Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-21
Responsibility for the Occupation
Tax

TAX.
The REFLECTOR Is not the champion
Of the city occupation tax, nor is II
called upon to defend the action OF the
mayor, the city attorney nor the city
council through whose fundamentally
the occupation tax has become law
There is always a serious question 81
to the advisability Of taxing the pros
perlty Of any class Of citizens. IL is
system Of taxation that should never
be invoked except in cases of most
imminentlnecessity. The leyying OF an
occupation tax, and the levying OF I'll
income tax are always odious.
Whether the present city occupation
tax is the best, fairest and easiest way
70 raise money with which to pay the
city's Indebtedness which was allowed
to accumulate under the past city ad.
ministration or not, may be honestly
questioned.
There are some facts, however, that
must not be lost sight OF In the DIS
cussion Of the necessities which have
induced the city council to resort TO
this extreme measure. 1t will be
remembered that during Matteson's
administration The city paid very rev
Of the cily's obligations, but the taxes
were collected with the usual regular
ity, and the money nominally placed IN
the treasury for the purpose OF Great
ing little political buncomDe; WINE
certain city officials we're succeeding
In turning IL over" once OF Twice q
year for their own Individual aggrand-
cement.
All Tue "hlle THESE gentlemen "eio
enjoying the pleasure ana tne P'"n's
from the possession OF ABOUT slo'ooo
OF fIo'Ooo OF the puDilc iuhus' "''uou'
interest," the Guys ihueO'euneSs was
increasing anu 'n'eieS' was "'''"''"'
ing.
"neh MI NIsSiey Dec"'he mayor "o
iounu Tue Guy oVer"neiiIieu VII" u"
PAID oDlg"tionS' ana Guy water uep'
which 'nau Oeep a'io"eu w "cou'nul''o
uur'hg Ma'tesoh ent''o "u'ni'''s''"
ton without any honest "t'e'np' "
settlement but ny Juuicious anu "iho
inc present adW'uls'ia-
ton has settled tins water uutHliOn ht n
saving to the CITY OF something IKE
slS,OOO, ana has succeeded Ia hHKlhg
new contract with tue company al
An annual saving hereafter OF SZ,ooo'
Ihese settlements OF tue legacleS Oh
Matteson'H administration created the
necessity for the immediate payne NJ
It large sums OF money ana toge'hei
Win the annual interest thet must ue
'ald, and the payment OF about s3'Ooo
o satisfy the Clwperth"ait Judgment
will require large amount during the
coming year.
Some method OF raising these large
ums OF money to meet the citys
obligations, partly caused by the
neglect and poor management OF The
'ast administration, must be adopted.
'ne present city council ascertained
hat "a levy of nearly six per cent in
luding all taxes, on the assesSable
property OF the city, would not meet
he demands OF the city.
How to raise an additional $4,000
Without bonding the city was the
roblem that had to be solved. To
meet this demand the council decided
o adopt the temporary expediency OF
N occupation tax for the year 1894.
III the last administration had loaned
he 5000 which lay In its hands dur
ng the past two years even at the low
ate OF o per cent per annum 1t would
ave yielded the city nearly 81 600 and
here would have been no necessity for
he present administration to resort to
he extraordinary method of an occupa-
ion tax. But the city officials OF the
ast administration preferred to hold
no money in their individual hands,
Without interest, rather than settle
the water ouestion - mr. nIacs ~.
~, ' f"'' '"'
o the city.
In addition, rs further embarass
nent OF present administration, when
he outgoing officials saw they could
10 longer handle the,city q funds. instead