The Saint Paul globe., 1904-04-15
FRIDAY, APRIL is, 1904.
The TAX ISSUE.

1t is now admitted that St. Paul is
among the best governed cities in the
United States. The brief eruption Of
folly that marked the beginning of the
Republican campaign has subsidized.
The public treated hysterlcal denuncia-
items of the administration, false alike
to right moral principles and to ascer-
tained facts, to a cold shower bath.
conduct Of incompetence or of collu-
sion with crime against the officials of
St. Paul will arouse no reply but a
short laugh; or that tired feeling which
always Overcomes you when you col
Iide with a stupid bore.
There is another issue which Repub-
licans have mentioned, and we are also
happy to welcome it with bloody hands.
They have told the people of st. Paul
that they are terribly overtaxed for
the support of a Democratic admins
tration. This is always a sensitive
point and always a leading issue in
every campaign. If the taxpayer can
feel that he is being imposed upon, he
is apt to vote accordingly. This is per-
fectly fair and proper politics, because
no government is good government
unless it is also economically admins
tered. Let us refer this to the test Of
fact.
The first thing which the voter has
to understand, and which the tax
payer understands very we'll, is that
the actual tax rate levied means moth
ing unless taken in connection with
the basis of assessed valuation. Every
one understands that 4 per cent of $40
is exactly the same as 2 per cent of
$40. You purchase the same amount
of revenue if at the same time you in
crease the tax rate and decrease the
valuation; and if all property is treated
alike, the same men pay exactly the
same sums. AS a matter of fact In st.
Paul taxation in the last ten years has
been reduced very materially on a
great deal Of our property, and the
actual running expenses of a city
whose population has increased so
greatly is hardly more than it was in
1894.
This latter date IS fairly chosen, be-
cause it is the close of the administra-
tion of the gentleman who is now ask
ing to be reelected mayor. Since that
time $30,0O0,OOO has been taken from
the valuation of city property. This
was economy, because 1t Iessened to
that extent the contribution of Ramsey
county to state taxation. Locally it
made no difference on earth to the
property holder, except that he paid a
higher rate on a smaller valuation,
the levy of dollars and cents being
substantially the same.
That this is true is shown by the fact
that the excess Of taxation last year,
1903, over the total taxation in 1894
was but $246,530; the larger portion Of
which is accounted for by an increased
school taxation, to help take care of
our increasing educational burdens and
responsibilities. If the school tax be
eliminated from the comparison, 1t will
be found that the entire city expendi-
lures of st. Paul are actually less now
than they were a decade ago.
When we compare the government In
all its departments now with what it
was ~then, this is most remarkable
showing. In every respect the city is
infinitely better provided for possible
needs. 1t has a more effective fire de-
partment, health Office, street cleaning
department and every other bureau
needed for comfort, convenience and
business success. It's police depart
ment is rarely efficient as compared