The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-06

about N,90O,OO
THE cITYs TAX RATE.
Believing as do in the broadest govern
ment by the people ! am i'm favor OF
making the city the sole judge OF what It's
tax rate should be. i believe that the city
is better able TO Judge OF it's necessities
than is any legislature, and believe that
placing this responsibility upon the city
council and mayor would result In greater
care on the part OF the electors In the
choice OF those Officers.
/ am, therefore, in favor OF applying to
the general assembly for the passage Of
a bill granting to the city of Providence
the right TO determine for itself what its
tax rate shall be. j am opposed TO the
custom which has increased much in past
years of going 10 the general assembly
for permission 10 borrow money for many
small undertakings which should be paid
for when incurred. / refer 10 the building
OF small school houses, of fire and police
stations, and of repairs on public build
ings.
Very recently measures have passed
the council authorizing the city solicitor
"a apply TO the general assembly ror per.
mission to borrow $4,000 for a fire station,
and S2O, 900 for changes and repairs in the
city hall. Gentlemen, this is not good
business We should pay az we go for
such expenditures. l am told that IL is
impossible TO do this with our present tax
levy, and ] readily believe It. My remedy
therefore is as follows:
Apply TO the general assembly for an act
authorizing the city council in February
OF each year TO determine what public
building and sites for the same shall be
erected on purchased or what extraor-
dinary repairs upon public buildings shall
be made during the next succeeding fs-
cal year, and the amount OF money which
will be required TO erect such buildings
and purchase such sites, not TO exceed IN
ths aggregate 100000 in any one year,
and 10 add such a sum 10 the annual tax
rate OF the city as should provide the
amount OF money thus determined upon
In the first annual tax to be assessed
thereafter and TO appear upon the tax
bin as 4 separate item with the purposes
for which the amount was raised desig
mated thereon.
At the present tax valuation II the en-
tire amount of 100000 was assessed it
would amount only TO an increase of 4
tribe more than Ave cents on 800 valua-
ton. So that the man paying a tax on
$1,000 would find that he was asked 10 pay
50 cents. or the man who was taxed on
$4,000 10 pay s. extra for the building OF
set Forth upon his tax bill
The very fact that he knew the purpose
for which the additional tax was levied
would In my opinion I'm many cases pre-
vent the natural objection 10 any IN
crease OF tax Publicity is what We want
I'm matters of taxation. and 81 the people
know for what their money is used (aS
they have the right 70 know. they Will
be less apt To object 20 their taxes.
INCREASE -oF LICENSE FEES.
l also strongly recommend an increase
in the fees FOR licenses for the sale of
intoxicating liquors. Ia the neighboring
state OF Massachusetts the-fee-feF q
retail license Is not less than 5000: i'm 81.
Paul and Minneapolis and IN Nebraska
IT Is the same. In Pennsylvania IL does
not exceed 5000; in Atlanta. Ga, it IS
1920. Why should our license fee not be
at least $1,000?
IL 1t resulted in a smaller number OF
saloons the result need not be deplored. and
even with half the present number 81
would net us n larger revenue. / am,
however. Of the opinion that the number
of licenses granted would not materially
diminish. while the revenue would be
more than doubled
IL il well known that more than $1,000
Is frequently paid for tho sale Of a H.
cense when the limit to be granted has
been reached. The net revenue OF the
city from this course could, ] believe with
certainty, be increased from tl200O0 to
5000 900 by fixing the price OF retail H.
censes at $1,000. the price AZ which they
are granted I'm the neighboring small city
Of Taunton. I recommend the appoint
ment OF a committee to bring the matters
relating 20 taxation 20 which | have re-
ferred before the general assembly at
its next session