The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-23
ton preventing the city from collect
ing the tax
Mayor Hunt Speaks to the Point.

ing the tax.
Mayor Hunt Speaks to the Point.
When Mr.. Gose had concluded May
or Hunt spoke at length on the ques-
ton and in forcible manner declared
that if the threatened litigation should
follow it would put a stop to all the
proposed Improvements in the city and
that Walla Walla would be forced to
take step backward instead of pro-
crossing. He said in part:
'The mayor and city council have
been devoting their time to the inter-
ests of the city without pay Numer-
Gus civic improvements have been
made in the last three years and sever
al others are in contemplation. We
nave in all our deliberation represent
our ability and to the entire satisfac-
ton of large majority of the taxpay-
ers. To carry out the improvements
in the past has required large amount
Of money or credit If the people
of Walla Walla are ready to discon-
tinue these improvements it is an
easy matter for them to do so. They can
refuse to allow us to use the money
| or provide credit basis. We have
now. according to the provisions of
the law, reaced the limit of the
city's credit on the present valua-
tion of property, and to continue the
improvements it will be necessary to
make a higher tax levy or provide
a greater basis of credit.
1T is an easy matter for lawyers
to pick flaws in the proceedings of the
council or any other legislative body.
There are very few large undertakings
in which technicalities could not be
successfully maintained. No matter
how precise and careful the council
or any other delberat1ve body might
be, there is always some technical
loophole through which an effort can
THE council, as we'll as majority
Of the taxpayers would like to see the
Improvements continue. Property in
the city has doubled and trebled in
value within the last three years,
and the permanent improvements that
have been made in the city have been
the means of attracting a very desir-
able class of people, and served as
means of bringing the city out of the
frontier country town class to one
with reputation for progressiveness
and stability.
adequate water supply we have adopt
ed the plan whereby the revenue from
the water department will pay the
cost of interest and maintenance of
the system. We believe that future
! generations should be called upon to
bear a proportionate share of the
burdens imposed by the proposed
improvements, as they will reap the
same and even greater benefit than we
of this day. Now, if the people of
Walla Walla desire that the develop
ment of a water supply cease, that the
having of streets stop where it is and
that other civic improvements be
abandoned, the present administration
will certainly acquiesce to their
wishes. We are servants of the peo-
nle. the question is in their hands. If
thew desire that Walla Walla should
advance and take her place in the
ranks of the cities of the northwest,
we stand ready to exert all our efforts
and energies to that end. If, on the
other hand they desire that the city
shall retrace it's advancing steps, take
a hack seat, fold it's hands, so to
sneak. and again relapse into coun-
try village, there is no way to pre-
vent it.
eff as some say, we should wait un-
til we have the money in the treasury
to pay for these improvements, there
is a most positive certainty that we
will never have them. If the building
of the first transcontinental railroad
had been postponed until the cash was
on hand, we would be traveiing by
stage coach yet. If the city of Port
| land. and any other large city, had
waited until the money for the build
ne of systems of water supply was
| in the treasury, the people would yet
he drinking river water. The same can
he said of any other undertaking re-
ouiring a large amount of money. The
large proportion of the business OF
+oo world is done on credit. l am
sorry that some few of the people have
+aLen such a short-sighted view OF
the matter now in hand"
Held Conference This Morning
Eo,,oving the session of the council
last night Mayor Hunt and the mem