The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-08-18
THAT A. {. :. PROPOSITION



i After reading what the papers re-
port of the petition recently present
ed to our city council by the Atlantic
Coast Line people. am again moved
ito ask space in your columns for this
article. In it expect to ask some
pointed questions and declare some
naked truths. In fact, the questions
may be rather in the nature of inter-
Irogative assertions
In writing the article I am actuated
/ by my love for my home city. I wish
TO see her prosper and move along on
progressive lines and grow in beauty
and attractveness at every step for
ward. To that end We should all lend
our united efforts to remove every
thipg which tends 70 mar the beauty.
cbstruct free and easy travel. endan-
/ ger life, limb and property. increase
cleanliness and promote health and
1aariGess
Tine cre. w:ea equa. Justice 90
war, AZ. and rla..ca tover1 none. ]
write
~ca- to ask. first. why the Coast
Line rcoDle can ask our city council
! TO do rha, which they know the NUM-
cipal authorities have no legal power
jor authority 70 90? DO they not know
that each member OF the city council
swore 10 upheld. the federal and state
/ constitutions and the laws of the
state. and 10 discharged the duties Of
/ the office ne holds 10 the best Of his
liability? Do they hope TO induce he
| c0unc.lElen 10 violate their oaths Of
office by doing, or attempting to Go
that hich is in violation of the con-
stituJion and laws? Do they not
know that the city council holds the
streets OF this city only in trust as
public highways for the use OF the
lsovereigu people? Do they not know
| that the city authorities cannot law
| fully close up any street so held by
them for the the people as highways?
Or confer any right upon any individ-
ual or corporation to do so? Do they
not know that the city authorities
have no power or authority to even
| lay any distractions, or authorize any
other person so 10 do, upon any street
| dedicated TO. or acquired by. the peo-
| pie. which would materially interfere
with the use Of the street by the pub
lie? Surely they must know all this,
and 1t is presumed that they know
| the city council knows it, or ought 10
know il; and. if they do not. that they
would investigate and find out before
they acted upon such an important
and far-reaching matter knowing all
this, is it not surprising that the rail-
| road company should presume to sub
nit such a proposition TO a body OF
municipal officials who are obligated
and charged with the duty of looking
after and protecting the rights IF The
citizens. their constituents. who elect
ed them for that purpose? Or, are
We, rather, to infer that these corpor-
atoms have gone so far in so many
ways, in depressing and trespassing
upon the rights of the people that
now they dare attempt anything that
will further their own interest regard
less of injury to others. Who was it
who said, The public be damned"
i Mr.. Editor?
OF course. the 4. c. L. people offer
to do quite a number of things if the
city council Wa. grant them what
they ask, but can anything they prom
Use to do even if they do it. clothe the
council with the power and authority
TO divest the people of their vested
rights? Danaos dona timeo ferrentis.
Do they hope to induce the city coun-
| Gil TO stultify themselves and violate
their oaths Of office? In plain terms.
is it not an affront to even submit
such a petition to the council and
urge its favorable consideration when
It carries with it an Invitation to vio-
late the law and their oaths Of office?
I have, in a previous article. called
attention to the fact that the tracks
OF the a c. l., as they are now laid
and maintained on Osceola street. is
an invasion OF the rights of the pub
lie and contrary to law. and a reso-
luton in the city council referring
that question TO a proper committee
10 Investigate and report the facts
would likely, if properly done and
vigorously pressed, result in restoring
1 10 the people the rights in the use OF
the street OF which they have been
and are deprived.
And while I am on this subject I
might as well speak OF the recent or
dinance passed by the city council
giving the right 10 the Ocala Northern
TO lay a track parallel with the track