The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-21


Levied on four-fifths of rental
Levied on rental. less feu-duty on.
sixth for repairs and owners taxes.
| This tax Is levied on income values: 1
is crafty divided into different classic
cations and assessed against owner an,
tenant separately. It Is collected in hal
a dozen different ways, and 1t require
| considerable research to discover Jug
| what tax business property does pay.
A short method Of reducing the lncom,
rate to one based on capital value Is Il
divide the shilling tax by g. That give.
In per cent. the rate OF assessment or
the capital value OF property renting FOL
Sd per cent. gross. A piece of propert,
valued In Los Angeles at $4,000 paid last
year s72 in city taxes property OF the
same value in Glasgow paid sizes.
In American magazines and periodicals
the statement has been printed repeat
edly that there are no taxes In Glasgow:
that the tramways and the municipal
gas plant Darn enough money to run the
city. Here are two facts for the students
of municipal socialism to consider:
THE STARTLING FACT.
Not one shilling Of all the fares paid on
Glasgow municipal tramcars has ever gone
into the tax fund: not one penny has been
used for the relief OF the rates
The report Of the Committee on Gas
Supply to the corporation of Glasgow
for the year 1906 contains the follow
!ns prolt and loss account fer the
yea. 1908:
''Sum carried to profit and loss.
s111.3n. l2s sd. Annuities and interest
On loans, ee1.soe Is. Amount trans
fer-red to sinking fund, eSl,75., sd.
Deficit, s12056. as"
This is the official statement issued
by the municipality itself Plainly
there was not u very marked reduction
or taxes by reason OF the profits from
the gas and tramway departments
councillor Scott Gibson. representing
the Woodside Ward, Is very pro-
Glasgow's municipal administration
Mr.. Gibson has been a member of the
City Council since 900. Aggressive
ness Is his dominant haracteristio; it
Is not his policy call spade an
agricultural implemen.
met Mr.. Gibson in his Office by APP
pointment and told him frankly that am
seeking to probe beneath the polished ex-
terror and learn some real facts about the
conditions that have led to Glasgow's
high tax rate.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
Glasgow is suffering Just now by rea-
son of Its manufactured reputation for
economy and civic purity" said Mr. Glib
son. 1.-THE real work Of reform, the worl,
that must be done to make Glasgows
government worthy Of It's citizens, is Sc
riously hampered by the continuous lauda
ton that We are receiving from outside
critics.
have been \ member Of the Coun-
cit for five years. and I speak with abso-
iute knowledge when say that Glasgow's
city government is in control of a ring
OF politicians; that graft, corruption and
eXtravagance exist. and In no mean pro.
portions.
Our three great trading departments
are honeycombed by official nepotsm:
the payroll reads Ike the roster of the
families of certain Councillors and ON
Gals.
Our present Lord Provost holds his
position because he bought and paid for
1t. Hidden behind cloak OF Scotch
hypocrisy this thing is growing; 1t is
corrupting every part OF tho city govern
ment.
Somewhere q halt must be called. 1
think the present is a good time and
shah know the real reason that their
taxes are 80 fearfully, SO criminally
high.
day to set an official investigation under
way. and was denied the privilege OF
the floor. I intended to point out the
counciors who sold their vote to make /,
Counciior Bilslar Lord Provost.
lie is at the head OF the ring that is
raising salaries, multiplying positions In !
the gas tramway and electrical depart
meuts, and making personal profit from /
The olty's business. He is a member of
the Council committee from which he /,
buys coke for his bakery.
Graft is here, with only thin veneer |
ng of rcspectability. can give you .
ietalls OF a contract In which tho city !
paid f5c,Wo for extras when not |
benny OF extra work was done.
Recently the city asked for tenders
or the lntercepting sewer at Clydebank.
Six private firms bid, their tenders rang
ng from 10000 to e65.G00. The COM
nittee delayed matters and finally re-
advertised; the contractors raised the
prices on the same contract to Rl1a,oOo
me tramway department is a mnia-
Nre Tammany ring. I doubt II you can
duplicate the conditions In your worst
american cities, The whole department
ia rsely family concern, Let any one
70 20 tho tchell Library and turn to
ne isl of names OF salaried officials and
heir ASSISTANTS He will he amazed Mt
ne number OF family names on the roll.
'o'ne councillors have almost every mon
Ter OF their families Comfortably wedged
MO nice, easy, well pad Jobs.
NJ 4 recent inquiry into the condition
y me gas department. on foreman told
IS mat his department e simply honey
otapea with relatives and friends; they
re sWNrNing lhs.o bees
no same Is true of the electrical de-
iftfn mt, In those three departments
ne number OF inspectors, foremen, as
lstant foremen, managers, under-man-
Sers' snpelintendents. etc, is ridlcu-
'nsiS ont Of oll proportion to the num-
or OF men employed OF course. 1t Is
o' 10 be expected that the brothers,
euslns 'incles, goh-sons, etc, of town
onncllors and officials would accent an,
1.dinary appointment. Nothing short
a roremanship or managcrshp will
ittSiS thenl--and the people pay the
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