The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-12-11
Cry of High Taxation In
Ely Makes Favor For
the Suggestion.
PAY ROLL IS $1,000
City COunciImen Discuss Matter
and Will Refund Part of Pay
TO Treasury If They Can.

Mayor f. NJ. Clark. Councilman
Francis NJ. Root, II. O. Hall and
number of city officials present at the
regular meeting of the council last
night discussed ways and means of
continuing the city government of Ely
in the face of recent protest against
the increased taxation it entails.
In heart to heart talk with mem
bers of the council and the other Off
cials regarding the situation, Mayor
Clark said he believed the city is pay
ing too much salary to the mayor
and to members of the council. On
his part he volunteered to make re-
bate to the city if means could be
devised SO that he could do so with
out jeopardizing the city charter.
The matter was brought up indi-
rectly by City Physician Adams. in
discussion of bills that had been pre-
scented by restaurants for feeding per-
sons quarantined by order of the city.
n number so quarantined had in
Cured what was deemed eXorbitant
expense and the bills of the restau-
rants We're held up pending investi-
CATION DR.. Adams said he had not
taken the precaution to limit the pa
tients and that he was probably re-
sponsible for what was termed an
overcharge, and would pay the proper
difference from his own funds. Coun-
Gilman Hall protested and made mo-
tion that the bills be allowed as pre-
Cantp1 n hn In, "a,
ture 1t was carried without dissent.
Councilman Hall then brought up
the question of salaries for city of
ficials, declaring belief that the sal
aries We're too large. He said sal
aries of the members of council at
least should be cut recommending 80
per cent. Il believe the mem bers can
come to agreement as to fair com
pensation for services and that we
should have our salaries cut corre-
spondingly.
City Attorney Walker interposed
objection on the ground that the
statutes of the state prohibit any city
council to either increase or reduce
salaries. He said that If the council
were to take such step the charter of
the city might be ieopardized.
Mayor Clark declared that he be-
lieved he was drawing too much pay
as well as the members of the coun-
Gil. II have always thought that, >"
he said, and | nave made enemies by
saying SO. We are drawing too much
salary and collecting too much from
business licenses. The cost of run
ming Il business now is greater than
a year ago, and | know, for my part
that | am not doing nearly the vol
ume of business that | was a year
ago, Other business men say the
same thing. Conditions are not the
same as they were then. | believe
we are working a hardship in the
license matter. | am glad to see the
money in the treasury, but there are
times to be considerate of the mer-
chants, and that time is now
Councilman Root said some who
are the loudest in complaints about
high license are the identical ones
who are always after extensive and
expensive municipal governments.
"They don't stop to think that those
improvements cannot be had for moth
ing. We have done a great deal of
work on the streets and sidewalks
and in other ways, and that work has
cost us more than we thought it
would. All of the money has been
spent on the streets. That's where ii
has gone-where it will benefit every
person here, whether he's a taxpayer
Continued on page four.)