The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-14
The City Charter.

We notice in the last weeks News an
article signed "A Voter and Taxpayer"
At the risk Of being stigmatized
kicker" by the aforesaid "voter and
taxpayer" if there be any stigmy at
tached to that term. we beg space for a
few words on the charter question.
During three years residence In De
Smet we have seen nothing. heard moth
ing to lead us to believe that as viii
lage We were moi in every respect as
prosperous. il not indeed more 80 than
many another throughout the country
that might be named. Moderate pros
perity is felt in all lines Of business,
while we do not have to sit idly wait
ing the tedious process Of recuperatiUn
from the demoralizing unhealthy boom,
30 called. Why not let well enough
alone. at least for the present. Accord
ing to the bill il defeated now, and we
believe it ought to be, most emphatical-
ly, 1t may be brought up again after
the lapse Of six months and during the
interval the matter may be thoroughly
considered, viewed in all its aspects,
then when again action Of this kind is
required, An intelligent ballot in accord
with our wants or needs may be &C.
cured; be 1t remembered that our necks
once in the yoke, and we cannot at will
retrace our footsteps, but only by the
Intervention Of the legislature can we
gain be modestly attired in village
habiliaments, and relief from this the
only source may be found exceedingly
tedious. Why this haste ? has any one
an AK to grind are the village inter
ests liable to irretrievable ruin by a de-
lay of six monthsg will De Smet take
the pill at the beck Of "voter and tax
payer" which he says over a non de
plume Is nicely sugar coated. while
still In a state Of health ? we trOw not.
Our actual needs would be as CON-
pletely met in al elevated street rail
way for our little handful of 800 citi-
zens as in the ridiculous farce Of city
charter with its three polling precincts.
1t is significant fact that in 1880 the
average public debt percapita in all the
principal cities of the U. s. was SLABS
while that of Kalamazoo, Mich, then q
village of Ii, 3,is52 inhabitants, was only
$l.s4 and whose reputation for improve.
ment, beauty and order was and is pro-
verbal.
The question Of "road tax" Is really
the only argument brought forward by
voter and tax payer" in favor of city
charter and that is one We should use
in opposing 1t. Money cannot well be
better spent than In making good the
highways leading into De:Smet. 1t
would indeed be strange coincidence
should the officers Of the highway dis
regarding entirely the needs of the vii
lage, persist in spending the road tax
outside Of the village, il not in accord
with good judgement. We need have
no fear from this source. Elect good
men to these Offices and then trust them
to spend the road tax where most re-
Quired, and DE Smet will not have fre.
quent cause Cor complaint. The state.
ment that government under city char
ter is no more expensive than under
our village charter. is at variance with
pretty uniform experience In other pla.
ces. The plan Of Ostracising nOn-prOp.
erty owners as "voter and tax payer
suggests, az a guard against schemes
Jobs etc, Is rs everyone knows Inn
practicable.
But finally, Mr.. Editor, il in the rusf
Of tightening improvements, Webster
shall hereafter have use for village
except as q thing obsolete only, and
pOstoffice and city are to become syn
onymous terms, let 1t be 80; but ~ tha'
time has not vet arrived, let us by al
means have the ''city" charter published
complete and then at the end OF anothel
six months we may make our action &C
cord with reason and judgment.
j. e. SMITH.