The Saint Paul globe., 1904-12-28
WILL URGE CENTRAL
ASSOCIATION AGAIN
E. H. Wood Contends improve
ment Organization Is Espe-
ciaiIy Needed at This Time

E. ii. Wood, secretary of the Sixth
Ward improvement association, the orig
1nator of the plan to have Central I'm
provement association, is of the opinion
that the time has arrived to make an
other effort to organize such society,
with representatives from all improve
ment associations in the city.
Mr.. Wood says that it is the duty of
all the improvement associations in the
city to uphold the attitude of Corpora
ton Attorney Michael, whose efforts are
directed to the end that all public serv-
ice corporations shall be compelled to pay
to the city per cent gross earnings
tax. He. holds that the public and the
newspapers misunderstood the former ef-
forts to organize such q society, and that
the need of public support of the legal
adviser Of the city at this time may dem
onstrate that politics were not mixed with
the effort to organize the central asso-
citation.
First EFFORT Failed
The effort to organize a central body,
composed Of representatives of the ward
Improvement associations is well re-
membered After several meetings had
been held in the city hall it was found
that under conditions existing at that
time it was impossible to secure the at
tendance of the delegates, and without
Z
ciation practically went out of existence.
In the meantime officers had been chosen
and the central organization was ready to
make formal announcement of its readi-
ness to do business. The later failures
were charged to persons accused of at
tempting to use the organization for their
own benefit.
But the time has come when there is
a need for such an organization, said
rflnI q
that the efforts of Corporation Attorney
Michael to enforce the per cent gross
earnings tax on all public service cor
porations should be adopted, and there
is not an improvement society in the city
that does not approve of his attitude A
number of the societies have already in
dorsed Mr.. Michael but if the delegates
of all the societies should do so, which
would certainly be the case If they were
brought together, the city council would
realize that there IS a powerful influence
behind Mr. Michael.
Too Much Politics
'sThe former efforts to organize cen
trail society were killed by the claim that
politics and politicians were too pfomi-
nently connected with its welfare. Such
NAV have been the case. But at the
present time there is no question tnal
the attitude of Corporation Attorney
Michael towards the street railway COM
pany would be upheld, and the hope ex-
pressed that he would find it possible to
extend the application of the principle to
all other public service corporations. Ihe
people are behind the corporation attor-
ney. irrespective of party, and viii sup
port him thoroughly in whatever he does
along the line mentioned. There may De
those who believe that this or the other
corporation should be favored. put IN IN l,le
aggregate the public beleves thal an puSo u,,o
lie service corporations should pay the
gross earnings tax
If the necessary encouragement is given
Mr.. Wood will send out notices giving IN
formation of another effort to form a
central improvement association, with m the
primary object of demonstrating thal tne
attitude of Mr.. Michael is popular "loh
the public.