Arizona republican., 1913-06-05
Meeting of Taxpayers at City Hall Last Night at Which the Subject Was Discussed in Its Var pus Phases
VIEWS PRESENTED
 WITHOUT ACR1M> NY
While All Not Agreed On Sale of Central School Property, Large Majority Is Led to Favor Civic Center Idea

Center Idea
 The meeting of taxpayers at the ci,v hall last night to hear and con- slider the report of the general com rnittee on the proposition of the city and county to take over the Central school property and erect 4 joint l,uilding for county and m lniclpal purposes developed that a great deal of interest had sprung up in the civic center idea. There was "a much larger attendance than had been eX- nected and no one was there out ot idle curiosity. The discussion though spirited was free from acrimony There was a general disposition 10 treat divergent views with respect.
 Upon a single point there was a unanimous agreement and that was that the Central school property was no longer fit for school purposes and in some way should be devoted to another purpose. There was a little less. but still a general agree r,cnt upon the desirability of civic center Gradually the discussion mar rowed itself down to the question, shall the Central street school prop ertv be sold to the city and county or shall it be leased to private in d:I ;duals for a long term of years, with provision for periodical reval- Gations?
 The meeting was called to order by President Dwight B. Heard of the Maricopa County Non-Partisa, Tax ravers' league whose executiN com n,ittee had joined in the report pre- scnted for consideration Before this matter was taken up, MT. Heard pre- sented the following clear and com prehensive statement of the purposes of the league:
 The question is often asked; just V. hat are the purposes of this league, what is II doing and what does it uropose to do? 4 brief statement on this subject may be of interest to tax payers.
 .DThe definite purposes of the league are as follows:
 "First-To unite the taxpayers of this county in an effective, business ike. non-partisan organization to se- cure equitable. scientific and modern methods of taxation.
 ..Second-Through such an organ ization and with the cooperation of the public officials. to bring about a complete just and systematic method of the assessment of property.
 "Third-In continued cooperation with the public officials. to suggest and assist in putting into effect the most effective, efficient and economi- cal methods of carrying on the necessary public work. that the taxpayers may get full value recelVed for the taxes paid.
 such work as we are undertaking in this county along the above lines, has been carried on for two years in Cochise and Gila counties with mark ed success, and it is felt that the Taxpayers' League should become the business agent of every taxpayer in Maricopa county. There is very evil dently a great opportunity for this organization if the work is carried on with fairness, system, vigOr and com mon sense.
 "A brief statement of what has al- ready been done may be of interest to taxpayers. The league which was organized in February, already has a membership of 325. new members are constantly being added, and we hope by January 1st, 1914 to have increas- ed our membership to at least one thousand. The small membership fec of 1 per cent on last years taxes, Wt hope will furnish sufficient money tC carry on the necessary work of the league. Regular offices of the league have been opened at 220 Fleming block. where MT. Geo. H. Smalley whose services have been secured a: secretary, will be glad to meet ant confer with any taxpayer, and tax payers are earnestly. urged to visi the headquarters of the league anC acquaint themselves with the Worl that is being done. A collection i gradually being gathered of the mos practical works on taxation problem and MT. Smalley. on application, vii be glad to give prompt attention t the needs of any taxpayer and t assist him should he need assistanc on matters relative to his tax assess ment.
 During the recent session of tn legislature. the executive committe held many essions relative to i'm sideration. After a thorough investi gation they secured the vices 0 MT. Wm. Young, a noted tax exper of large practical experience, as a advisor on pending legislation. M
 Young spent week in Phoenix ad vising with the officials of the leagu and in conference with the Variou taxation officials. At a meeting hel Of the joint committees of the hous and senate on this important matte
 with the executive committee of tn
 Taxpayers League, MT. Young wa present, and a number of the sug