Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-19
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Omaha, June ls.--To the Editor OF The
Bee: In The Bees Letter Box about month
ago was published under the caption OF
Those Road Paving Bonds" very Interest,"
ing letter from c. E. Walsh. Reference was
made to the recent election, when the propo-
sition to issue bonds in the sum OF $1,000
900 was carried by q majority Of but SIS
in the 26,sl7 votes cast on the proposition.
according to the county official notice. duly
published. Mr.. Walsh cited the county AZ
torney's opinion that majority OF the votes
cast is SUFFICIENT, although common I'M
preston is that two-thirds vote, 10 neces-
sary to carry bond proposition. He also
lamented the custom Of all voters being
eligible for bond elections and suggests
means Of relief.
In The Bees Letter Box on June 10.
c. L. Nethaway Of Florence. writing under
the heading Of Good Roads Bonds" regrets
that the Real Estate exchange intends to
contest the issuing Of the bonds, and suE-
rests that instead committee be appointed
presumably by the Real Estate exchange)
to watch the county board lest II combine
with the paving contractors for inferior con.
struction, and he appears content that the
fear Of injunction will insure the good
roads which the people have voted for and
are entitled to-" -
II Is the hope Of many good citizens that
the movement by the Real Estate exchange
to stop the issuing Of the bonds will be sue
cessful. This bond scheme, which at the
outset had only the half-hearted support OF
many organizations and improvement clubs,
was on the eve of election repudiated by the
most of them, who reversed their position
and openly opposed the bonds. This action
accounts in a measure for the unusually
small vote for the bonds, 1t being 80 S-6
(.506) per cent or a gain Of but one In
eishty-four votes.
The Real Estate exchange will probably
contend that the bond proposition was not
carried as 1t had not a majority Of the votes
polled at the election. there having been
moro not voting on the proposition than the
majority voting for 1t.
There Is q general belief that all citizens
are entitled to vote on any question and that
there shall be no restrictions to property. In
come or education, and there Is as well
among q great many the conviction that It
Is wise provision which makes two-thirds
vote necessary to carry q bond proposition.
II the law Is that bond propositions to
carry require but majority of either all
votes Of the election or votes on the propo-
sition. It would seem that an election Is idle.
for what scheme to spend money would not
carry on that basis In Douglas county, with
its large preponderence Of non-tax.paying
votersf
The careless ignorance Of most voters is
clearly proven by this bond election and
should the issue be stopped and the PROPOSE
ton submitted again. it Is to be hoped that
the press and our political leaders will do
their plain duty to the people by instructing
the voters on the question.
There Is q disposition amongst taxpayers
that we have good roads everywhere and
splendid roads on the main thoroushfares,
but there Is along with rs the wish that we
have them at the minimum Of cost, and. Is
well, . distrust that the recent bond PROPOSE
ton would not insure those conditions. nor
would the assistance Of Mr.. Nethaway's
committee bring them. Whether or not this
bonds proposition was a mistake is not ques-
toned in this communication. The present
need Is to stop the issue Of the bonds and
the warrant for such protest is that the true
will Of the people was not expressed in the
election. T. B. E.