The Portland daily press., 1873-01-18

undoubte lily room for great improvement hese
as suggested by your correspondent ana may
unouestionabIy be had under the present sys-
tan, mr. a re orm thereof, without radical
change in fundamental methods.
Third. "Our valuation ought to be equal
ized"-nothing can be more true than this.
The unequal valuation of property in the city
is the crying evil in o IL system Of taxation.
and should be reformed at once. Let the
next city Council give us a commission of
valuation permanently appointed as suggest
60 IN relation to streets, &C., composed of
most experienced, sagacious and trusted cit
liens, whose duly shall be to cause thor
ouSh survey of the entire real property with
in ciCy limits, with plans of the same in con-
vtnient form Tor preservation and reference,
to which additions shall be made yearly, the
whole to be subject to revision by said COM
mission whenever in their judgement the
sa fe shall become necessary, al d let such
comm sson stand between the tax payers and
the assessors of take.
Fourth, "Liberal inducements should DE
81 en- 20 foreign capital to invest in llanu-
features fere." Certainly, let there DC no uli,
certain policy in this sregard; meet every ei-
ort on the part of our citizens or UnoSe from
abroad to invest in new industries OF this
oharacter with. if possible, more than the lib
,~alitv nermirted " law and the general pub
,,~+', pecial plans adopted which shall
look TO the Development in the near future of
bur now unoccupied territ ry.'' There is
much of this kind of property in our city.
generally unproductive, and subj ,ct to light
xation. except when sale Of such takes
place, when the buyer very soon finds that
che same unproductive property in his nds,
is regarded as having received enhanced val
ae tor taxable purposes by the transfer-a
commission such as has been alluded to could
handle this matter with such discretion that
no doubt all would be satisfied.
Sixth. "And score of matters which
would suggest themselves to any one who
was In earnest to help on our busine inter
ests. But to do this it will take a mans time,
tnd our city should be LIBERAL enough to pay
4 salary sufficient to command the best talent
we have. Let us then select from among oul
.blest men the best, and let him eceive the
support of all who wish well to our city,"
admirably said. Who shall it be? Let
your correspondent, Business" suggest the
UeSL HldIl tldC OCCURS 10 ulul, iet otlcIS uO
the same. When by common consent /
think some person will be found who will be
emineutly fitted for the position, and in
whom our citizens will have perfect conf
dence, and take pride in honoring.
When a new City Council has been select
ed-always delicate matter on the part O
our citizenS-let them be liberal in the mat
ter of co nnensation to those city officials who
fill important positions of great trust an(
much labor. Nothing is gained by being rig
gardly and parsimonious in this particular.
Pay we'll well for substantial service rende. ed
| but keep tight rein on all expenditures where
| jobs are possible. 1t not unfrequently hap
pens that city councils have their economical
| feelings more exercised over the fixing of tn,
comparatively meager salaries of subordinate
city officers, than over any and all other ex
| penditures of the year. Let them remcmbe
that the extrayagances of city expenditure
are not in this direction, but in those >wher
comparatively little supervision is exercised