The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

ton to the selection Of city officials
and has not posted himself on city ex-
| of his taxes.' -. =
In this pithy axiom c. L. Sawyer ex-
presses his opinion of the poor founda-
| ton OF criticism by many real estate
owners of the action of the city as
| SCISSOR, Z. }. Minor, in increasing valu-
atlons of property. ~
Minneapolis Real Estate boards free
information IT bureau, he is speaking un-
o1hclally and as a property owner citi-
| zen, in an interview on the late con-
T. roversy. He makes suggestions on
the subject that he believes worthy Of
1 consideration by real estate owners as
well as the citizen generally.
Minors Statement Fair.
IN " Whs = statement asd made by. g. :. Minor
yer, Seems clear-cut and fair state
ment of the situation. It is certainly
unreasonable to expect that a city
that is priding itself on rapid growth
can continue with the same old valua-
ton Of real estate year in and year
4 out. If real estate is increasing in
value, which we all believe is true, it
must receive an additional increment
| 1C tne uduuS OF Cne assessor.
demands on the public purse are
the public schools required only half
million dollars to run them for the
year, and the school board had in it's
employ from 500 to 600 teachers. Now
the maintenance of the schools de-
mands over 100000 a year, and the
teachers employed exceed 1000.
We have been acquiring parks, and
we must certainly expect to appropriate
more money to make improvements, in
park drives, etc. This cannot be done
WITHOUT money. The work of the park
been ,ceommendable. I should like here
to call attention to the fact, that small
parks and pla3ygrounds must, in the
near future, be provided for the in
creaslng population Of a prosperous
municipality. Places of innocent
amusement will undoubtedly do as much
to prohibit the increase of crime and
the nurture Of criminals as any one
thing which could be proposed. We do
money expended on extensive parks and
beautiful drives at the sacrifice of small
parks and Fairgrounds.
City Grows Larger.
In short, every department of the
city must necessarily make larger de-
mands from year to year for mainte-
nance in an efficient form
- But there is another feature of the
matter to which [ call attention. Tax
payers feel aggrieved at the increase
at the assessor when he attempts to reg
7 ulate the assessments in the way he
considers equitable, but they paw little
attention to the way in which the
money is expended by the city. Many
u use S. aPPropr1ati9!ns might be cut off
people in general would keep them
serves posted on matters that are con-
stantlX being brought before the coun-
Gil. Corporations and others interest
| ed in special projects have representa-
tives on hand at the council meetings,
and make known their wants or obiec-,
lions to the. aldermen. Why should
not the citizens themselves show
enough interest in public affairs to
make known also their likes and dis
likes to the men chosen to represent
them9 - 0So .'' '
'These suggestions apply with equal
forco to property holders in general
and to the members of the real estate
board. If we have a genuine interest
IN IN the city, we will make ourselves felt
oy Keeping in touch with the aldermen
and city officials, and letting them
know our sentiments. We should not
constantly complain of city expendi-
lures and city improvements without
seeing that there is proper action at the
proper time, unbiased by individual in
forests, instead Of consideration of
what is best for the city as whole.
Real Estate Men Fair.
AS to the real estate board, we
think that the impression that it's mem
bers are lot Of chronic kickers over
taxes and public improvements is erro-
neous: All the board desires, I believe,
IS obtained, and at the same time that
the city be run in a progressive and up
to-date manner, minus graft and subter-
fuge on the part Of it's officials.
- In a political way citizens can do
much to make financial conditions bet
ter by seeing to it that only those are
elected, to public office who might
safely be entrusted with affairs of pri-
yate concern: Business men should use
ordinary business sagacity and be act.
i've in matters which are Of such great
Importance to the city as whole
- Ii this were done, there would be
less complaint about taxation. and
greater satisfaction in the work accom-
plshed with the money annually