The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-10-03
Reducing City Taxes.

There has been q good deal OF Gruia-
bling about the weakness of the City
Fathers. Elected by the people as theil
own agents and friends, they have beer
considered by many as deserters who had
aspoliators. But before judging hastily il
matters of such importance, we must heal
both sides of the question. The Admins
traitors are haupered by heavy bonds ano
by highly penal laws. Under severe pen
Salities they are obliged TO perform some o.
those outrageous acts which are held il
such odium By cur people, but over whict
sthey have legally no manner of control.
It appears, however, that they compre
bend none the less the ipiqGties of the sit
Iuation, and feel it as keenly as their fellow
IcitizeDs. They are obliged by law 10 lev.
certain taxes and to make certain appro
ipriations, to meet all of which would re
|quire tax of % per cent, yet we are in
formed on good authority that they are
willing TO take the risk of ignoring those
laws on one condition-tAe unwaveriue
support of their fellow cirizens pledged
|throngh some respectable organization. In
stead of making budget providing for al
Expenditure of from four to five millions OF
dollars for the year 1876, they WAY cat it
dow a TO two millions and a quarter; in
stead of levying tax of 81 per cent, they
will fI it at II per cent, or perhaps redac,
it to i cent.
When we consider the personal sacrifice
on the part of these gentlemen rendered d
probable By such q coarse, the fires and
penalties, the prosecutions and litigations
70 which they will be subjected, it cannot
oe denied that their propositions is a yer!
spirited one. 1t is oae that could hardly
be expected in an age when the Injection OF
greed and corruption has attacked nearly
!all official life and tainted the honor of pub
|iic men of both parties.
According to the prcjet which We have
seen, is is contemplated to cut the interes'
and redemption item down from 81, $50, 600
flor the year 1876 to $500 900, and the po-
lice from $500, 600 to $500. 900. Other i'm
.poTtant retrenchments and perhaps some
total omissions of heavy items are on the
schedule.
The question is, will the people second
the patriotic firmuess of the Mayor and
City Councils 1t is probable that so bold
IAN innovation on the we'll established pre-
Icedents of plunder would shock the carpet
bag magnates by whose leave our Admin
istrators have been hitherto permitted to
represent the people who elected them. No
doubt the Governor" will find some legai
pretext for removing them and substitu
ting representatives of his own sovereign
wili, who will bleed the people in more &C
cordance to the programme of the army Of
occupation. Outlines have changed alittle
Perhaps Northern sentiment might be coz
siderably shocked to fad gentlemen dis
graced and displaced for lowering the rate
of a ruinous tax even though ignoring al
Shylock legislation in go doing. Perhaps
even Kellogg might quail before the sar-
casm and contempt of an impatient North
ern press following the suggestion OF such
a policy.
Al any rate we cannot doubt for a mo
ment that our citizens will, through the
Property Holders, for instance, give the
Mayor and Administrators every assurance
% their hearty enc orsement and fullest sup
port 10 tie contemplated move. Slch 81
reduction, once made cure, wouid imme
diateiy enhance the value of real estate
ard 10 50 doing give an ami
mating Impulse to every fasDcial Interest,"
Of The city. All prosperity is based Oh the
secure CONDITION Of real estate. We hope tcI
bear soon thai this proposition is gaining
suenE 9Th ard favor.