The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-07-07

| the END all these laws In one way OF ah-
other affect taxation. For years the
revenues of this city were squandered
and expenses run up with recklessness.
Bonds have been issued. Other bonds
sold to pay these bonds and the interest
on them, refunding in this way until
the bonded debt of the city was 1915, 900.
The annual tax budget had grown to
about $67, 900, of which the annual in
terest charge alone was about $4,000.
The rate of taxation had become about
IL per cent on par value assessment.
Two years ago you arose and overthrow
the city government The next year
your budget was only $4,000 and you
paid $11 900 of bonds This year after
a months struggle you have budget
calling for but $43, 900 and even this is
$5, 600 more than the city needs. We
expect with this to pay the running ex-
penses, interest, $22, 500 of bonded in
debtedness and have money left in the
treasury at the close of the year. Next
year budget of $50, 900 should be suffi-
cient. That will mean tax of seven
dollars per thousand in the place of the
fifteen dollars thousand of two years
ago and all bonds paid when due, with
no refunding.
The annual business of this city
amounts to fifty thousand dollars. If
you had business of these proportions
whom would you put in control2 Nat
urally you would select men of exper-
ience in business. But now if you do
elect such men what are you going to
do with them? Your duty has then
only just begun. The law breaking
element will stand right by them.
wonder if any of you know what it
means to be one of two or three fighting
for what is right Suppose even two
hundred persons tried to stand by the
officers Can you not see what pow
er it would make for the enforcement
of law in this city and county There
are three things which l should advise
as means of aiding in the enforcement
of law let us get the benefit of the
measure of primary reform given us by
the last legislature; let us do away with
partisan politics in the administration
of the city affairs and let us have a
league for the enforcement of law with
at least two thousand members, paying
dues to provide fund to be used in en-
forcing laws. 1t will be doing no more
than the other fellows are doing then
A policeman should not be left so
alone that he thinks the saloon keeper
is the only friend that he has Neither
should your alderman, after election, be
left to form the opinion that the saloon
keeper is the only person interested in
what he does The saloon keeper should
not be the only one to promise your aid
erman with support if he follows this
or that policy or to promise vengeance
if he follows policy not to their lik-
ing. Why do you not give them the
support which you should, support like
what these other men give them, in
matters which are for your interests
and the interests of the city? Tell them
what you want and then stand by
them.
The services which have been render
ed by the press of this city l wish to
acknowledge here The cause of good
government and economy has always
been heartily supported by it and you
| Inyxyp tn WI q unn1
has been accomplished during the last
two years. The papers have all spoken
out strongly and fearlessly for the en-
forcement of law and order and the ex
ercise of economy. If the men of Owos-
so in general would speak out as fear
lessly as the papers Owosso would be
model city. If an editor, and the pro
prietor of city paper, dependent on
! popular support for its existence, can
openly support these measures for right
why cannot business man, profess
sional man or mechanic with less to
lose and no more to gain do the same
thingY Some of you do, why not all of
you? When you do the battle will be
won.
HON. WEBSTER DAVIS.
Since he had come to this community
to make his home, Mr. Davis said that
he had found it a community of good
churches good schools, good people and
good business establishments. He
somewhat humorously added that if he
were mayor with all power, such as
mayors are supposed to haye, he would
also have the community have one kind
of time instead of both standard and
local time and-possibly' both this and
the latter remark were occasioned by
the fact that Mr.. Davis had missed his
car and arrived late at the church-he
, would have the electric cars run more
frequently, and more on the ground-
! referring to the familiar antics of one
we'll known car and its propensities tc
, emulate an airship during too much OF
its course.
. Referring to portion of Mayor
Parkill's address Mr.. Dayis said that
, there were many good men in Office in
thia countrv hut th at the most of ther