The Detroit times., 1908-07-15
DUST LAUDEO IN
STATEMENT BY
FRIENDS
RECORD AS TAX OFFICIAL AND
LEGISLATOR CITED IN BIG
BOOST FOR MAYORS CHAIR
SLY DIGS AT THOMPSON.

The following have issued state
ment boosting the candidacy OF Will
lam r. Dust. who seeks the Republi-
can nomination for mayor: Carl r..
Schmidt. IL. NJ. Duffield Richard +.
Joy, Jas b. Mckay. Charles c. Sim
ons, John HARPER. John A. Schmid,
Z. b. Myrick, Alex |. Mcleod. Charles
p. Collins. Maurice Wolf, Ed. X.
Blanchard, Henry A. Dickson. John 1.
Lodge. The statement follows:
We consider William T. Dust the
very beet man the Republicans OF this
city might select as their candioate
for mayor this year. He Is auiet;
forceful man OF sound judgment anu
large experience in public AFFAIRS. IN
timatciy acquainted with the needs OF
the city, and OF personal integrity
and political courage tested In many
positions OF great responsibility Mr..
Dust has been before the pubic Tor
over 20 years and has In Una, perio1
earned the respect ana commence OF
all classes OF citizens. As city as
SCISSOR, first under Mayor Pingree and
later under Mayor Maybury, he was
extremely efficient In placing upon inc
property that had hitherto escaped
taxation and was largely instrumen-
tai In changing the methoo py whlch
the street railway property was as :
sessed so that franchise value might
be taken into consideration. change
which raised the street railway as
sessmcnt from two and one-hslt 10
about eleven million dollars.
His very conscientious and abie ser :
vices as IL member of the board or
state tax commissioners cannot be
overestimated. As member OF the
first board To assess railroads upon an
70
! careful and intelligent study TO rail
road values, 40 the end that the ran
roads were compelled TO bear their
just proportion OF the burdens or the
state. He also succeeded In having
franchise values taken into considera-
tlon Ia liking the assessments OF gas
other members of the board OF tax
commissioners made afiidavits To the
effect that property other than rail
road property was being undervained
against the state. in litisstion In
remained steadfastly loyal to the pub
lie he served, and refused 10 com.
promise with his own high sense OF
public duty.
Elected to Legislature.
That the public has understood and
appreciated Mr.. Dusts services was
evidenced Two years ago. when In
field OF SO candidates for nomination
TO the legislature he received by far
the largest vote, and again In the cleo
ton, when he led his ticket by sub
s,ant;si margin; In the lesisistu IRE.
| expert knowledge of TAXATION proved
! of ipcalculable value TO Detroit and TO
the state. When IL was sought TO
| raise the limit OF the city's bonded In
debtedness. Mr.. Dust pointed out clear
iy that the probable increase I'm the
city's assessed valuation would more
than take care OF the necessary APP
mr. 81
since been justified. Both on the tax
commission and in the legislature,
Mr.. Dust urged the exemption or real
estate mortgages and credits from tax
alton, and helped to secure the pas
sage OF bill In the house to accom-
plish this purpose, piece or iegisia :
tion which II IL had not failed In the
senate. would have done much to in
crease the material prosperity OF De-
troit. Mr.. Dust was also an ardent
supporter OF the civil service bill the
two-cent railroad bill and the general
primary election bill.
Dust In Well balanced.
Mr.. Dust Is man who Is too well
balanced and too sound In his juds
ment 10 be- led astray by every new
scheme and legislative fad but lie has
the courage to espousc earnestly and
without reserve those great progress
sive measures which the public need
! opinion demands. Mr. Dust's attitude
upon the street car question is the
only position that can be taken by an
honest and sober minded public ser
want. TO whom the welfare Of his city
and its citizens Is OF Infinitely more
consequence than the satisfaction OF a
personal ambition. The street car
question can and should be settled in
an expeditions and business-like man
ner and upon basis fair To the city
and fair to the company. But the
settlement Itself Is more important
that the vindication OF any one indi-
viduaIs scheme OF settlement, and
must not be deferred I'm order to fur
nish candidates with political isues
and to keep the city in everlasting
turmoil. And II settlement must be
| made by the granting OF new fran
| chises, such franchises must be short
term franchises. must have the ap-
prevail Of the people by referendum
vote and must provide for the taking
| over OF the properties at the end OF
| the term at valuation TO he liked by
disinterested appraisers.
| IL Mr.. Dust IS nominated and elected.
the city Will BE- assured OF careful.
tion. Mr.. Dust Is allied to no clique or
faction and is not Handicapped by
promises of appointment He will
! step into office free To select the most
efficient and competent men for the
various administrative departments
He will give ready ear To Intelligent
counsel. yet will act upon his own
| matured convictions. There Will be
| nothing bizarre about his administra-
! ton. he will require no help from
| abroad. and will need neither circus
/ tent nor stereopticon to convince the
people OF his efficiency and sincerity.