The true northerner., 1898-07-20
ABOUT SIDEWALKS.
"sEMI- OFFICIAL" STATEMENT TO THE PUB
Lie OF THE POSITION OF THE COUNCIL,

Lie OF THE POSITION OF THE COUNCIL,
Last week, through the councils or
gazette, Councilman w. r. Shrine told
his opinions we take it from
what he says are also the opinions of
the council-concerning the new side
walk ordinance.
First, he says there was an "over-
sight" in the ordinance, which is intend
ed to refer only to cement walks, and
that it will be corrected and republished.
Now this change would put an entirely
different aspect to the matter were it not
for the fact, as Councilman Shrine has
stated in a conversation with the
Northerner, that it is the intention of
the council to baild none but cement
aOdlkS, and that same statement has been
publicly made through the organette.
Now if the village intended to build
plank or brick walks by tax, and then
charge one-third to property owners who
desire the special privilege of a cement
walk, leaving the option with the prop
erty owner, the Northerner would have
no objection except that the mainte-
nance of plank walks is eXtravagant.
In the communication of councilman
Shrine, he says: During the past three
years, quite large amount of cement
walks have been built in the village and
in every instance the village has paid
one-half of the expense and the property
owner the balance. 1t seems to me that
to place all the burden at this time upon
the village is not only asking too much,
but it would be an injustice to those
who have already borne one-half the eX-
pense" While this argument may pre-
sent semblance of truth, we do not
think it will convince. The parties who
paid half were those who desired spe-
cial privilege above the other taxpayers
and property owners, and who were able
and willing to pay for it, 1t is no more
injustice to them to build cement walks
by general tax now, than it was when
public building of walks commenced and
the man who had at his personal ex-
pense constructed good, serviceabe
walks was compelled to at once pay taxes
to build walks for his neighbor who had
none.
Again, Councilman Shrine says:
Cement walks are of course much more
expensive than plank, and if paid for ex-
clusively by the village the process
would be slow indeed and many walks
would be in dilapidated condition be-
fore the rounds could he made BY the
proposed process Just one third more
walks can be built at no extra expense
to the corporation" There is the whole
thing in nutshell. The council dare
not increase the tax at present for gen
eral purposes, and so, rather than add
enough to build the zone third more
walk" it is proposed to do it "at no extra
expense to the corporation that is, all
the taxpayers instead, if Jones'
walk happens to be the one whose own
er is unfortunate enough to have it wear
out, his corporation tax shall be doubled
to repair it. In other words, the council
proposes to make an enormous increase
In the corporation tax of the individual
whose walk has not been rebuilt in
several years, although he has paid side
walk taxes all the time, in order that
other taxpayers may escape any addition
to their burdens.
Councilman Sirrine's explanation only
strengthens the opinion of the North
erner that the new plan is a mistake.
AS to councilman Sirrine's opinion
that the "Tax Payer" who wrote com
munication to the Northerner on this
subject, is the same party who caused a
circular to be printed and circulated op-
posing the waterworks, we would say
that Councilman Shrine is much better
posted than the Northerner if he has
knowledge as to who was responsible
for the circulars. We are of the opinion,
however, that the identity of the two
'Tax Payers" is widely different, as the
gentleman who wrote the communication
for the Northerner Ia man who has been
citizen and taxpayer here for quarter
OF a century or more) was to our certain
knowledge an earnest advocate of the
waterworks and assures us that he voted
for both the waterworks and sewer bonds.