The herald., 1897-01-12
FOR REDUCED TAXATION
Levanting Officials Furnish . Pertinent
Object Lesson
What q 81 Tax Rate Might Be Made
to Do in Adjoining and Beautify-
ing the City.

The city tax levy, while varying slight
ly from year to year. sometimes higher
and then a little lower, has tended dur
ing a series of years decidedly upward.
1t has ranged from s1.10 to $1.40 per
S100 of assessed valuation, and the tax
payer has had no other alternative but
to pay up and look pleasant-if he could.
and II not, just do the other thing.
But an alternative is now placed be-
fore the long-suffering taxpayer, and If
the adage is true that the average mans
most sensitive point is his pocket, he
will plump his vote on Wednesday, the
goth inst, for the new charter and not
against it.
There are many odd features In conec-
ton with the receipts and disburse-
msnts of the city government which are
being closely scanned just now by those
citizens who are desirous Of relief from
the burdens of unnecessary taxation.
First of all it is notable fact that for
years past some official or the other
has under each administration skipped
out with more or less of the city's
funds in his possession. While this is
appointment to office heretofore followed
and potent argument in favor of ex-
ecutive appointment. under the check
of the city council, 1t is. perhaps. more
biting reflection upon the method-or
lack of it-in administering the financial
affairs of the oity. The city taxes ag-
gregate about $65e.e00 and the safe
guards under which 1t is disbursed
leaves much to be desired 1t must be
remembered. too. in this connection that
a sum in the neighborhood of $250.000
is collected yearly for street improve
ments. which Is altogether apart from
the city taxes. In the latter instance
an assessment district is formed and
the amount of improvement assessed to
the several property owners. The mode
in which this large sum is expended,
under contracts for the proper eXecu-
ton of the work, is far from rigid and
feaves many loopholes for laXity as well
as actual dishonesty. should an official
choose to abuse his trust. The city
has had ample proof of this state of
things in the past, and quite recently
one city official found it convenient to
leave for parts unknown, and the grand
jury is now exploiting his books for the
purpose of finding the total deficit,
More recently still another illustration
was given of the loose financial system
in vogue when a clerk of the police court
levanted with funds that, had stringent
methods been followed, could not have
accumulated in his hands. While these
men are guilty of dishonesty, those who
are responsible for a financial system
that permits a subordinate to be sub
mitted to temptations that in no way
appertain to his position, or appoints
in charge of a. department a man other
than one of known probity and capac
ity, is really more guilty than the cul-
prits themselves If they refuse to rem
edy the evil for which themselves are
responsible. In this latter position every
taxpayer and voter in the city stands,
and the remedy is in their hands.
But while taxation IS too high and is
proving burden to the taxpayer, there
is yet another side to the question. The
people have not received a proper re-
turn for their money. AGuSion has been
made merely to the disbursing of the
public funds, but the kindred question
incidentally indicated by the remarks
on the officials who left the city for the
city's good, of collecting the various
taxes is one ever liable to abuse under
the existing system. There are depart
ments of the city government where it
Is now almost impossible to keep an ac-
curate check on the moneys collected
and the word of the official who makes
collections is all that the city has to
depend upon. Whether the fact that
some men assume office, while in most
moderate circumstances, at a very mod
crate salary, and blossom forth after
their term of Office has expired as owner
of most pretentious residence and are
able to engage in most lucrative ven
lures, has any connection with the loose
financial system practiced by the city
hall must be a matter largely of indi-
vdual opinion. 1t may be accepted as
q fact. however, that had the city thor
ough business men in all the depart
nlents, a levy OF 60 cents on the 500
of assessed valuation would more than
have sufficed to have done all that has
been done. With q rate of 81, and the
funds judiciously expended, there IS no
reason whatever why the improvement
in the city should not go on apace, the
streets be more generally improved, the
parks laid out and new plans devised
for adorning and beautifying what may