The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-01-01
REFORM.
Immense Gathering Of the Tax.
Payers ut Laings Hall.
The Building Crowded to Over.
flowing.
Speeches made by Leading Citi-
ZenS.
Sound Sensible Resolutions
Passed.
The Legislators Appealed to for
the Passag Of New Laws.
A Disposition Manifested to Wipe
Out the whole City Govern
ment.
Sound Sensible Resolutions
Passed.
Comparisons Of the Past and
Present.

platform TO stairway with the respee
table citizens and taxpayers of the city. n
clamorous body Of nondescripts or individu
ais frenzied by imaginary wrongs, but a
earnest, thinking, intelligent audience il
whom the undercurrent of a determined pur
pose TO bring about an immediate reform
and a speedy release from oppressive taxa
ii on run still strong and deep.
Ga motion Mr.. ". III. Ralston, was ap
pointed chairman of the meeting. A com
mittee of citizens previously appointed theI
appeared and through their chairman pre-
scented the following resolutions which wer
unanimously adopted:
Resolcod; LIST. That the best interest o
our citizens requires the abolition of th,
present city government and the adoption o
one limited in power and the nunbe
of its officials
Rcs5lrod; End, That the law be 40 amend
Ell a. to require the County Treasurer to per
form all duties now performed by the City
Treasurer.
Resolred; 3rd, That the members of thu
Legislature be requested TO procure q post
ponement of the tax penalty till May LIST,
1874, and that the Mayor and City Council h
also requested to extend the time for the
payment of city tax, without penalty, until
the LIST of May, 1874.
Rcsolred,; 4th, That we recommend to the
members of the Legislature from this city
and county, TO procure the abolition OF the
fifty per cent. penalty, and that ii be fixed
at rate not TO exceed twenty-five per cent.
Resolred; 5.b, That We further recon-
mend graduated rate of interest to be
charged on all tax delinquencies before tax
sales.
Resalrod: 9th, That in consequence OF the
depreciation in real estate, high appraise-
ment, an exorbitant and we believe an ille-
gal leyy-the impending financial crisis
and the defalcation of our ex-Treasurer, We
earnestly recommend general suspension of
tax paying, in both city and county, until
such legislation can be provided as will pro-
tect us from ruinous taxation in the future,
and secure the safety of our money 30 to be
collected and its lawful application.
Resolped; 9TH That the chairman Of this
meeting, at an early day, appoint commit
tee three citizens TO prepare bill to he pre-
scented to the members of the Legislature for
Leavenworth county and city in accordance
with the spirit OF the resolutions, and request
the passage OF the zane.
Mr.. Fi,zwiliisms then went on to stale
the present burdensome system OF taxation.
He alluded to the poor laborers whose homes
were liable to be swept from them by the
high rate of taxation. He believed that the
rates of taxation could, by judicious manage
ment, be reduced to great extent, and the
confidence of the people fully restored. The
unlawful voting of scrip was point on which
he expa.ia.ed and explained at considerable
length. He condemned in strong terms the
high salaries paid to our city officials. He
beloved that by proper system or form oil
government, no more city warrants wonld
have TO be drawn, and that in one years
time the take. could be reduced per ceut
In response to repeated calls, james r.
Iecate took the rostrum. He believed that
the city was not benefited by the present
government, but Cursed by 1t; and yet be
did not blame the officials Themselves. He
placed the whole responsibility on the people
Tor permitting such extravaganza, and held
them strictly accountable for the present un'
satisfactory state of affairs. The people
made the Offices for the officials to tamPeE
and trine with, and they were only reapine
the result of their own work. He advised
the people to take away all temptation
in high places if they wantet
purity. In speaking of the presen
CITY Council he said it was the browning ele
ment Of oppression. They not only expen
ded all the money they could get, but issuet
warrants for more. He would have all leg
isla,;ve mower taken from the Council, ant
place them in position where they woult
be powerless to deiraud and impose burden
ON the ,axpaying community. As a remed
f,r the present evils he would advise leg'sla
tive action. Let the people decide upo
what they want done and then instruct tn
city and county Legislators, what to do Q
Topeka this winter. He stated that some
thing would have to he done to make tn
large property owners of the city bring on
their possessions for assessment and taxation
To his certain knowledge many people his
away their property to escape taxation. They
should be made TO bear the burden with th'
rest.
Mayor Anthony, was next called upon t
address the meeting. After an explanation o
his repeated exertions 10 restrain the Council
from excessive expenditures, and his lifeloni
struggles agains, the rings and monopolies
which had imposed heavy taxation on tn
people, the speaker said he was in favor
wiping out the whole city government, if b.
tina, means the people could be relieved from
their present oppressive burdens.
He was in favor of wiping out forever tn
occupstion of those public teaches who liv
bv buying up tax titles and speculatiDg OF
the missortunes of the people. He voult
exclude from all reform meetings thos
brazen faced hypocrites who discount count.
and CITY scrip and then press the paper .
par for the payment Of taxes. Furthermore
he pledged himself to call his influence q
a member of the Leavenworth delegation t
help the people in carrying out Their plan
for reform and economy.
Col, Moonlight then took the speaker
stand and requested that the citizens com
mi,tee draft a set of laws which the
would like to have passed, and present thez
for discussion at some future meeting. Hi
mseestion was embodied in the iolm Of
resolution and passed BY unanimous vote.
Col. Coffin then stated his grievous iinaz
cisl condition, and said he had been bic
till he could bleed no longer. He could Ok
nav his taxes, and his property must p
into the hands of the tax-title men. He ealle
for an action of the people which wonl
bring about an immediate and sweeping n
form. He did no. consider the bonded d
debtedness of As much consequence - u
high salrries paid to hungry officials.
Following Mr. Coffin, John p. Hanno
took the floor amid thunders Of applause Q.
With the documents in his hands shovs
that the bouded igdehtsdnes Of Tie ely -
coupsy ~ nj tziaiag naia~ ~ 90
s. =. = 8 s.-- ! Z