The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-10-11
ZIMMERMAN CALLED
FAILURE AS MAYOR;
NEW ORDER NEEDED
CONTINUED from Page One)

1t that the officers so elected are
capable Of managing their municipal
business as to insure a fair profit on
their investment which investment
consists of our proportion of the taxes
paid by us, and every one pays taxes
directly or indirectly. +
Our Taxable Valuation:
The city of Richmond contains real
and personal property with a taxable
valuation of SIS, 900, 900, against which
there is tax levy of one dollar and
ten cents for each one hundred dol
lars, which yields to the administra-
ton annually one hundred and sixty
five thousand dollars, with about
twenty-five thousand dollars from
other sources, making total of one
hundred and ninety thousand dollars,
which amount is entrusted into the
care of the city officials to carry on
the business of the city and caring
for our interests.
1t is important that we should keep
tins fact in mind for with the exer-
cising of economy and righteousness
in the use of this vast sum Of money,
the levy could be reduced, proportion
ate to the saving thereby.
Power to Increase Levy.
If. on the other hano, as result
of extravaganza, this amount is found
insufficient to care for the affairs of
the city, then such officials have the
power to increase our tax rate up to
q maximum fixed by state laws, which
at present is $1.25 for city the size
of Richmond
There is maxim of law which
says: The power to tax is a power
to destroy" The force of this maxim
is brought home to us when we con-
slider the three elements essential to
a city's growth.
First: Low taxes.
Second: Reasonable charges for
utilities.
Third: Transportation facilities
l want to digress for a moment to
assert that no city can be classified
as prosperous city unless such pros
perity is general, and the surest sign
of prosperity is by the number of
working mems homes owned by them
selves. | make this statement with
out fear Of successful contradiction,
that many such homes would be built
in Richmond were the possibilities of
paying out apparent.
Handicap to Home Building.
Under the existing condition of
high taxes, both the city and county,
indiscriminate, and in so many cases,
y
disregard as to equity of damages as
sessed, kills all ambition, destroys all
hope of any progression in the direc-
ton of home building and home own
ing by the average working man.
1t is my purpose by the permission
of the Palladium, to show that the
tax rate in Richmond is excessive,
and money is being used with such
disregard to economy by the present
administration, to Justify the severest
condemnation at the hands of the ell
ectors at the forthcoming election.
This must be SAID. however, as I
am fully convinced that the existing
conditions in Richmond are not the
result of actual dishonesty, but the
result of absolute incompetence.
Incompetence means inability to
cope with the problem necessary to
solve and which should be solved
with single eye to justice to all
parties concerned.
] do not believe that a single in
dividual desires to take a dishonest
advantage of any one, and on the
other hand, do not want to be the
victims of dishonest schemers.
Richmond People Victims.
The people of Richmond have been
for many years the prey of unprinci-
ipulation of our municipal govern
ment.
want to repeat that our taxes are
too high, and so long as the present
incumbent, Mayor Zimmerman, con-
tinues as the city's executive, there
will be no relief.
Why do | say this?
1t must be obvious to any observer
that he has not the capacity to deal
with the unexpected. The faculty to
see a situation whole, the surface, as
we'll as beneath the surface. is not
his. That has been demonstrated by
his acquiesence to various deals,
some of which reached contamination
and for which we are now paying the
bill. Others would have been agreed
to, but for public protestation and the
stubbing of his toes against the bricks
of opposition placed in his way.
Zimmerman No Success.
Mayor Zimmerman has never been
a success. Notwithstanding his repeat
ed victories at the elections.
His vascillating attitude, being all