Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-11-05
"Jussler" Coston's System
The Taxpayers Foot the Bill.

The Taxpayers Foot the Bill.
The taxpayers of Durango are al
ways interested in anything that
promises public improvement and arc
more inclined to pay taxes when the
money goes to such uses. but they
are at loss TO learn how they have
benefited by Juggler Coston's system
of increasing valuations, when 1t has
resulted simply In paying greater rev.
enues to the state. and they are ask
ing why he did not make the raise
uniform instead of raising on some
and allowing the valuation with 9th.
| ers to stand as they did before.
Durango taxpayers are urging that
the $4,000 additional which Juggler
Coston's system has sent in one year
to the state, together with the $500
he unlawfully charged and collected
from the city for work which it was
his sworn duty TO do without addi-
tional pay. would have sprinkled all
OF the streets OF the city and abated
the dust nuisance, which is the great
est menace we have to health and the
most serious objection visitors find.
This $4,000 would have laid mile
of cement sidewalks. or would have
paid for forty cement crossings in
stead of having as many botch cross
ings as we have now.
IT the taxpayers stand for Juggler
Coston's system, the loss in ten years
would pay for the proposed sewer sys-
TEN.
If the revenues we're needed to run
the county. the taxpayers ask why
they cannot pay the old rate they
We're paying before Juggler Coston be-
gun his new system, and thereby
raise the same amount of money in
stead of sending the state an add
tional $4,000. The state levy is fixed
at four mills by the constitution, re-
gardless of the valuation. Juggler
Coston's new system simply sends s4-
500 additional annually to the state
Under the old plan this $4,000 could
be expended on roads and other pub
nc improvements.
mo, no." says Juggler Coston, I'VE
must have lower rate" not lower
taxes mind you, land this will bring
capital for investment"
He assumes that the investor has
not sense enough TO look into the
basis of taxation
Juggler Coston also desires new
$1,000 set of books to keep his "sys-
TEN" in working order, and If Dem
ocratic commissioner could be elected.
his system might be working in the
near future in its fullest extent, but
the people who pay the taxes will find
that the taxes will continue to in
crease, just as they have done under
the juggler system.
If taxpayers will take time to look
up the matter they will find that
Juggler Coston's system does not ex-
tend to all alike, on a uniform basis,
but that many were allowed to go in
on their old valuations and enjoy
slight reduction of taxes under the
new levy. 1t was probably calculated
that those who were thus favored
would support Juggler Coston for re-
election.
There are many of the farmers who
do not hesitate to say that they do
not approve of the new system, and
there are also many owners of lots
who are unable TO build that their
property may earn revenue, who de
nounce the system.
This new system does not appear
to have attracted the Investment OF
any new money. 1t never will. The
majority of the people who have
money to invest have sense enough
to learn and understand the basis of
taxation. and few are so ignorant as
not to understand that the state is
the only beneficiary under the new
system" save those who have been
favored by not having their valuations
raised.