a mes
sage from the clerk Of the supreme
conrt saying that the mandamns had
issued In other words the court held
the act valid and ordered the officer OF
Atkinson township 10 turn over the
books papers and other records 70 Iron
River township
At the last session of the legislature
an act Was passed dlsorganizing the
township of Atkinson and attaching IL
10 the township Of Iron River With
this act were the other necessary acts
consolidating the schools of the two
townships
At the same time an act detacning
two towns, 43 and l4-37. from the
township OF Iron River and attaching
them the township Of Stambaugh was
passed
The legislation was fathered. pri
marty by the late John j Lyons
supervisor of Iron River township. who
saw the advantage of having the vast
territory Of Atkinson attached TO Iron
River so as TO help ont with the school
and other taxes Atkinson was taken
originally, mainly from Iron River
and those favoring the new legislation
felt that now that the territory was
almost abandoned. Iron River should
have il hack. In order 10 appease the
township OF Stambaugh, which has a
very wide awake set Of public officials
who are always looking after the in
terests of that township IL was decid-
ed that two townships contiguous with
the township Of Stambangh ON the
west end Of the county should be taken
from Iron River and given 10 STAN
baugh.
Atkinson bad a township government
and IL was natural that the officials
should tight the move The Super
visor. Zebina McColmna. had friends
AZ Iron River ana the question was
discussed for long time before the
act was passed and finally big peti
tion WAS filed asking for the legisla
/ ton
I The acts were passed and ordered to
take effect on April lst, The opponents
Of the measure Thought that they saw
loop hole 10 defeat the bill in the act
taking effect within the 20 days pre-
vious 10 the election which the law re.
qnires voter to live within precinct
IN order TO gain a residence. They
/ held that, as Atkinson township didn I
pass ont Of existence until couple Of
days previous to election. a registra
ton board from Iron River township
had no authority to act in Atkinson
and therefore the voters in Atkinson
could not register and were thus lie.
prived OF their constitutional right Of
suffrage.
The matter was put up 90 Prosecut.
ing Attorney Watson and he. while he
was OF the opinion that the law would
be held valid by the court he thought
best % take no chances and advised the
Atkinson township officials 10 hold IN
election and instructed the township OF
Iron River and Stambaugh TO raise mo
taxes so as not % muddle up the tax
systems ~ the county. IL was mis-
idea 70 prepare things for court
/ decision afterwards
In the mean time Iron River went
ahead and did business Just as il
Atkinson was portion of that town.
ship without question. A registration
board sat there and An election board
was in session AZ Atkinson village
No one voted al that precinct from
Atkinson townsnip but several from
that township. closer 10 Iron River
village. voted at Iron River
Immediately following election NJ.
a. Moriarty was engaged by Super.
visor Scott, OF lron River to represent
that township Mr.. mcColmsn en-
gagged Chas N. Watson Of this city
and NJ J. Sherwood. Of Marquette.
Mr. Moriarty advised his clients 10
40 TO Atkinson and make demand for
the books winch was done and the
Atkinson officials refused 20 turn them
over
Then Mr. Moriarty asked for writ
Of mandamua from the supreme court
Of the state. The order 10 show cause
was Issued ana on May : the case was
submitted b the court The attornies