The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-01-25


ton of improvements for which they
are directly assessed. This is not true
with respect to people assessed SINH
larly in village. They do not pos
sess the power of remonstrating
1t is also possible for city. by ordi-
nance, to provide for the election of all
ofnciafs This prevents competent per-
sons from being sidetracked to permit
the appointment of some incompetent
person who may be a favorite of the
appointing body.
1t will facilitate the annexation Of
valuable adjacent territory which will
ultimately be gobbled up by other mu-
inequalities If West Hammond does not
get busy. The annexation of addition
al territory will lower the taxes of the
people OF West Hammond 80 or 40 per
cent easily Many improvements have
been made by the village out of its
general taxes in the last few years
which greatly benefit property outside
OF the village limits, which has con-
trlbuted absolutely nothing thereto.
The railroads pay most of the taxes.
BY annexing every section Of land adj
joining West Hammond, south and
west, the village could obtain twice as
much revenue as 1t does at the present
time. The result would be to lower
the taxes now levied on property with
in the village limits. 1t is certainly to
the advantage of the people of West
hammond that the territory now i'm
mediately adjoining it should be under
the jurisdiction of its own officials
rather than under the jurisdiction of
non-residanf highway commissioners
number of over-zealous persons
l.,
government We ask them in all fair
ness to- indicate what. if any, disad-
vantages will flow from the change
We are all anxious to see the affairs
of West Hammond honestly and eco
nomicellv administered.
We do not question the good faith OF
those who are fighting the change, but
West Hammond is divided into two
camps. The north side is divided from
the south side by a long stretch of
vacant property extending from one
end of the village to the other II
West Hammond becomes a city the
south side will have two wards and the
north side two wards. Do the oppo-
nents of this movement deny the right
of both sides to equal and fair repre-
sentation in the city council? Is 1t not
true that except in few instances
the president and trustees have all
been elected from one side rather than
from both sides? Is il not a fact that
four years ago. when Jacob Czazewicz
was elected president of the village and
all the trustees were elected from the
south side. that he discharged every
person in the employ of the village
living on the north side2 We do not
claim that the persons he appointed
were incompetent, but is IT fair and
just that such state of affairs should
exist? Does not 1t create bitterness
between the two sides? The interests
of the south side and the interests of
the north side are alike When both
sides work in better harmony for the
good of all If both sides were
given equal representation and the old
struggle for supremacy ended once for
all and a new period entered upon un-
Ter a form of government which will
to the well being and adj
of all the people in West
hammond?
If West Hammond is divided into four
wards. will not the police be compelled
o patrol each ward and guard the in
erests of all the people, rather than
or the INTO be looking for pickpockets
ind porch climbers in the vicinity OF
he gambling houses and dives, be-
ween whom there exists at this time
m association which BODIES no good for
my of the people in the village With
/. better city council VIII come board
f locaf improvements which Will COM
eel contractors TO honestly construct
according to contract and
rdinance and in a manner which will
naDle the people to get their moneys
vorth.
Vote for a city and we will get a
lean. decent and better form of gov
rnment than we have nov.
Respectfully,
'AxPAYERS OF THE VILLAGE OF
w EST II AAIAOND-