The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1922-08-10
WILL THE PEOPLE AcTa


300 resident taxpayers Wednesday
night.
Byers of the Kansas & Oklahoma
Ry. Co. waived the issuance of the
former bonds at the request Of the
representatives Of the Railroad COM
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce,
believing the people wanted the rail-
road built to Forgan, and would vote
new Terminal Aid Bonds for $4,000
so he could resume his work on the
Greenough and Forgan extensions and
finish the southeast connection.
The resident taxpayer to whom
the petition was presented expressed
their favor Of the road and the re-
wing of the bonds and Mr.. Byers
has promised to start work immed-
lately if the Chamber Of Commerce
accepted his proposition made to
them and the bonds were revoted.
Now the Council refuse to grant
the petition and make the order for
the election. After the people have
circulated the petitions and after the
taxpayers have signed it and request
ed an election the council arbitrar-
lily refuse to ORDER AN ELECTION.
The law provides they shall do SO.
Sec. 1868 of the 1915 statutes
provides:
"Before such aid shall be ex-
tended, the question shall first
be submitted to the qualified
electors of such city as provid-
ed is Section one of this act, at
a general or special election as
the same shall be specified in the
petition. which petition shall
also designate the railroad COM
pany and the amount for which
aid is proposed to be extended
by such city. together with the
conditions upon which it is pro-
posed to extend such aid, and
the form of ballots to be used
at such election, for or against
such proposition"
The petition presented complied
with Section one Of the act and was
signed by more than 2-5 of the resi-
dent taxpayers and asked that a vote
be taken and an election held The
City council refuses it. Are they
representing the people and comply
ing with the request of the majority
of the taxpayers?
Sec. 1864 further provides:
"The Mayor and council for such
city, upon the presentation of
the foregoing petition, SHALL
convene AND MAKE AN OR
DER providing for the holding
, Of election as prayed for in
said petition, which election shall
be held within thirty days of the
time of making such order"
If the petition was proper, and it
apparently was in all respects, it
was the duty of the Council to make
the Order for the election at the
request Of the taxpayers. The
statute provides they shall do so. 1t
was not discretionary but mandatory.
AS Representatives of the will Of the
people and their legal rights under
such a petition, and for the benefit
of the public interest at time when
another railroad is about to skirt the
trade territory of Liberal and create
a rival city out Of Hooker, Okla
homa, the city council should have
needed the will Of the people.
Do the people want this railroad
to Forgan Or do they want Hook
er to get a railroad from Forgan and
thereby kill the Liberal road to For
gan? Its up to the people. The
majority of the Council apparently
don't want it and by petty objections
and personal criticisms are condemn
ing the Byers project and PROPOSE
ton. What is the REAL object OF
reason the Council opposes the rail-
road? What valid reason, not pet
ty and personal objections, can the
Council give that warrants ignor-
ing the will Of the Petitioners!
What fact or law have they to sup
port their action? Its up to the peo-
pie it they want the railroad to act
and act quickly.