Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-11

ward constables and policemen are compelled
to do their duty
wise license system enacted by the Council
and vigorously enforced will reach a class Of
persons and property which has heretofore reap
ed the benefit OF the protection OF our munich
palities, dominated our streets, used them at
| VIII and brought no revenue to the Borough
! Treasury. The corporations that have their
system of pipes as net work under our streets,
open their bitches and trenches to connect the
consumer with the lines OF supply, and in most
cases mar the streets and leave pit hoes, breaks
or sunken lines, which in the end become bill
of expense TO the city make no return for the
privilege in the shape of direct tax for the
maintenance OF the munipal government. These
may all now be made the subject OF a license
tax end the matter should receive the prompt
attention OF the City Government, to the end that
the burden Of the ordinary taxpayer may be so
! far reduced,
! owners of property are compelled at their own
expense to lay and keep in repair the sidewalks,
and set the curbng in 'front.' of their loUs, and
see that the sidewalks are kept clean for the
use OF not only the property holders OF the city,
but also for the resident who owns no real estate,
The Act of Assembly under which we are or.
| ganzing empowers the Council to levy and col
lect poll tax. If this is levied It will reach a
class who enjoy all the advantages of good,
clean sidewalks and contribute nothing toward
their creation or maintenance, and to that ex-
tent Will reduce the amount OF taxes of those
who In edition to the payment OF ordinary
taxes, provide for us all the conveniences and
comforts of decenc sidewalks,
Milk wagons and huckster cats which are
| owned by non-residents, use the streets and
help to- wear them out. II these vehicles
should be broken or Injured by reason of de-
fecs in the streets. the municipality will be
called upon to pay the damages Under the
law the owners of these vehicles may have ina
| posed upon them a license tax and why should
they not contribute portion OF the funds nee
essary TO repair and fit up the streets they
use?
valuation OF all the taxable property in the
| City should be made In accordance with the
oath of the assessors-assessing the same " at
| Its actual value In cash for City purposes--to
the end tha' every man Shall pay taxes in ac-
cordance with his wealth whereby the smaller
property owners will not as heretofore be called
upon to pay an unjust portion,
| we reach all these hitherto exempt proper
ties, and persons and other interests which un-
der the borough system could not be taxed, but
| which there is no good reason for not insisting
upon their paying just pro portion OF the pub
lie burdens In return for the protection Afford
en- them, and make them bear their proportion
ate share OF taxation 1t will be found that aside
| from the great expense which the waste OF the
| HOOD has put upon us, In our new relation we
| will have more comforts, conveniences, and
| police protection with less expense to those who
in tile separate borough system heretofore bore
the burden OF maintaining the government. II
| should be noticed too. that the recent addition
| OF property TO the seventh ward OF Johnstown
| Borough, whose revenue and taxation did not
pass into the Borough Treasury, Will be source
| OF revenue, over and above the revenues of that
| borough before consolidation, That section
upon the VIGOROUSLY low valuation OF last years
| appraisement, stands in real estate valuation
alone at upwards of one hundred and eighteen
| Thousand dollars less than one-sIxth the actual
value OF the property.
Competent men must be selected to fill the
places and positions necessary to the organiza-
tion and carrying on OF the several departments
OF the city Government, and decent salaries
awarded for their labors. Good service re-
quires good pay. Ill paid men seldom wen
perform the duties of their positions.
While our revenues will be greater and de-
rived from some new sources OF taxation our
condition is such however, that, TO accomplish
all tine matters and things suggested, a debt
must be incurred Let It be incurred, despite
the whine of the mlser who growls at the pit
tance he pays in the shape OF taxes. Let the
city be built in accordance with the ideas Of
the present age, and, If it in1lcts a burden too
great for us to bear, let the bonds be OF long
duration, and leave a future generation dis
charge the debt, for they will entoythe blessing.
Progress, the people whose servants public Of
ficers are, want and progress they will have
The era Of Conemaugh Old Town, p when the
rude Indian dwelt in the Valley OF the cone
maugh, has passed. We are a civilized, en-
ligltened people, who live in the age OF pom
derous rolling mills, steel works, railroads.
street cars, telegraphs, telephones and electric
lights Wampum is no longer a commodity in
this Valley-Johnstown municipal bonds Will
sell above par.
These remarks have been more especially di-
rected to those upon whom the burden of Of
fetal responsibility viii fall, To the public |
may say-Be patient with your servants. Your
waste and desolate places cannot be restored in
a day. The task is great, the difficulties in the
way, many. It would be far easier TO build a
new City, than to rebuild Johnstown At every
turn, where grade is to be changed, street
opened, w!dened or Strengthened useless alley
vacated, a curb to be reset Or a sidewalk repair
ed or laid, some private, personal interest Will
be touched upon and growlers viii be
In the land, The voice Of lamentation
will be heard, the mean selhshness win carp at
the best efforts OF the officers to carry out gen.
eral plan OF reform and restoration. Faults Will
exist and will be committed, despite the best
efforts of those appointed to rule and govern.
The council OF the wise and prudent is needed
the forbearance and indulgence OF the best ele-
ment OF our people is invoked, and viii be found
necessary TO be OFTEN called into activity before
the task OF fully completing the organization of
the City, In all Its departments, and establish
leg order, system, convenience, and perfection,
where now confusion, irTegularity, inconven-
ience and imperfection exists, is ended, Years
must elapse before we recover from the calamity
OF our desolation and disorder. and every good
citizen must give his aid In order to accomplish
the end.
For myself, shall observe the admonition Or
Ahab, King of Israel who TO his boastful antag-
onist, Benhadad, King of Syria said Let not
him that girdeth on his harness boast himself,
as he that putteth 1t or" | shall, with deep
sense OF responsibility, enter upon the discharge