Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-03-26
The Taxpayers Meeting.

hhO"u us tne taxpayers Union WAS not
so well attended as was hoped it would
| be.
Mr.. Wells was unanimously chosen
chairman and Mr.. VIM. G. White secre-
taly.
Dir. Sanford moved that a committee Of
five be appointed for the purpose of per-
!ectlng the organization by drafting n
constitution and bylaws and naming the
officers for its government. Carried
MIR Mcclure stated that he was IN sym
pathy with the movement and that he be-
lleved that such an organization would
be OF great service TO the city of James,
town, but he believed that a committee
appointed on the suggestion of Mr.. San
ford was altogether too small. That if
the organization would succeed it must
make its platform broad enough to extend
beyond local jealousies, and that he
would therefore move that the vote by
which it was decided TO appoint such u
committee be reconsidered.
Mr. Hewitt SAID that he hoped the mo
ton would not prevail, and moved that
it be laid on the table, which motion was
carried
A lengthy discussion ensued in WHICH
Messrs. Sanford and Griffin took prom
inent part touching upon basis of repre-
sentalion In the organization.
Mr.. Wells thought that the line ought
to be drawn somewhere, and that in his
opinion the man who paid the most taxes
had the most right to say how the money
delivei from taxation should be cxpend.
ed He did not think that tho man who
only paid poll tax 0, one dollar was en-
titled to the same voice as the man who
paid much larger tax. He thought if
the organization was gong to take in all
taxpayers it woald not succeed
Mr.. Klaus wls in favor of letting every
taxpayer, no matter whether he paid fifty
cents or fifty dollars, have voice in the
organization.
MIR. Dodge thought that il they were
gong to have Taxpayers Union uron
the basis suggested by Messrs. Griffin,
GrinDell and Sanford they coulu not avoid
taking in every one il the city above the
age Of 81. He thought that the man who
only paid small tax Was entitled to the
same voice, as matter equity, as the
man who paid large tax. That it was
just as important to that man to protect
his little so far as he was concerned as it
was for the heavy taxpayer to project his
interests.
Mr. Mcclure thought that it would be
good plan, by way Of effecting an or.
ganlzation,. for the committee of five that
had been appointed hy the chair to 20 to
the tax book and commence with the
heaviest taxpayer in the city continuing
down through the list until one hundred
names had been selected. These one
hundred taxpayers to meet in conven.
ton and elect from their numb.r twenty
sr~ss g. aez7s7-s,.iiv- 7..ou'a lz.=--,-s,
draft constitution and bv. laws to gov.
ern the association, etc.
MIR. White though not exactly agreeing
with the suggestion thought 1t reason
able one and thought that it would be the
proper basis upon which to work.
MIR. Griffin thought that resolution
should be introduced at once asking the
city council to repeal the salary ordl
nance.
Mr. Klaus stated that he understood
the present council could not change the
salary ordinance owing to certain pro-
visions in the charter.
Mr.. Sanford said that he had procured
a city charter today, and that the first
thing that caught his eye was clause
which provided that the city council
could increase the salaries bnt not reduce
them.
Mr.. Dodge was called upon to explain
this mysterious passage who referred to
MIR. Rose who was present, stating that
Mr.. Rose drafted the city charter and
could probably explain.
MIR. Rose said that his attention was
called to it this afternoon and that he was
satisfied it was a misprnt, that 1t did not
appt ar that way in the original, but read
right the reverse.
Mr.. Griffin said that the present candi.
date for mayor was making great preten
sions toward economy, but that his prom.
ises so far as he could see amounted TO
nothing.
Mr.. Sanford thought the council would
be powerlcss to do anything towards re.
duction of salaries for the next eleven
months If IT was true that no existing
council could lawfully lower their sala-
rles, as would seem to be the case.
Following this hot discussion was en-
gagged IN by Messrs. Sanford. Griffin and
others of their way of thinking who pour
ed red hot shot into the city council and
the present candidates for office. The
gentlemen thought that they would bear
watching
MIR. Dodge said that he would recon-
mend that Mr.. Griffin publish an article
In the Capital under the head o. can
open letter. and sign somebody else's
name to it.
MIR. Vennum SAID that lie had been
taxpayer in jamestown for long time
and that he believed that the stub books
In the treasurer's Office would bear him
out IN the statement that he paid yaore
taxes than the gentleman of 'open let.
ter' fame.
Mr.. Mcclure stated that If 1t was the
purpose of this organization to cast re-
Elections upon the city council he did not
believe it would be success. He did not
believe IN debating to the city council or
abusing them in any way.
On motion of Mr.. White meeting sd-
journed subject to call of the committee.
ho 10 in in efofy 10