Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-26

street improvements, the log cal result
Of which would be the taxation of the
poor for the benefit of the rich. Il
urges that the expense of grading and
paving Monroe, Ottawa and other prin-
cipal streets should be met by general
tax on all the taxable property IN the
city, because the streets are used by all
the people. This theory has been pre-
sented before and has met with prompt
and emphatic dIsapproval. The major
democratic organ, The Leader, appeared
last evening with a singing criticism
of the MINOR organs sophistlcal reas-
oning and IN clear and convincing
argument demolished every PROPOSE
ton made by its morning neighbor.
street Improvements are made pri-
marty TO facilitate travel and IN this re-
soeet benefit not only the citizens of
the city, but those living in the suburbs
and rural communities who are drawn
hither for pleasure and business. If
The Democrats argument were good,
the cost Of improving streets should be
borne by those residing IN the country
because they enjoy the use OF them in
common with the city taxpayers and
the large numbers that pay no taxes
except III the form Of rent. But street
improvements enhance the value of
abutting property while adding moth
ing TO the value of the home of the
poor man situated on an outlying
street. The Democrat would have the
poor man pay for enhancing the value
of the great blocks owned by the
rich men. Whenever street Is
improved in front OF q mans premises
the sale and rental values of the prem
ises are advanced. The Leader quotes
as an instance the inrease in rentals on
Canal street following the asphalt inn
provement- 1t cannot be denied that
such improvements are beneficial TO
the city at large, but so is the building
of great factories where many men are
employed, but the minor democratic
organ would not urge that the people
be taxed to pay for factories which III
crease the revenues of the owners,
while beneftting the whole city. Yet
it would tax the poor home owner to
enrich the landlords. Strange doctrine
that for free trade organ.
SPEAKING of the diabohcal way in
which the republican party has "squan-
dered the surplus" the New York
Tribune says it is important to note
that the Interest-bearing debt of the
United States has been reduced since
the inauguration of President Harrison
in the sum of over s27s,OO0, 900, and
that the annual interest charge which,
when be was inaugurated, amounted
to s3I SIS, $3.50 was, on June 80, 1892,
only S22, Sg3, $500, decrease of SILL
| 6s4. $3.50 or abou, one-third. The in
tellIgent and unbiased, home-loving
people of the United States viii not lie
misguided.
DUS q C0NPANY's weekly review OF
the business outlook is generally en-
couraging. and marked activity is
noted IN q number of leading depart
nsnts of industry and trade This is
bad campaign material for the chronic
| fault-hnders who are always claiming
that the country Is ruined, or Is going
/ TO ruin.
| AN0THER strike lnaugursted with VIC.
lence, bloodshed and arson has termi
mated in failure. 10 couldn't have end
Ell In any other way. Labor must begin
70 learn tins lesson before It will begin
20 win when rs cause is just. The
strikers we're ght n demanding reliet
from long hours, but they we're wrong
IN using violence TO enforce it.
"
wrrH an sotive aud energetic cam
"a gn insugursted n the west, the
democrats are gang hopefully at the
prismatic coiors az promised success
I There VIII be a very "tred' feeling
among enc members Of The rainbow
I chasing corps when the November
clouds thicSeu.
I OvtVe 60 the tissimHsrity Of the cur
i rent pictures az Columbus it = proposed
chat scene be substituted for h.s VIZ
nette on ths souvenir half dollar pieces
The scene in the democratic house
4