The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-16
SOMETHING TO BE SAVED.

Up to 1860, when the fire department was
changed from the volunteer to the pay sys-
tenn and steam engines substituted for hand
engines, the city expenses were compare.
lively light and the city tax too low to be
onerous Firemen, as a sort Of compensa-
ton for their services, were exempt from
that tax and from jury duty. out so little
was that tax felt that many fremen never
cared to take the trouble to get from the Sec.
retaries OF their companies the certificates of
membership that would have served to dis
thens. and paid the bill assessed
against them without giving the mat.
ter q second thought. In the last
twenty-five years, however. a change has
come, and the city tax is now heavier than
all other public burthens together. This
high rate, compelled by the bounties for
volunteers during the Civil War, was the
first experience of the change. Since then
there have been fluctuations running up
toward per cent, and down below 1, but
never 30 low as not TO fully balance the sum
of all other taxation. Now limit is fixed
and is unlikely, as well as undesirable, to be
changed. The amount of revenue is gov
erned, no. by the rate OF taxation, but By
the valuation of city property. This con-
dition OF things is an incentive to
make the city assessment higher than
that fixed by the State appraisment.
And the opportunity is offered for a varia-
ton by the annual valuation for city pur-
poses. Whether il is used or not, the chance
is there and will remain there, while two
systems of spprsisement are msintained. 1t
is the part OF prudent craftsmanship to re-
move this opening and motive for undue or
unequal valuation Of taxable property. 1t
may never work wrong but it may,
and no one can tell when it may. By re-
moving this opportunity for abuse OF the
power of appraisement for taxes future
trouble and annoyance may be averted, and,
what is more, source OF considerable aud
wholly useless expense will be cut of. The
City Assessors Office costs a considerable
J sum-we hsve not at hand the figures to de-
feminine lt-but little or much it Is waste
absolutely, for all that it does can be as ac-
curately and effectively done with
out it. With the sbrogation of
the City Assessors Office and expenses
should go the separate functions and cost of
the city treasury. The County Treasurer
can collect the city taxes with comparatively
small addition to his Office force and out
lay, AND he can be given ample compensa-
ton in percentage a good deal smaller
than IS deemed requisite for the msinte-
nance of q separate Office. La this measure
of economy all parties and all party organs
united. The Republican city press,
without sn exception, we believe-we are
not sure that tbs Journal has spoken out
unequiYocally about it, but all the Others
hsve-demsDds it; and the Democracy of
the county is pledged to il. The duty
equally OF economy and Of fidelity to party
pledges is imperative. The Democracy can
not neglect il or ignore 1t without injury.
| The city needs the money that cad be saved,
and the party needs the example of good
faith in the fulfillment of its promises, as
every party does when il pledges itself to
any measure OF reform.