St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-07
MINNEAPOLIS.
NOTE AND COMMENT.

That devoted little band of financiers who
concocted the tax levy last fall should go
into business in partnership, and throw out
this sign: Manufacturers of Republican
campaign arguments. No charge. All work
done at the expense of the city" The sign
would he what few signs are, too-truthfnl,
especially the last part of il.
Last fall these watchdogs of the public
treasury put their heads together and kept
the tax levy very low. The Republican
papers published the proceedings OF the
body under flaming headlines. The cam
paign orators Numbered from every dry
goods box expressions laudatory OF these
noble hUsbanders of the publlcs spondullX.
Wild and terrific were the appeals for con-
tlnuance in office because of the compilation
of that seductive-looking tax levy. But the
levy was kept SO low for no other purpose
than 10 furnish the party in power with
campaign cry The city has suffered for it.
How: In many ways. The truth of why
this financial stringency was caused has but
Just slipped outaccidentally.
Yesterday, while the counil committee on
heslth and hospitals was pleading with the
ways and means committee for paltry
$1,000 with which TO build necessary crema-
tory. Aid. Lowell spoke up He said that
next year a couple of mills can be added TO
the levy and the city will have money enough
then. lie added, as II he believed IL should
Fave been done, that mill added to this
years tax levy would have given the city
Sl37. coo more than it has now. But it was
not done. The men who made the tax levy
were bent upon securing campaign argu-
ment Twas their only one, so they were
all the more determined. They must reduce
the tax levy. They did ii. What is the re-
suit: Here are a few:
The board OF education needs $4,000 to
build schoOlhouses and repair old ones.
Hundreds, nay thousands almost. OF chill
dren are deprived Of school privileges be-
cause there is no room for Them. The
fathers help support the schools and the
children are denied instruction. The school
board could probably get along with less than
$4,000, but IL can get not one cent. The tax
levy had TO be reduced. The fire depart
meut ueeds-not merely desires, but needs
q new headquarters building ana one
or two new engine houses. One
of these engine houses was ordered
last year. The tax levy had TO be reduced
and there is no money. The health depart
ment needs $1,000 to properly preserve public
health. II can't get the money because the
tax levy must be kept away down. Several
city departments notably the street lighting
department. are bankrupt But the Repub-
Hcans needed campaign argument. More
instances might be cited, but these will
Suffice.
Isn't that proud financial record? What
taxpayer would begrudge the addition of a
paItry mill TO his assessment when through
IL his children might enjoy school privileges,
his property might have fire protection, his
street might be lighted, his health protected?
Not one, But the Republicans would not
nave had that campaign argument then.
It Is scarcely possible that the Hepnepin
delegation viii submit to the two demands
of GOV. Merriam on the charter question.
The people who elected them scarcely want
them TO yield. II were better that the charter
be allowed to die and W r. Merriam be suf-
fered TO enjoy the fruits of his public expo
EitiOn as vacil!ating. plIable, narrow minded,
EubSerVlent lash-Obeving politician. For
such not statesman, he has shown himself
TO be-. The people OF Hennepin county
elected the representatives TO the legIsla-
ture to build new charter in
place of the thing of shreds
and patches which now passes as one. The
people. the vast majority, are satisfied with
permission 10 vote on it. Such vote would
be farce.
As for the governors other demand-that
the tenure OF Office OF the present city Off
Gals be conhrmed-iti is prepOsterous. rldicu-
lous in its assumption. Virtually, he says,
~ will not allow any municipality to govern
Itself as 1t pleases, unless my friends be
given ali he power, all the honor, all the
profit" Some of the present city Off
Gals are VIGOROUSLY incompetent. Yet Mer-
Tlam says that the mayor whom the people
elected and in whom the people have conf
dence. shall not replace them with compe-
tent men. No. These men may be useful
TO me, says the great Merriam, and they
must be fatted for my benefit" Napoleon
Ill, during the coup d'etat. was fawning
mendicant beside this dictator.
The Minneapolis bail team has won an ex-
hibltion game. Let US hope that the players
bear no resemblance to dress parade soldiers
whose brains are affected by powder smoke
The Evening Journal SAYS: 1.-The fire COM
mittee met at > o'clock and put in some time
considering whether the underwriters of the
GltG would submit an ordinance oJIlatIDg
the storage Of paints ana oils And the fire
committee never met al all
Donnelly won't need a cryptogram to re-
veal the hidden meaning of the Pioneer
Press answer TO his libel suit.