Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 April 1882 — The Railroad Tax. [ARTICLE]

The Railroad Tax.

Keener, Ind., April 10, 1882. Editors Republican:—Please * allow me space in your paper to aay a few words to the voters of Keener township, regarding the railroad election which is to take ; place Saturday, April 15. There are several reasons why tfe here in Keener should oppose the tax. First, our taxes are already very high, the highest in proportion, of any township in the uounty. To increase our already heavy burden by voting a railroad tax, of over two thousand dollars, would seem to be taking upou ourselves a very foolish and unnecessary hardship, for which the people would receive no adequate benefit. Second, we need every cent that we can possibly raise for public improvements, laid out upon our wagon roads. Travel and traffic are increasing very fast, vacant lands are being improved and fenced, so that we can not go around the marshes, over the ridges, and cross-lots everywhere, as we have done in the past, but must of necessity build some considerable amount of wagon roads. This would be spending our money for improvements that will benefit everybody, not only all.the people of our own township, but of all the townships surrounding us. Third, the rich capitalists who are to control and receive the revenue and benefit from the railroad, are the ones to pay fcr building it, and not the poor people of Keener, who are struggling hard to feed, clothe and educate their families in a decent, and respectable manner. Fourth, how do any of us know that a single dollar of the proposed tax, (if raised,) would ever reach the hands of any railroad company? It is broadly hinted and charged, by persons, who are in positions to know, what they ore talking about, that one-half at , at least of the proposed tax, is to ?go to the lawyeis, schemers and • smooth-tongued sharpers, who are Working up the tax. Do the people of Keener wish to be cheated and defrauded by such means for the benefit of such persons? If not turn out next Saturday and vote against the railroad tax. All the talk about the railroad > not coming unless we vote them a bonus, is the thinnest kind of non- : sense. The amount is so small . compared with the cost of building a railroad, that it is not worth a moment’s consideration; it is not even a “drop in the bucket”, and not worth while for any great railroad company to bother with. This view of the case gives strength and force to the hint above referred to. The cars are alrendy running over some parts of the road in Illinois, and will soon be running from Momence clear through to the Illinois river. The line runs throug a very rich and fertile ]>ortion of Illinois and will no doubt be a big paying road. I have been over the old grade from San Pierre clear through to the Illinois river, and know whereof I write; I also know that not one town in the state of Illinois has voted a single dollar, for tbe road —not one. The sharpers don’t try that game over there; the people of Illinois got their eye teeth . cut years ago, upon this matter of voting money to aid railroads. The game won’t work over there, and it ought not to here, and it will not if Ihe people turn out and vote for their own interest. Do not neglect it; don’t fail to be on hand and vote against the railroad tax next Saturday. R. W. Marshall. Her. M. P. Hmingron. Ithaca, N. Y\, wrilw: “Frnra 100 «l i*e application to my (mlling, niy health tiuberwehl n severe all-niii. 1 fell a weakness in every part of my body. My digestion especially Tailed me, and my nerves became all unarung. Recreation did unt do m« proper benefit, finally, on ibe recommendation of a brother minister, tried Brown’s Iren Bit;Ur*. It bss made me feel better and stronger than 1 ever ,before felt sinqt Jl was |

April 10.—Among the bills introduced to the House to-day was one by Mr. DeMotte, granting pensions to all honorably discharged officers, soldiers, sailors, and marines of the United States army or navy, who, daring the late war, were captured in the line of duty. It provides that pensions shall be granted all such who were confined daring a period of ninety days in any of the prisons or places commonly nsed for the confinement of prisoners by the so-called Confederate authorities, and who are not now beneficiaries under the pension laws of the United States. Such pensions in each case will begin from the passage of the act and will be at the rate of $8 per month when the time of imprisonment shall have been ninety days and less than one year and $1 per month additional for each full month of such imprisonment in excess of one year. The pensioners will further receive 82 per day for each and every day’s confinement in the said confederate military prisons, to be paid at the same time and in the same manner that pensioners are now paid, and nothing in the act shall be construed to reduce or prevent the increase to the full sum provided for the pension of any person now receiving or entitled to receive a pension. Hysteria, nervous excitability, wasting o the muscles, impurity of the bio >d, quickly relieved by using Brown’s Iron Bitters. Temperance Programme.— The regular meeting of the Rensselaer Blue Ribbon Temperance Union will be held at the Court House Saturday evening, April, 15th 1882. The following is the programme of exercises: 1 SoDg by choir. 2 Prayer by Rev. George Havens. 3 Song by choir. 4 Reading scriptures by Miss Lettie Hopkins. 5 Song by choir. 6 Reading minutes of previous meeting by secretary. 7 Opening remarks by Rev. A. Taylor. 8 Song by choir. 9 Remarks by C. P Mitchell. 10 Song by choir. 11 Declamation by Fannie Wood. 12 . Song by choir. 13 Ten minutes recess. 14 Song by choir. 15 Remarks by M. M. Bitters. 16 Song by choir. 17 Declamation by Miss Nettie Price. 18 Song by choir. 19 Closing remarks by Rev. B. F. Ferguson. 20 Benediction by Rev. Phillip McDade. Remarks limited to 5 minutes. Alfred Thompson, Pres’t. Noble J. York. Sec’y. s Members of the singing class be sure to be present at the court house on Friday evening. T. J. F. President. Announcement. Kentland, Ind. April 3rd 1882. Editors of the Rnisselajs Republican. Gentlemen :—Please annonnee in your paper that I am a candidate for re nomination for Prosecuting Attorney for the Thirtieth J udicial Circuit, subject to the decision of the Republican judicial Convention.

DAVID L. BISHOPP.