Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-11-24

Ihe city democratic administration
found that 1T was easier to promise tax
reduction before election than after.
and although every public Improvement
has been cut down to the smallest limit.
yet the tax rate has been raised two
mills over that of last year. Property
owners will not appreciate the advan-
tages alleged to be obtained In the spring
election, and it should teach Office seek
ers to be more careful hereafter in max
ing pledges which cannot or will not
be carried out.--Wausan Record, Nov.
18th.
The Record is best answered. by quot
ing the pledges made by Mayor Lamont
last spring in his letter accepting the
democratic nomination. In regard to
the tax question this letter says:
The greatest responsibility placed
upon the public officers of this city is
the proper care and expenditure of the
peoples money. The first demand
tax payer has upon city official is the
right to know that the money he has
contributed to the city treasury, through
taxes, has been judiciously and econom-
ically expended, and the most import
ant question at the present time in
this city is the reduction of the present
rate of taxation and the economical ex
penditure OF the money of the people,
During the past year, Notwithstanding
an increased assessment there was
large and burdensome increase in the
rate of taxation. This is a condition
which no community can long with
stand. We are looking for more man
ufacturing establishments and perma-
nent employment of our labor. An ex-
cessive and unnecessary rate of taxa,
ton will not induce new manufacturing
establishments to locate here, nor is it
to increase their capacity. The demo
cratic nominees pledge that when elect
ed to office they will cut down ex-
penses wherever possible.
We challenge the Record to show
any particular in which this pledge has
not been carried out.
In the fall of 1907, the finance COM
mittee of the city council made their
recommendations as to the amount of
money to be raised to carry the city for
the next year. This report recommend
ed that S165, 3O6 so was needed. Ac-
companying this recommendation was
the usual resolution providing for rails
ing the money. Instead of providing
the Sl65, 306 so called for in the report,
the resolution called for S145, 306 so,
cutting their own estimate $40, 000
Alderman Genrich. of the Third ward,
republican and member of the
finance committee, refused to sign the
resolution because of this.
When the new administration went
into power last spring, there was not
penny on hand in the general fund TO
carry on the work of the city for the
year Instead, the general fund was
overdrawn on April 10, 1908, $500 80;
there were upaid bills on file amount
ing to 81, 1877 a. and there was owing to
the banks on account of the general
fund, 1900. A grand total of $24,-
1883.
This deficit, together with enough to
run the city for the year and enough to
run the city next year, is all looked
after in this years tax budget.
Three personal injury cases against
the city, left by the former administra-
ton, have also been settled.
Notwithstanding all this, the tax rate
has only been raised two mills.
In Saturday evenings Record, Mayor
Lamont stated the facts in fair bust
ness way. Instead of admitting the
situation and giving the mayor credit
which every business man comedies,
the Record tried to create distr list of
the statement by the headings prefixed
by itself "Claims the present admins
tration was handicapped by deficit"
Now will the Record be fair ? Is it
only claim the mayor makes ana does
he nisstate the facts or is the Record
misstating the facts when it says 1.-THE
democratic administration
made pledges is which canuot or will not
be carried out"