The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-03


tons. The city being such large hold
er of these delinquent taxes will De COM
PEELED 10 employ an accountant TO look
after this additional burden in The future
Regarding the use of money received
from the paymen; OF special taxes, and
the issuing OF refunding bonds, L have
this TO say: The annual levy for special
taxes is made for certain portion OF the
principal; if all is paid them both bonds
and interest can De paid. We who are
paying interest on mortgages know that
il we are only able 10 collect enough 20
pay interest We will have TO extend or
renew the debt until such time as we can
collect something to apply on the princi-
pat II is the same with the city. IL
our citizens could secure a statement
from the county treasurer of the paving
TAX account for 1899 they would find that
this city received credit for less than half
Of the amount levied for that year. TAKE
.Idin street north OF Central and L be-
lieSe ;hat the treasurer's books would
show that not half of the lots fronting
the pavement had paid any tax for the
past tTo or three years. The special tax
es Of saver and pavement on these lots
amount 10 many times the general tax
levy. There is one matter. however. our
future city councils should take into con-
sideratior in making their annual tax
lev;es, and that IS that there are now
three years Of delinquent taxes charged
70 the city and quite considerable
amount OF il is being redeemed right
along, and this city should receive from
this source. during this year. near 81 600
This would make quite an item 10 take
account OF. Our light contracts expire
this year. We have the option this year
10 purchase our water works and for this
reason we should have a council of good,
Overloaded business men. The mayor,
while having a great influence, is simply
the presiding officer, and 1 believe il was
disagreement between one of our for
mer mayors and "a majority element in
the council that forced the metropolitan
police force upon US. If real economy is |
what is wanted, elect your proper men
and then stand by them and help them. |
The right of petition is the privilege Of
American citizens and if your council
undertakes TO curtail expenses and the !
tax PAYERS come in and protest by petit |
ton, don't blame the administra ton if
the prayer of the tax paying petitioners /
is granted. / am aware that there is d !
good deal Of politics in the present agi- |
tation. The public should have bojh !
sides and not decide ex-parte. We can |
not very we'll cut down the expenses in |
the maintenance OF our beautiful city, !
and while probably not worked to the |
best advantage.I don't think that the peo- |
pie who are doing the work upon our /
streets and public improvements can be 4
charged with having made a fortune |
within any reasonable number of years |
This department pays labor here al .
home; this labor spends its money with !
our business men, and business men rent /
our buildings; our property and buildings
pay our taxes, and aside from interest /
ard bonded debts. our taxes are dis,rib- /
uteG a and remain a home. I, amongst ]
others. have at times had 10 let my prop
cry go TO sale for taxes, and have COM
pla bitterly at times. and YET when
called upon To point out places for cut
ting expenses it is hard 10 know where
TO begin. Our fire department costs quite
a good deal. The firemen are our own
many of them married men,
Our electric light companies cannot be
making a great deal of money, and they
employ labor. We might do without a
good deal of our lighting, but will we?
want light on my corner. others want
them. toe. Pressure is put upon our
If they succeed we are glad
How are we collectively"
IrJ, Ior A. I
it the city takes gas lights
wherever mains are extended at so much
per lamp per year. l believe their fran
chise runs for forty years.
Let US summarize: