The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-08
MURPHY PRESENTED
REVIEW Of THE
TWO YEARS
At Political Meeting Thurs
day Evening He Points
Out City Facts

The first touch Of city politics was
given Thursday evening when Mayor
NJ. +. Murphy. at q meeting held in
the city hall, presented a review of
mis- administration to an interested
gathering of voters. Other speakers
Of the evening We're II: A. Bronson and
City Attorney j. b.. Wineman, and city
facts we're discussed.
The primary purpose Of the meet
ing. according to Mayor Murphy, was
TO present facts concerning his adj
ministration. and the meeting was
held in accord with the idea that the
tax payers we're entitled to know what
mad been lone with their money.
j. Il. Church presided over the
meeting and introduced the mayor
who at once stated in no uncertain
reelection. He declared that the city
Of Grand Forks is one Of the largest
business corporations In the state. the
stockholders are the Inhabitants of
the city and in selecting q mayor the
citizens place one of their number at
the. head Of this gigantic corporation,
which has s15,000,0 900 worth of pro-
perty. Mayor Murphy declared that
he had applied to the duties of mayor
the same business methods as were
applied to his " affairs and that he
had been mayor. to the best of his
ability, Of all the people. Continuing
Mayor Murphy said:
Three Propositions.
In presenting a survey Of my ad-
ministration, l shall discuss the af-
fairs OF the city. under three PROPOSE
lions:
First. that there have been
more public. improvements during my
administration than during the twen-
ty-eight preceding years.
Second, that the city has received
more money and has been saved more
money, during the past two years
than during the twenty-eight preced-
my years.
Third. that notwithstanding the fact
that great and important improve
ments have been made, the tax rate
Is lower than during any previous ad.
ministration. -
During the past two years. either
bv direct vote Of the people Of this
city. or of the city council. but in
either case with my approval. there
ments $~1,1S5,000 Of interest bearing
warrants payable in ten and twenty
years a. follows:
$753,1Ss.0O for. paving.
$160,4S6.00 for sewers.
$4,000 for Intake pipe. .
$~7s,625.00 for water mains.
s~20.6S1.0o for new filter.
$~76.000.00 for new city hall.
147,920.00 for lew lighting system.
$~52,000.00 for shortage o old paw.
Ing warrants.
From 1882 to 1900 period Of
twenty-eight years-inclusive, the to-
tai amount Of warrants issued for
public improvements amounted to
$91b.000.00. Therefore during my
administration there has been more
added to the tax roll for public I'm
provements more than during. all pre.
yious administrations combined. Part
Of the warrants issued. namely, $500
10000 during my administration are
a direct tax against the city as a
whole. For instance. the city as a
whole pays part Of the paving and
water mains. etc. as we'll as the total
cost Of. the new city hall. intake pipe.
etc. The sum of $35,0O0.00 was paid
on the new city hall last year and
S~26.000.00 on tho shortage OF old paw
ing warrants was also paid.
Methods Of Economy.
The speaker said that in six D
rate ways, ! have saved Thousands OF
dollars for the taxpayers Of the city
Of Grand Forks. AZ one Of the way
he pointed out the case won by the
city which allows the city to retire
warrants whenever the money is on
hand. In the second place the city
has been able to collect tho penalty
on delinquent taxes on special assess
ments. Third the county commission.
ers have been compelled to pay over
to the city its share Of the bridge tax.
Fourth by agreement the city was
saved from Itigatfon over the condi.