The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-12-10
Former Town Chairman Writes Re-
gardin9 Town Affairs.
GIVES HIS VIEWS ON TAXES
Compares Tax Rates and Other Matters of
Concern Of This Years Administra-
ton and Of His Own.-Discusses
Public Affairs.
EDITOR OF THE WAsHBURN TIMES.

LDITOR OF THE WASHBURN ZINES.
Mr.. Yates, in tie last issue of the
News, takes occasion to tell the peo-
pie OF Washburn what a great ad-
ministration we have had for the
past year. that he is not candidate
for reelection, and in particular
warning the people to elect men of
business ability to conduct town
affairs so that taxes can be kept at
3 per cent. Now as he refers to
last springs election and statements
made at that time by whom, he does
not say, that taxes could not be less
than 3 per cent in the future, and
shat he has now demonstrated that
it can be done for 292, but is ready
to lay down his political care rand
advise the taxpayers to elect men
with business ability to keep it there.
The first year of my administration
the taxes called for $80,00O.00 and
the rate at that time was 2.61.
The county board in that year
levied 100000 for county and
state tax. The school tax in the
same year was $19,5Oo.0O; our
proportion of the state and county
tax being $26, 900. The last year of
my holding the Office of chairman
the county board levied SIP, 900 for
state and county tax and our pro-
portion that year was $37, 08G, a diff
ference of 81, 900. The school tax of
the same year was $25, 1000, differ
ence of $500, which makes q total
difference of SIG, 900, and the tax roll
then called for nearly $97,
Now I will ask Mr.. Yates If it was
airy lack of business ability on the
part of the town board of AVashburn
that litigation over the s"Battle
Axe" Railway had so accumulated
bills in the County Clerks Office,
that the County Board in order to
clean up those bills was obliged to
make that levy? Do you think it
was the fault of the town board
that school taxes were higher than
they had been for some time? Be
fair, Mr.. Yates, and see if you can
find no reason for taxes being higher
that year? I have always been fair
with you and always thought I could
get along without making state
ments in newspapers, but it seems
you don't want it that way.
You said in the News before cleo
tion last spring that taxes were
higher than ever before and that
there was no reason for it; further
more you said that there was no
money in the treasury and that
there was no reason for that either.
Now'Mr. Yates, was you not meA-
Der of that Railroad Committee that
so strongly advised the town board
to take $40, 900 of our levy for the
Northern Pacific Railway as a
guaranty for right of way, and we
were assured by you and that COM
mittee that you would, to the best
of your ability, protect us in doing
so. Have you done it? Your
statement last spring that there
was no money in the treasury and
that there was no reason for it does
not corroborate very favorably with
your promise to protect us, but after
all we left balance in the treasury
of little over $4,000, something
there had not been done for some
years past.
You refer repeatedly to the Hines
Lum Der Company assessment as the
sole reason for higher taxes last
year, but Mr.. Yates, how much
better have you done, and in footing
up that item would advise you 20 t
to forget that A. A. Bgelow q Co.
were assessed for $120, 900 which you
took into your head to settle for so
cents on the dollar. It was in m y
estimation fair assessment and
should have been paid. every cent OF
1t, and you had the best chance in
the world to collect it.
The Hines Lumber Co. last year
donated 500 feet of frontage to the
Northern Pacific railway for the
purpose of helping our town and
have the board tolerate the taking Of
the so, 900 from our levy for which