St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-13

most importantd departments, or by abandon
ing improvements which are already begun
and the completion of which is an absolute
necessity.
1t is not apparent why the association
asks for reduction in the tax rate at this
time. In view of the rapid expansion of
the city and the corresponding increase in
requirements the citizens of ST. Paul have
been congratulating themselves that the
rate of municipal taxation has been kept as
low as it is. That there has been no popu-
lar demand for decrease is evident from
the fact that of the 800 or 900 members of
the Taxpayers association only about $50
of them thought it worth while to give
any sort of a response to the reSolu-
ton sent to them by the executive
committee. The reasons assigned by the
secretary of the association will hardly con-
vince the average taxpayer that reduction
is demanded. 1t must be remembered that
ST. Paul has passed beyond the require
ments of village regime. where district
constable can perform the entire police duty
of the borough and a volunteer company of
young men with ladders and buckets can
answer the purposes of fire department.
With population now Of over
1875, 1000, and absolutely certain to be a
quarter of million within less than five
years, it sounds little absurd to talk about
the city dispensing with or reducing its pO-
lice force or of curtailing the fire depart
ment. The demand Of the hour is an in
crease and improvement in both of these
departments. 1t is still more singular to
listen to the secretary's talk about the fail
IRE or even lack of efficiency in our school
system when only few weeks ago the New
Orleans exposition awarded to Minnesota
the grand diploma of honor on
the educational exhibit. We are not
prepared to dissent from Mr.. MAsoN's
opinion, that a reform might be accomplished
bya law protecting children of tender age
from being confined too long at time in
the school-room. On the contrary we are
disposed to agree with the secretary in that
theory. But that is matter pertaining to
the legislative department exclusively and
does not enter into this discussion. When
the Taxpayers association, or any other
association, undertakes to reverse
the wheels of progress by extin-
gushing, or even crippling, the
public school system, it has undertaken a
task that cannot be accomplished. What
was known as the old field school system,
where the children of neighborhood were
gathered into log cabin for instruction for
two or three months out Of the year, and the
teacher boarded around among the patrons
did well enough ON the frontier in the
primitive days. The civilization of this
age has progressed so far beyond the print
tive methods of pioneer life that it will take
several taxpayers associations to roll it
back.
Unless the ST. Paul Taxpayers associa-
ton can advance better arguments in behalf
of its proposed Is per cent. reduction in
the tax rate than those presented by its sec
rotary, it would do well to hang its harp on
the willow and refrain from making future
suggestions as to the financial management
of the city. ST. Paul is emphatically on the
upward road and is progressing to the great
destiny which awaits it. BourbOnistic
ideas and methods are not suited to its
wants.