The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-11-08

A meeting Of a number of in
terested taxpayers of the city held
at the city hall on Wednesday eve
ming had for it's object the forma-
tion and perfecting cf permanent
| organization of Virginia taxpayers
for the purpose Of considering mat
ters of public import from the tax
| payers viewpoint, the object of the
| assemblage being heartily endorsed
by those in attendance, and mo-
tion that a more general meeting
of those who "pay the freight be
called for Monday evening next to
perfect the organization and more
thoroughly discuss the objects re-
ceived support from all.
1t is not the intent of the pro-
moters of the idea to confine the
duties or powers of such an or
ganization to the consideration Of
any one point, nor to make of same
a political organization in any sense
unless it be found that those in au-
thority are exceeding what the tax
payers consider their rightful prem
ises; it is not organized because of
personal feelings any one man or
any number of men may have
against others, nor is it destined to
boost the political stock of men,
bers unless the majority should view
such "bocst" in the line of nee
essity for the protection Of the in
terests of those most interested in
the communicative bona f'de tax
payer.
We believe there is call for just
such an organization in Virginia,
especially at this time when ques-
tions of more than usual import are
on the tapis. One such question is
the proposed purchase of the light
and water plant by the city council
at a price in excess of the price Of
fered in July last by the same city
council; another is the question of
the policy of the present city council
in making a direct levy Of 100000
on the present taxpayers Of the city
to apply toward the proposed pur-
chase of this plant.
The Enterprise is not stating it's
conviction as to whether or not the
city is proposing to pay too much
for the plant in its offer Of $492,-
900, but in common with other tax
payers in attendance at the initial
meet on Wednesday evening we be-
lieve the council is entitled to make
specific report of the individual
items on which the valuations have
been either raised or lowered from
the prices submitted in the Burns
& Mcdonnell report, which was ac-
cepted by the council and fled AS
regards the direct levy of 100000
for light and water fund to assist
in the proposed purchase of the
plant, we feel that it is an injustice
to the property-owner and tax
payer of the city, whether he rep
resent the Oliver Iron Mining Com
pany-the largest individual interest
affected-or the owner Of the most
humble cot in the city. We feel
thai it is an injustice to ask those
who have put their brain and Drawn
into the Improvement and upbuild-
ing of Virginia to pay solid cold
hard cash for stable and perma-
nent investmen which will or should
become a benefit to those who come
after us as we'll as to the present
generation of builders.
However, these questions and
others of public import and CON-
munity interest will come before the
meeting on Monday evening and be-
fore future meetings of the body
with a view to offering advice, if
considered necessary, to the servants
of the people who represent them on
the city council and on the boards of
the city. Not advice of the hot
headed or of the bu1l-headed type
not of the "hit the ball'' or we will
recall you type-but advice as to
the opinions of the men who bear
the brunt of the taxation burden de-
rived from calm and careful con-
sideration of any matter which may
be deemed to- demand attention at
any time. And not advice to be
handed one body of public servants,
but all future bodies.
If you are an actual Taxpayer in
the city of Virginia you are wanted
at the meeting Monday evening to
assist in the permanent organization
and discussion of whatever subjects
may come before the meeting. And
if you are one of those who pay
the freight interest in your own
welfare and in the welfare of the
city you call your home and in which
you have invested your earnings
should prompt your attendance: