The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-12-11
TAXPAYERS MEETING.
Great Indignation Expressed

The cour, room was occupied last evenin
BY about two hundred citizens.
Col. w. q. Coffin was chosen chairman
and Col. L. N. Alexander secretary.
Col. Coffin PROCEEDED to explain the oh
ject of the meeting.
He stated that our taxes were unbearable
We had too many courts. We had l4O q
looms. The Law required of them to Civ
bond in the sum of Sc 900 each, and yet nj
bond had been e1acted.
A person in the audience inquired whethe
thi, was a taxpayer meeting or temper
snce meeting.
The Colonel declined 10 answer, and pro
ceeded to denounce the "minions of tn
law" WHO, he declared, were responsible fol
the present high taxes.
DR.. S. A. Marshall was called upon. He
could see 10 reason for having = criminal
Judge. He could enumerate . score of in
stances where our expenses could be reduced.
On motion, the resolutions passed =
Gardner meeting, were read.
Doct. Marshall moved that this meeting
adopt them.
A. NJ. Clark approved the tone of the
resolutions, but he failed to see wherein
the adoption would secure any permanent
benefit. He would like to strike at the root
of the evil. He would reduce the salaries to
a fair living rate. He would postpone this
meeting year or t~o until the taxes grew
larger and then the people would wake Up.
Mr. w. II. Ralston said, We, as property
owners, were about ruined. We could not
pay our taxes. He would pay no more
taxes. He intended to fight tax titles.
Colonel Alexander had no charges to
make and no personal feeling. He thought
ruin stared US in the face. Property in city
and county was becoming worthless on &C.
count of the high rate of taxation.
Mr.. F. p. Fitzwilliams was called
upon. He thought the remedy should COM
mence in the State, in the county and in the
city. Curtail the expenses-we are to much
governed. He would wipe out the Mayor
and Council. He would have man APP
pointed who would attend to our municipal
affairs and an individual to attend to his.
He would see no use of City Treasurer; he
believed the taxes levied were legal and a
mortgage on their property, and 1t would
have to be paid. What makes our taxes
high? 1t is thousand and one things pass
ed through Council and through the County
Board. where there was no one to question.
He had been present in City Council when
the Mayor vetoed appropriation and gave
the most profound legal reasons for his ac-
ton, the appropriation was passed over bis
veto, and people stood by and looked upon
their action approvingly. The people were
in measure responsible. The resolutions
of the former meeting were reaffirmed.
Col. Alexander offered the following reso-
lutions, which were unanimously adopted:
Resolred, That committee of prominent
taxpayers be appointed by the chairman,
whose duty it shall be to ascertain if the rate
of levy for 1873 is in excess of what is neces-
sary, also how much Of a levy upon city
property, based upon the present valuation,
will be necessary in each year for the mex:
three years to meet principal and interest of
our bonded Indebtedness, and also what
measures of reform We need that will tend to
lessen taxation, and what legislation, if any,
will be wanted to carry them out; and report
the result of such investigation at an adj
journed session of this meeting.
F. P. Fitz~illiams. w. Kelly, w. H.
Ralston, J. B. Lsing, J. l. Lsrimer, NJ.
Jordan, s. Abeles, Z. Schinke, III. Foote
d. Jones. Alexander, T. A. Hurd, J. w.
Morris, Thomas Newton, James McGoni-
gle and VIM. Mcneil Clough.
Mr. P. C. Farren said he was laboring
man. and he hoped the committee would
look into all the wrongs perperrated, clear
out corruption in all places.
DIR. Marshall moved that when the meeting
adjourn, it adjourn to meet at the call of the
President.
The committee WAS requested BY the chair
man to meet on Tuesday evening at Judge
Gardiner's Office.
Meeting adjourned.