Collegeport Chronicle June 8, 1910 |
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Collegeport People are Opposed Too Their
Being Voted. Another Case of Taxation without Representation. Let
us look at the question from different viewpoints. First: the method of
securing the election. The petition was presented to only a few men
presumably at the hotel and only eleven signatures were secured here, a
part of them only being qualified voters. The great bulk of taxpayers
were asked no questions, were invited to no councils not informed of the
proceedings. In fact, our first knowledge was the posted election
notice. Second:
The lack of unity in the district as outlined. Including as it does the
territory lying in the Palacios and Third:
The Palacios people’s interests are on that side. While we intend and
expect to be the best of neighbors we cannot do each other’s business.
The Palacios people are evidently willing to do ours. They as the older
community have over 200 voters for this particular election. We have
about 20. They dictate the terms. They have their say as to the
commissioners. They will decide where the money will be spent, for what
can 20 do with so many? They may not mean to take advantage of us as to
the expenditure, but why ask us to submit to their mercy? It is not fair
for them to saddle a tax upon a large district before the owners have
become qualified to speak for themselves. Fourth:
It is too soon for such heavy expenditure on the part of our citizens.
We want schools and homes and other institutions before we are compelled
to submit to such heavy bonds. It is an injustice to tell the
prospective settlers, hundreds of them, that their land has been taxed
by voters who never saw it and never expect to. That should be his
privilege. Fifth:
We the small end as far as the vote goes are the large end when it comes
to acreage and property. Two hundred or more votes on 15,000 acres of
land propose to reach out and take in on the annexation idea 75,000
acres and tax it with but a feeble protest possible. Even now our side
of the bay contains half the taxable property of the entire district and
in ten years we will compose 80 per cent of the values which one sixth
of the district has bonded. It is not fair as any fair-minded man will
admit upon mature thought. Sixth:
We want a road district of our own. We are a unit. We have our own
ideas. We want our own money spent in our own territory by our own men.
We have the values and in a very few months we will have the voters. We
propose to wait and give them a chance. We scarcely know yet which roads
will need attention. The main thoroughfares have not yet been located.
We want to wait and do the thing intelligently. If
the people of Palacios—for it is strictly their undertaking—form
their district and vote bonds, $50,000, or as much as they choose, and
improve them we will do the same when the proper time arrives. They do
not need our help. In another year we will not need theirs. In fact,
another year will make the present crisis impossible for we can vote
then. Only a few advanced agents can do so now. We most of us came since
last June and our year’s residence is not yet complete. We
are sorry our neighbors have thus taken advantage of our fewness. We do
not believe they will insist now if they see the situation in its true
light. Forlorn as our hope seems let us stand up like men and cast a
sold [solid] vote against the proposition, let us do our best to defeat
it and then let us take the necessary steps to have a district of our
own and vote our own bonds in the proper time, then spend our own money.
We can now cast at least a solid East side vote against the imposition. |
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Copyright 2005 -
Present by Carol Sue Gibbs |
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| Created Apr. 6, 2005 |
Updated Apr. 6, 2005 |