The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-12-29

ihSaN 10 iISu uCOuS IuUlSudGlOH
among the farmers OF the town of
Washburn, and this extends as we'll
to others who have property Iii the
town, for the taxpayers have been
badly used. AS elimination of a
| few mos; tbs of mismanagement of
town al airs the people have arisen
and propose to take care of them
selves il possible. Last Saturday
| the farmers came from all parts OF
the town, and fully seventy-fve of
them met at the old town hall in
this city to discuss what could be
done to protect their interests. The
| mass meeting was addressed by a
large number Of the farmers and also
by a number of people from the city.
The particular grievance among the
taxpayer lies an fact the that taxes
on many aieces of property is double
what it vas last year. When the
city and owns were divorced the
taxpayers of the town of Washburn
congratulated themselves on the
change. becouse they believed that it
would be possible to so economi
cally manage the town that tax of
less than wo percent would be
sufficient meet all wants. But In
stead of Il tax being lowered it is
practical oot1o.e what Is was when
the town was helping 10 pay for city
improvements. The assessment is
claimed to be unequal and inPquit-
able, ard it is point d out thai some
of the officials, the case OF Chairman
Rowe being particularllty mention
ed, are getting wav the best of the
condition existing in the town. AS
whole valuations have been raised
materially, some of them being even
doubled, and at the meeting last
Saturday it was claimed that some
property was net assessed at all. 1t
was also brough out at the meeting
that in some instances the board Of
review lowered assessments without
taking evidence or requiring aftida-
Wits
Louis f. Kinstler was chairmanof
the meeting, and among the speak
ers were Messrs. Daily, Dahl, Pill
grin, Moergeli and others, the nature
of their remarks being that taxes
were too high, and that the condi-
ton was such that it should be met
in a forcibIe manner.
Mayor Irish, of the city, was called
upon, and he made an address that
was well received. He pointed out
the fact which is apparent to every
one in the town and city of Wash
burn, with perhaps the exception of
the town board of NVashburn, that
the interests of the city and town
are identical; that they should work
together harm oniuously, and settle
their business differences in bust
nesslike way without piling up liti-
cation and expense unnecessarily.
He called attention to the fact that
the town Of Washburn had brought
six suits against the city, that these
were bound to be expensive and
without any result that could not be
accomplished by few business men
from the two governments going into
the merits of the financial settle
ment between the town and city and
arriving at a basis OF settlement.
Messrs. Walsh and others spoke in a
similar manner, and the question
was raised whether it had been ne
cessary for the town to bring all
these suits to affect a settlement.
In explanation of this: former super
visor Dahl admitted that the town
board brought the suit because
"they got hot" But to those with
only short memory it was known
in the meeting that the town rushed
into all the suits almost immeditelv
after the organization of the CITY
government, and that if the board
had not "got hot" that there would