Hutchinson gazette., 1901-05-23
out Of the Rut,

Monday night it became quite clear
that the city business is to be taken
from the rut in which 1t has been for
several years permitted to slide. After
the allowance OF the usual bills com
muncaton from the Mayor was read as
long as the presidents message and
containing much more practical inform
alton The first item in the message re-
ferred to the city's finances, arriving at
the final conclusion that II the city could
now be placed on cash basis It could
easily remain so, II also suggested that
II his information of the outstanding in
debtedness at the time Of issuing OF the
funding bonds four or FIVE years ago is
true the city has not run very much be-
hind since then. The suggestion is
made that the outstanding Indebtedness
be funded at low rate interest than the
warrants now draw. However II Is
dowbtful whether this will be done.
The message then recommends that
the salary Of the city clerk be reduced
to not exceed Sa5 co per month and he
be required TO be in his office only at
certain hours, The same recommends
ton is also made in regard to police
judge, 1t also recommends that one
OF the policemen be also street com.
missioner and overscer Of the poor, and
he be not paid more than s35, per
month.
1t is recommended that for the pres
ent there be no appointment Of city en-.
gineer.
II is recommended that an effort be
made by the city to recover its proper
ton of interest on lots sold for taxes and
bid off by the county and which have
been redeemed, lis said the city has
not received this benefit and that the
amount would probably be from $1,000,
to $4,000.
The mayor then comes toa recon-
mendation which may create something
of howl from the country, 1t says;
"An examination of the assessment rolls
shows that while real property as agen-
eral rule in the city OF Hutchinson is as
sessed at about one third its actual
cash value that the various trustees of
the other townships Of Reno county gen
orally assess the real property at from
one fifth TO one SIKH Of its actual cash
value The result is that the city Of
Hutchinson pays more than double its
proportion of the county and State tax
The message further says "The county
authorities say that the city is respon-
sible for this because its assessor does
not follow the same policyas the town
ship trustees and make the assessments
in the city equally low. presume
this is largely done because by follow
ing this plan enough money can not be
raised to meet the actual and necessary
demands of the city," The city is ad-
vised to insist on a horizontal increase
in all assessment out side Of the city Of
Hutchinson by the board, The board
of equalization recommends that no
substitutes be allowed to work out poll
taxes and cash payment Of $500 per
capita be levied for the improvement of
the streets. This is another recommen-
dation" therefore recommend that an
ordinance be Immediately passed to per
nit abutting property owners to appropri
ate certain amount of the to
street for parks similar to the
parks now maintained on some of
the street."
1t is stated in the message that parties
owing the packing house for erection OF
which the citizens of Hutchinson gave
large amounts Of money, and other prop
perty owners have through the courts
secured decree setting their property
outside the cooperation limits and thus
escaping the payment Of taxes justly
due the city to the amount Of about
100000 per year. The mayor thinks
these proceedings are illegal, never hay
ing been appoved by the council as
provided by law. The city assessor has
therefore been instructed to list the
lands and the county attorney at the So
icitation of the mayor has recommended
the county clerk to place them on the
tax rolls.
The prohibitory law is given consid-
cradle attention, stating that the law is
probably being violated in this city. 1t
recommends the immediate passage Of
several ordinances to conform with the
statutes passed last winter One of
these is to make the penalty for violat-
ing the ordinance the same as for violat-
ing the statute, An occupation tax Of
$4,000 per month upon dealers selling
"soft drinks" or liquor containing so low
a per cent of alcohol as to escape the
prohibtory law, is recommended. These