St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-13
TALK OF UNION.
Shall st. Paul and Minneapolis
Become One?

ohaiA ots dut anu MinncdDOliS
Become One?
This question is one in which every
citizen of st. Paul has personal inter
est. Should the question ever come up
for vote, it must be evident that every
one in st. Paul, voting. will vote as he
thinks will benefit st. Paul directly and
himself indirectly. 1t is essential,
then, that we think correctly
on this matter. Before adyanc-
ing any comments on this sub
Jeet let it first be understood that my
sympathies, interests, as we'll as all my
worldly possessions, are conferred in
this city, and that | am heart and soul a
st. Paulite first and Minneapolite sec
ond. If l differ from the views
OF any st. Paul citizens, it
will be because the benefits
to this or both of the cities have not
sufficiently come to my knowledge
to satisfy me. The contemplated move
is a grave step, involving some compli-
cations, and should be made only upon
the matureSt consideration, after thor
ough discussion upon all sides of the
question. Let it be understood, too,
that if l advance any objections to the
measure it will not be necessarily be-
cause l oppose it, but more to have those
matters which seem an objection to me
cleared UP by those who have studied
all the advantages. One of the strong
est points in favor of the union. as l I'M
derstand it, is that as united city of
about 100000 we would have more
power to compel advantages in transit
facilities: could command more traffic,
and be better able to compete with the
other great cities. 1t is undoubtedly
true that a very large city draws
towards it more trade, and can
command certain mercantile adj
vantages, but we must not forget that
in the case of our cities we virtually
have the advantage in most matters of
city OF the combined population, and
escape some of the disadvantages. In
other words, railroads center here, not
on account of st. Paul alone, but be-
cause of both cities. Trade centerS here
for the Same reason, with the extra adj
vantage that competition affords in the
minds of some, so that, while would
not say that it may not make some DIFF
ference one way or the other, it would
not be material enough to venture upon
the experiment of union unless there
are other advantages to follow: and it
might be added, too, that in matters CT
real mercantile and railroad Importance
the two cities have in the past. and al
ways will III the future, unite. 1t is for
their interest to do SO. Some people
favor the scheme for the pride thew
take in saying that they 'live in
a city having 100000 inhabitants.
This, of course, should not be taken into
account. Others favor the measure
who have property between the two
cities Il have some), thinking it would
enharce its value. We should all be
public-Spirited enough to avoid such
selfishness. And, lastly, there are those
who advocate the measure, thinking the
government of the two cities could be
run cheaper jointly than singly, and
that it would reduce taxes. If this is
true | would cheerfully favor the union,
provided always that is would be run in
the line of morals and order as well.
If we can profit by the experience of
other large cities, like New York, Phil
adelphia, Chicago and others, the re-
verse will be shown to be true, and ex-
penseS and taxes will be seen to be pro-
pOrtionately higher.
While by the union of city govern
mentS some of the officials may be dis
pensed with, the balance of officials
will Immediately show what extra bur-
dens they have under such large cor
pOration. and salaries will be advanced
to more than offset the difference in the
numbers of officials. AS many clerks
and ministerial officers will be needed:
as many or more policemen, and cues
ton, whether under this one head of
Officials" there will be any saving.
Secondly, corruption, misappropriating
public funds, and jobs of every kind al
ways abound more in large cities than
smaller organized ones. The officials
are farther aloof from the scrutiny of
the people. This is practically proven
by the much higher tax rates in our
large cities. Our tax rate for 1887, upon
an assessed valuation of so per cent,
and including state and county,
was 20 mills. In Philadelphia,
the same year, it was 1850 mills upon
a full valuation, or 81 mills upon the
same valuation as st. Paul; Cincinnati.
25.40 mills; Baltimore, 20.77; New York,
2l,6o mills. | didn't get tax rate of Chi
cago, but it likely is fully up to the pro-
portion. The taxes for st. Paul in 1887
were higher than usual, the rate is
usually about II to Is mills, l took that
year,aS l had no data for the other cities
in other years. My figures for all but
st. Paul are taken from the work of r.
L. Ely on taxation. In Baltimore the
assessment on real estate is near its full
value, and [ presume the same is true
in the other large cities. lido not think
it needs further argument to show that
the larger the city the more extravagant
and waSteful public functionarieS are
of the peoples money and the higher
the taxes. The time may come when
public officials will have less personal
jobs to handle, and will attend to the
economical administration of their trust
to the people, but until that time comes
the smaller we remain the less the
taxes at least. Proportionally. a large
city, even with all improv ements civil
lied necessities of life demand, ought
practically it costs more. My position,
then, is that by the union taxes will
not be reduced, but are likely to go up.
Is it not also true that the healthy
and good-natured competition between
the two cities has been one factor of
the actual growth and life OF the cit
les? Where the one started a public
enterprise, like q new court house, a
public library, an electric railroad, the
other was sure to follow and go one bet
ter? Have we not grown fully as much
as the filling up of the surrounding
country would warrant? And should
we not take a lesson from our expert
ence of 1885 and 1856, and avoid the
forcing of greatness, by booms and 9TH
erwise. but rather do the best we can in
a natural and business-like manner? |
present these views not in a spirit of OBJ
lection or opposition, but to help bring
out all the ideas upon. this subject so
that we may act with proper Judgment,
and to the best interests of both of the
cities. Ii. I'll. HERBsT,
Jan. o, 1890.