The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-03-05

was the amount assessed, the city would
derive quite an increased revenue from
this one source.
Second 1t seems futile to assess real
estate each and every year. Real estate
values are not of such tluctuating ma
ture. and if properly assessed, II seems
as if the same should stand for longer
| period, say two or FIVE years. This
would give stability to values and pre-
vent great variations IN our tax rate,
Third. The growing system OF gross
earnings taxation SEEM to my mind,
to need a check. No good reason can
| be advanced why corporations existing
in one municipality alone, should be
taxed by different rule fIom that OF
| other property in said municipality.
| The only reason which partially justl-
! fies the gross earnings system IN respect
! to railroad corporations is because of
| their passing through so many different
| taxing districts, that the assessments
+, lack one essential of taxation, to-wlt:
uniformity; ard the further reason is
that they are largely state corporations.
We find too much tendency towards
this system of taxation on the part of
smaller bodies, and 1t cannot be too
speedily prohibited.
Fourth. The matter of marine taxa
ton is a subject in which this city is
greatly Interested. 1t seems that Min
nesota's laws are more favorable to ves-
sci tonnage than ours. and We find yes
sells owned bv people in our city. hail
ing from Duluth. This, Of course, should
not be.
Fifth. AS the law now stands, railroad
companies are exempt from speclai
assessments for local improvement.
i = b., S.,t,
court, railroad companies have, without
objection, paid special assessments and
in orr opinion, the legislature did not
intend to exempt them from this species
! Of taxation This must be remedied the
coming legislature, as the public should
not be compelled to pay for special I'M
provements along the railroad property
any more than along the property OF
other owners.
Sixth. Taxes should be payable semi
annually. Under the present system
our city treasurer is very busy two or
three months in the year and ls Obliged
TO hire additional assistance. We're the
taxes PAYABLE semi-annually, ne would
be able to perform the duties of his OF
flee without extra expense to the city.
This plan would greatly aid property
owners and at the same time, prevent
the accumulation OF unnecessary large
sums of money in the various treasures.
Large reserves i'll public treasures
should be avoided.
Seventh. The relations between the
city and county respectively should be
modified. In the minds OF some. COM
plete separation OF city aud county
should be brought about it. 1t IL con-
| tended that the city and It's officers
seould haye the entire charge of our
NiIuanEAa TN
the burden on the county and III the
present confused condition OF affairs.
the belief seems justified that some I'M
provement can be made.
Eighth. The section of our charter
providing for the disbursement OF taxes
10y the city treasurer, as 1t IL generally
interpreted, is wrong i'll principle and
decidedly embarrassing in its practical
! application. BY the method pursued at
| present. the treasurer pays over all the
| money first due the state. then AL due
the school and library, then the inter
| est and principal on the public debt,
| then the amount LEVIED for Judgments,
! then the special taxes, then taxes. then
taxes for bridge purposes, then for fire
PURPOSES, then tor street and other
| public improvements, and lastly TO the
| county. Nowhere Is any provision made
| for setting aside taxes to pay the run
ming expenses of the city. My indiyidu-
| al Interpretation of this section is that
! by implication, the running expenses
| OF the city should first be set aside, or at
| least prOpOrtlonate amount Tor such
| purposes. All doubts regarding this
matter should be removed by proper
| legislation.
Ninth. The time actually DEVOTED to
discovery and valuation of property by
| the assessors is to NY mind, too short
! Instead of having three assessors who
! devote sixty or ninety days to the list
| ing and valuation of taxable property
| better results would be obtained had
| we but one man, who would devote his
| entire time to such matters. 1t is COM
| mon rumOr that MANY wealthy persons,
| under our present system Ofassessment
| are enabled to conceal much property
| upon which they should pay taxes. This
may or may not be the fact. The public,
| however, have become much dissatls-
| fled with the frequent repetition, and
| have come to believe that the burdens
| of taxation are not borne equally in pro-
| portion to the wealth of various citizens.
! This feeling of discomfort and Dispute
| tude is not confined to our city, but so
grave has become the effects resulting
| from it's belief on the part of the poor
! classes. that eX-President Harrison, in
a late speech delivered before the Union
| League club. in Chicago, attributed most
Of the existing governmental troubles
| to such cause The address is one mer-
lting the careful study OF every public
officer. 1t was delivered on Washing
toms birthday of this year, and the
| chairman OF our state revision commit
| tee, X. X. KEENAN,, Of Milwaukee. has
| a review of the same in the Milwaukee
Sentinel of Feb. 23rd. One portion
seems to deserve place in the commu-
nication, and | hope its eXhortatlon
may not fall on deaf ears:
"Ifthcre is not enough public virtue
| left in our communities to make tax
| frauds discredita bic; if there is not vlr-
ilitv enough left in our laws and IN the
administration of Justice IN our courts
| to bring punishment upon those who
detraud the state and their neighbors;
if crimes Of fraud may stalk unrebuked
and unpunisled IN our streets, how
| long viii it be until crimes of violence
make insecure the fortunes that have
| refused to contribute rateably TO HE
cost Of maintaining social order.
would therefor suggcst, without go
ing into further detail IN the matter,
the passage of a resolution by this body
| authorizing the appointing OF com
mission of six members who. with the
city attorney, as chairman, should take
up the various questions OF taxation
and prepare recommendations for adop-
ton Dv this body. The resolution should
provide tor a secretary to be appointed
by the committee, and such expenses
AS must be incident to the carrying out
OF it's work. The amount of compensa-
ton leave entirely IN your hands. 1t
seems as if enough public spirited men
might be secured who would give good
service without compensation.
A communication was also received
from the mayor advising the building
OF pier 10y the city at the point where
Hill aben"e touches Superior bay, for
/ the convenience of passenger freight