The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-01
CYCLISTS PROTEST.
AGAINST DOLLAR TAX
Say Paths Are So Poor That
No Charge Should Be Made
for Riding on Them.

The great body of ST. Paul cyclists are
up in arms against the proposed increase
of the tax ON wheels from so cents to one
dollar and at mass meeting at Fedora
ton hall last night voiced their senti-
ments on the matter in no uncertain man
ner. The meeting was called to order by
William Johnson, the cycle dealer, who
was at once elected permanent chairman
of the organization, which by unanimous
vote decided to call itself THE Associated
Wheelmen Of st. Paul.
Tom Berg commenced the attack by
vigorous and humorous TRADE against the
evils of the dollar tax on wheels, point
ing out the fact that the increase of the
tax will drive many wheelmen to the
second hand dealer. The condition of
the st. Paul cycle paths was such that
it was a scandal to tax anyone anything
at all for their keep. Mr.. Berg did not
want to reflect at all on the efficiency Of
the cycle path commissioners, but at the
same time he maintained that when a
man is taxed to keep a road in good con-
dition he has a right to expect some
thing more than q succession of holes and
sand hills on which to cycle. This condi-
ton of the roads was not only injurious
to the wheel, but it was responsible for
the moral degeneration of the man COM
PEELED to ride over them, and caused I'M
doubted increase of the mans knowledge
and use of anathen1a
His Offer Is Promptly Called.
Last year the cycle path commissioners
claimed that the fund accruing from the
tax on wheels was not sufficient to keep
the streets in condition. This year Mr..
Berg himself was prepared to keep the
paths in good condition for $4,000 less
than the sum that the path commission
ers stated was required to do the work
Mr.. Berg's remarks brought Sergeant
Clark, a newly appointed cycle path COM
missioner, to his feet to protest against
the statements. If Mr.. Berg was pre-
pared to carry out his statement that he
could keep the paths in condition, Mr..
Clark was prepared to pay him an extra
49, 900 for his work Mr.. Berg thought
that he would think it over. Mr.. Clark
stated that at least $4,000 would be re-
quired this year for the maintenance of
the paths in proper condition, and it was
to obtain this sum that the tax had been
raised to one dollar. The commissioners
expected to sell 10000 tags for cycles this
year, an increase of 1000 over last years
sale.
DR.. E. H. Haas gave it as his opin-
ion that the expenses of the cycle path
commission would be materially re-
duced if capability and not politics in
fiuenced the appointment of the men
intrusted with the duty of seeing these
paths kept in perfect condition. He
would on behalf of the associated
wheelmen of st. Paul guarantee a sale
exceeding that estimated by the COM
missoners if the tax were left at so
cents.
Suggests Plan to Sell Tags.
DR. L. A. Nelson then proposed an
Improvement in the methods of SELL
ing tags His idea was to have the
tags in book form, ten pages to
book and intrust the sale of these to
business men in each ward, each book
sold to pay the seller a commission of
so cents. BY these means a sale of
1900 tags was a certainty; this
would net the cycle path commission
$5,4oO which, with proper supervi-
sion, was sufficient to keep the paths
in good condition.
The meeting indorsed the appoint
naent of Sergeant Clark and passed
resolutions protesting against the in
crease of the tax on wheels and re-
questing that the cycle path commits
sioners of Ramsey county be urged not
to increase the tax, which, in the opin-
ion Of the associated wheelmen of ST.
Paul, would be a severe blow to cycle
riding as sport and hardship to
those who are cyclists by compulsion
A committee Of eleven, one from
each ward, was appointed to confer
with the cycle path commissioners and
discuss the questions Of economy in
maintenance of the paths and the sale
of tags.
Herbert P. Keller was appointed
secretary and O. H. Arosin treasurer
of the organization.