Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-08-09
TAXES.

The Customary aud 4ienMu2 Ho,cl--The |
City Going to the 'DemnitiOn Botco,cs"
Too Many Schoo!s--Too Hang In,prore- |
ments--The Bosh of Tealy Economists.
To the average citizen the terrible breeze on
taxation raised by the Pioneer Press and Hon.
John De Laittre is simply the least bit anus
ing. When the great Minneapolis capitalists
begin to list their property at something near
half its cash valuations the rate will sink to
the requisite 2 per cent, or even lower, prob
ably. First, the city is represented in the
legislature by wealthy men, who secure
the passage of laws turbidding the
cchool board, the city council and everybody
else from issuing bonds for the construction OF
needed improvements. The taxes must be
levied to build the suspension bridge, the
stone arch bridge and all the school
houses demanded by our rapidly augmenting
population. 1t is wrong, argue these states
men, to put on the next generation portion
of the burdens of these great works. We
| must build that they may enjoy without
expense. Well, this thing goes on until the
taxes begin to pile up and then howl is raised
| against the agents of the people (the school
board the city council and the county boardl
| as if forsooth, they were responsible for all
this expense-as if they had pocketed this
money outright.
| The simple truth is that Minneapolis is
growing with incalculable rapidity.
Two years ago when the joint st. Paul and
| Minneapolis directory was published it showed
an approximation IN population to A. OO souls.
| Our new directory, to be published next week,
will show population not under $4,000 This
means that streets must be graded,
| school houses built, bridges constructed,
and all OF the other local works,
which go to make up civilized community,
Pettit-Gilfilan Pillsbury guild, failing to I'M
derstand the law OF manlf, st destiny must put
their legislative foot on the proposal to bond
! the CITY, and IN the hardest of hard times COM
pei tax-rldden people to pay as they go for
all these necessities or else do without them.
/ The GLOBE asserts that the school board, and
the city COUNCIL and the county board are do
ing simply their duty and are managing the
interests of the city and county with all the
economy possible. 1t is SO easy to howl ''ex-
travagance" and dishonesty against men who
work for nothing and board
themselves. There are yet other
public improvements which are needed, and
must come, unless Minneapolis is prepared to
take second rate position among the cities of
the West. We have not yet enough school
houses and bridges, while in nunlberless places
stagnant pools and ponds, bringing disease and
claim that street grading must not
cease. More than that, sewers must be built,
water mains laid, and before many months q
system of street paving inaugurated. Taxa
ton has just fairly commenced in Minneapolis,
} and the fogy statesmen who have run the thing
this Tar, must be compelled To take a back
seat the wheels of progress will be
thrown out OF gear. and the bats
and owls begin TO flap their wings loyfuly in
the prospect of making their homes in oul
mills, warehouses and store rooms.
If Mr.. De Laittre and his guild don't want to
pay three per cent. taxes there are two ways tt
5 avoid it without Gripping the growth of the
| city. First let them list their property
at hundred instead of fifty PEE
/ cent. of it's valuation, as the
poorer classes do, and the rate will not exceed
one and bali per cent; or secondly, let th'
city debt be increased TO a million and hal
G or even two millions by the issuance OF thirty
year bonds SO that The next generation ma,
S pay their proportion of the burdens. Blu
. above all, let this insane tax howlins
cease. 1t will cease when men look two inche
: beyond their nose and realize tie destiny tina
awaits city written in the book of fate
Another view of the case. 1t is noticeabl
= unfair to lay the blame of the over taxation o
1878 III there Is over taxatlon) upon the coun
+ ell, the school board aad the county board o
IS this year. The evil (if there is evll) simpl
e eliminates this year-the foundation was l.i
t when the legislative delegation in 1875 refuses
e to allow the issuance OF bonds to complete tn
" suspension bridge, and this brings us to sa
It that Mr.. J,hn De Laittre and his relative an
partner, w. w. Eastman, are by all odds til
- largest gamers by the heavy expenditures i
e the construction of the suspension and ston
: arch bridges. Their island properly has bee
d dou lied in value by the bulldog of thes
e. bridges. Does it not come with ba
s. grace from Mr.. De Laittre TO begin ia
g bowling when for three years the taxes
Is the entire community have been poured out t
t. enrich him and his relatives?
!. Please, sir may not some other portions
the city get little advantage from public tas
alton now without mourning your royal di
pleasure?
BY all means let a public meeting be called
but when it meets let The entire taxation que
ton be ventilated.