The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-28

them. The Ubiquitous system of assessing
DEMENT'S for parks and boulevards is only
one branch Of our erroneous methods. The
real cause Of complaint is not too much
taxation, but an unjust discrimination. OF
course to complete our system of sewers
and build the streets absolutely demanded
Tor immediate use, and to provide parks
and boulevards adequate to the demands
OF even the very near future requires
ready cash and great deal of it. Not
one In a thousand is prepared to meet these
necessary expenses, hence money has to be
borrowed A great many have mortgaged
their homes to meet these expenses rather
than submit to the cruel exactions of the
Barrett law but they have to pay to 8
per cent and must generally pay the prin-
clpaI IN I'VE years, which very few can do;
whereas the city can borrow at 8 per cent. ,
having thirty years in which to pay, re-
neWaole forever, for city bonds will always
De In demand. The Barrett law is the
greatest fraud Of the age. 1t is a fire that
our1S at Doth ends and in the middle CT the
SSanole. TO begin with. we have to pay
from III 10 70 per cent. more for the work
man man we would for ready cash; then We
nave to pay per cent. interest instead of
.; put, worst OF all, it must be paid on time
or eAuaVagant attorneys fees and costs
must De added Is this good business finan-
clerlhgE DO not we who are able to es-
cape these exactions impose unnecessary
burdens upon our poorer neighbors With
out any real benefit TO ourselves
tekkcept that 1t enables us to gobble up
Cnelr homes at tax sales?
put what is the remedy? The case re-
XulTes such heroic treatment that it is not
I'M 70 De treated at all until that bet
Ter system OF municipal government that
people are beginning to talk about shall
become a fact. There is no more reason
why every man who lives i'm a cftv should
take a part in the management Of The ritII'S
business than there is why every man who
rldes on a railroad should vote for direc-
t tpLS ana thus dictate the management of
fnC Ioau. "A CITY corporation differs nothing
from railroad corporation Those whose
sb 15g Is Is anected by this policy or that
Snould dictate the policy, and no other
AS matter of fact, a careful study Of orr
CITY duplicate shows that 60 per cent. of
me ~ voters OF the city never pay l cent
" td3eS ana therefore have no capital in
vested in the corporation-the pasgengers
ulctatlng the management of the railroad
YOU see ana a disastrous use they are
SOMEBODY suggested an amendment to the
CONSTITUTION which should restrict these
passengers TO corporate debt not exceed
iHS per cent. of the stock of the CORPORA
I3on' mat was so plausible that it took
me via nre, and the Constitution now
snouId vote for railroad directors or the
managers of any other corporation who did
not own stock in the corpora ton. The Con-
stltutlon might just as we'll provide tIat
no railroad or water works shoIId iss,1e
pohqs beyond per cent. of the paid-uD
STOCK as to tie the hands of a city cor
porduon, II only stockholders voted for di-
Tectors. But like the farce which forbids
local legislation, necessity has driven us to
9vddlng 1t by such shallow devices as the
Barrett law the park law. the school law
and other similar laws. Without figures TO
guide me venture to say that, Including
our school ponds, our Improvement bonds,
our park bonds and the individual mort
cages given to meet Improvement assess
nents, the debt of the city is more than
erty. P-NF
l do not object to the things represented
ny lhese aeDtS: There should be more OF
them instead of fewer; object to the un-
Just inequality of the burdens and the
greater interest we are paying in most
cases, this coming upon those least able to
pear It, would be glad to have Mr..
Stechhan tackle this problem Ny thought
IS to not allow mere passengers to Vote
Tor directors and then to assume that
stockholders in a municipal corporation
nave as much right to go in debt
on their own Judgment as stock
holders In a railroad corporation and
that the corporation should own everything
tnat the corporation, as such, needs, and,
as a corporation, do everything that is
needed to benefit it. Let US free ourselves
from the control of that 60 per cent who
pay no taxes and we would have little TO
complain of as to expenditures. -''-0 ~
Indianapolis, June "a L. l.. SEE.