Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-03-29
ECONOMY IS URGED
Hy Il. W. Howard in Running
Municipality.
Expend Public Money with Great
Care and Discretion.

F. w. Howard was to have been one ot
TIE speakers at the mass meeting helc
Friday night but was called to Chicago
and the address he had prepared was
read by W. D. Ballou as follows:
Mr.. Chairman:-No one in this hall viii
dispute the fact that we are confronted
with big floating Indebtedness, and with
out the wherewithal TO meet it.
The bonded Indebtedness is fact that
the future must take care Of, principle
and interest. and see no good to be de-
rived from touching upon the bonded in
debtedness of the city, here tonight.
Tue short loan notes which now amount
to Sl5, SO at five per cent. interest, and
which ! believe different boards Of the
city aldermen had no legal right 10 con-
tract. are also facts which we are strictly
up against. and is Vita matter to be con-
sdered here tonight and the particular
reason for calling Jnis mesting.
1t is useless to consider who IS RESPONSE
bic for this condition Of affairs. We are
all more or less to blame No one set OF
city officials are wholly TO blame and
every citizen who pays taxes. and who
takes any Interest In the welfare Of the
city, its prosperity and growth, ought to
MAINTAIN a lively interest and clear knowl-
edge of how the clty's business IS berr
conducted from May st of one year 70
April 3Otn Of the succeeding year. Where
as most of US confne our opinions and
criticisms TO a few associates, and our
lively interest and loud condemnation 10 a
fe ~ short weeks previous 10 the sprIrg
esction
The vital question now and one that
calls for prompt and thorough action, IS,
to use a good orthodox phrase, What shall
we do TO be saved? And my dsa IS that
the application should be the same as
would apply TO tre corporation. business
firm or Individual, eisuer Of whom might
be facing this same proposition.
We can to be sure, Increase the valua-
ton in making assessments for taxes, but
this would doubtless lead TO loud protests,
it certainly would be an injustice. and, in
my opinion. is the one thing we should not
for one moment consider doing. Such an
action would mean hardship to every per-
son, firm. or corporation in Be,ding and
no matter how small tax any man pays,
! believe if lie takes the proper view Of
the struggle for existence and the necessi-
ty OF making provision for sickness, acci-
HEnts, and OLD age. considering his family
and himself. that he should guard jealous
ly the exercising Of the authority celegat-
ed to the public officials to levy and dis
burse money collected by taxation.
The word economy, and all that It i'm
plies, may be taken lightly when we are
young and strong and have our full earn
ing capacity, but the day surely comes TO
the great majority when they regret that
they had not followed economical lines
more closely, and this applies not only to
the individual but as a rule, 10 all associa-
tions Of men, for the purpose Of gain.
IL is generally admitted that we can
take care of the bonded Indebtedness by
contri butinR from the annual taxes TO the
sinking fund and paying the interest
charges.
The problem that stands before US now
is the floating Indebtedness, and the ques-
ton Of the hour, with due regard and SYM
pathy for our prohibition fellow citizens,
with their onglngs FOR a modern Utopia,
because Of the shortcomings and weak
nesses of their fellow citizens, is how to
wipe out this debt. 1t cannot be done in
year or two, probably not wholly in
three years not If we do It on legitimate
lines of str ct economy.
Great care and wise discretion must be
used in the expenditure of public money.
We can Of course, pay several Pauls who
hold the citys notes, by robbing all the
tax paying Peters in the city, but in my
opinion the safe, wise and legitimate thing
to do is to figure down to hard-pan, hole
assessors valuations where they are now
fight any questionable move on the part
Of any privately appointed representative
For bloating, belching, indigestion
etc, eat Rings Dyspepsia Tablet
after meals Sold by Connell Bros.