The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-04-08
CARD FROM NIX. WILSON,:

a SAnO %HOiA NM. HxXNON.
DEwALD, MIMI, April S, 1885,
At our annual town meeting two
years ago Mr.. Dowd moved that we
have $3.50 special road tax. Mr.. Max
well moved rs an amendment that we
have $40. The amendment was Sec
onded and entered on the books.
There was no reason for making this
special tax; there was no mention
where it should be applied; it was a
general road tax to be used at the dis
erection Of the supervisors and road
overseers. Mr.. Dowd says he expected
this tax to be collected in money.
What advantage would it be to
compel the farmers to pay their
road tax in money and then hire them
to work the road? Mr.. Dowd says he
expected the supervisors to levy an
other road tax. Now I admit did
not understand the special feature of
this tax, so did not make a motion
for another, and if the clerk or the
other supervisors understood the spec-
ial feature of this tax and the necessity
! of another, they should have called
my attention to it and made motion
| to levy another. After tho clerk had
reported this road tax to the auditor
and had also made out the road lists,
it occurred to him that we should
have to pay them twice. He men
toned it to me. l said l did not
know what the auditor wanted the re-
port for. but if it was for collection.
and the town clerk had put it on the
road lists, We should have to nav it
twice, but would 60 and see Mr.
| Mills. Next day l went to see him.
Asked him if he had the report from
Mr.. Bedford; he said yes; I asked him
If it was for collection; he said yes; T
told him Mr.. Bedford had put it on
the road lists and asked him if We
would not have to pay it twice; he
said yes; ( said did not think the
taxpayers expected to pay it twice and
asked him what we had better do. He
said: Make out a new report and omit
| the road tax.
An official return by a town clerk of
sums voted authorizes and directs the
auditor to extend amounts 80 reported
on the tax list of the current year
against taxable property of the town.
| "A return of $500 for roads and bridges
| w WIZ N"NhNy duu V<VV pldCtu
OH the lists Of the overseers of high.
ways. made tax levy of $780, Such
All amount had not been authorized by
vote, nor by the board Of supervisors.
A mistake had been made somewhere
one list or the other had to be with
drawn or Cancelled. The $500 voted
could be legally assessed and collected
in either of the two different ways,
but could not be legally collected both
ways. We simply followed the prece.
dents which had been established in
this town in prior years. and which
has since been followed, of making
collections on overseers lists, giving
people chance to work il they preferred
to do so. This course as a rule is
deemed best. Roads are repaired and
we get the benefit of taxes paid one
year in advance Of collections made
through the county treasurer. Thus
we caused to be levied all the road tax
voted-reasonable people could not ex
pect more. They voted down a prop
osition to raise $3.50, making it $500
instead. Since then the same persons
have been grumbling because we did
| not help to carry out plan for making
It twice that amount. We have acted
conscientiously and honestly, with a
view OF carrying ont the expressed
wishes Of the people, and Of promoting
their interests in every possible way.
THOMAS WILSON.