The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-29
COMPARISON
is INVITED
To Record of Ben Mclean on
Tax Assessment.
GENERAL LEVY LOWER
Than Under Preceding Ad-
miniStratiOn.

In the present city campaign there is a
great deal Of discussion pro and con with
reference to the question Of taxation 1t
is claimed that the taxes were higher last
year than the year before. 1t is also
claimed that the present administration Is
responsible for the raise in taxes The
truth is that the city assessor in making
his last assessment raised the valuation OF
q few pieces of property. Any man VINO
has paid higher rate of taxation can at
this time sell for a great deal more money
than he could two years ago, BESIDES get
more rent The city assessor was appoint
ed nv Mr. Ross. His time expired the
first of the present month Whatever
has been done IN the way OF raising Nalu-
ations has been done on his own motion
under oath. And If the assessment has
been incorrect, erroneous or wrong IN any
respect, the county commissioners are the
board of equalization, and every man had
the opportunity to meet the county com
,nissiohers, whose duty it is to hear them
and adjust any differences with reference
10 taxes. However if Mr.. Ross trienos
Insist that it should be laid TO any ao-
ADMINISTRATION, it should be charged up to
the Ross administration, as the present
MAYOR had no more to do with the duties
Of the city assessor than any other lndl-
vidual during the last year, as his ap-
pointee held out that length of time
If the city assessor has made mistakes
he should be held responsible and the adj
TIiniStration under which he received ms
appointment For the last two years the
general levy for all purposes made by
the council has been twenty-three mills
as against twenty-four mills under the
preceding administration.
The question is being asked, What has
become of the money? The answer Is
that nearly $3.50, 600 in bonds and coupons
have been paid during the last two years
This administration having paid all bonds
and coupons without refunding any Of
them The current expenses of the city
government has been paid, the general
appearance of the city has been kept up,
the pavement repaired and a good many
thousand dollars has been spent in the
fire. department in the purchase of hose
and different equipment. There are more
men in the fire department, more money
has been expended in the city engineer
Office, and more money has been expended
on the streets This administration has
attempted in careful judicial business
like way to keep up with the private in
dividuals in their improvements. 1t is
claimed by some that some $4,000 of bonds
and coupons due are lying in the banks
In this city. Any business man VIII know,
who will stop TO consider this proposition
five minutes, that banks don't buy bonds
and coupons past due and there is not
syllable of truth in the statement.
It is claimed that on the first of January
bills at the City building were not paid,
amounting to $4,000. The best evidence is
the records in the city clerks office, which
will show that every bill was paid on the
first OF January excepting one Of $473
which the committee turned down. The
truth is that this administration has been
Just as conservative, just as business-like
Just as honest. as any other admnistra-
ton in the history of the city. The bust
ness conditions of the city are in a more
healthy condition than at any other time
for fifteen years. This is evident. and no
man doing business Will undertake to
deny the statement
There is still n great deal of insincere
or ignorant talk about the moral condi-
ton of the city. All the people have got
10 do is TO make a careful comparison be-
tween the conditions at the present time
and those of a few years ago. They viii
find, instead Of a worse condition. a much
improved condition. They VIII find that
there has been no public prize-hghts in the
Auditorium. publicly advertised. They
will find that the Zeninger building has
not been rented Tor cock-fghts, and that
the cock pit in CInes barn has been torn
down. In fact. cock-fights have been
abolished all over the city. There was
but one cock-fght under Mclean, when
the parties were arrested and fined $50
and the sport broken M. They Will find
that the saloons have been closed on Sun
day that were open under the preceding
administration. They viii find less bawdy
houses and under better control They
will find from these sources. having no
Be- more in the aggregate. that there has
been turned over TO the city treasurer
about Hl.Soo more than under the former
administration