New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-16
AN APPEAL TO TAXPAYERS
Owners Association Seeks to
Arouse the LiStIeSS.
THEIR CIVIC DUTY DEFINED
These Indifferent Citizens Never
Complain Until Their Income
IS Affected, 1t Is Said.

The House and Real Estate owners
Association 3 strcnuously trying TO
arouse every taxpayer OF the greater city
municipal Affairs
In the last number Of "The Bulletin"
published by the organization. the leth-
argyle Taxpayers are called upon to bostir
themselves.
Tie appeal to the taxpayers in question
is as follows:
If YOU were asked point BLANK. what
service ar" you personally rendering the
city. what would your answer me- Can
YOU truthfully say Il am vitality inter
c,t'd M all city affairs. ] am contributing
part Of my valuable time, energy ahd
ability To help work out the many great
and intricate problems cl selt-govern
mont; To see that the city's money is eX..
pended wisely. honestly and effectively,
you'd not hesitate. 10 expose eNtraNa-
fInc". waste OF corruptiOn?
Would that b" NUur answer?
o. rather. are YOU not one OF the vast
majority who frankly admit that while
they. too. are anxious to have the city
clean prosperous and wen governed. they.
individually. ar" too cnSrus,ed ni tncli
own business. with the demands of com
y tltion and the worry and Gaze 81 nara
times 20 uuy much personal attention or
devote much time % thought 10 public
affairs.
Are Won not likely to seek an excuse
for yuur inattcntion and lack Of personal
concern. and declare. rs most OF rs do
Tho city pays its employees literally 10
do the work and Il Is for the officials 10
make their administration successful
why should |. who have no experience II!
puzzle affairs, make "a personal Sacrl1ce,
or oven be so prc-umptuOuS a. to inter-
Ccr' with the running OF our municipal
affairs hy Our paid and sworn representa-
tiy,S?'
With the bliasfu satisfaction of an un-
troubled conscience, the average '1tlZr n
rcfr3ius from entering the field Of nut
ncipal activity and leaves the enormous
wealth Of the richest city in tho world 10
those VINO make politics their bus mess
The average taxpayer. particularly the
owner of real estate. thinks that MS
duty toward The city ends when n" pa! $
TIM tlN"s on his property INTO IN" CITY
treasury. Hc feels that after he has pald
his share Of tho cost OF the running c!
the CITY government. n thsr.Upou becomes
the duty Of tho city 10 So" that th'
money is expended wisely and honestly.
Md yet how very differently this same
business man would act n 10" were I"
turn over tho money 10 his employees e.
he. used i'm business venture, tie would
.c, that I'm return and strict account
INK loo made FOR every cent. Are not ~"
,itv officials AID their subordinate the
omyloycs OF tho taNpayors;
IN recent wears . has become char -
actDristic popularity among business
mon" to abstain from ANYTHING tha'
sasorcd OF politics
There ha. arisen banclIl and wide
SIR, adm apathy. not only toward mat
to-. political. b.t toward ail affairs - n
public nature. 90 much su. indeed. that
many NEGLECT or oven r.fIrc IA vote on
Election Ta'. Nud got. tl- hearts of
tno.c N'ry men l.a Ae stcuilv and as
ratr.oticsll' a. dri those 90 their fore
faih,rg who gave their lives to cav" Tho
N|su.
va-fnu These. sam. mcE would pr"bJ.'.
D.. ar1onc tIc nI-f g. otter their for'rnr
AMI their very hN,s Boo 'h" drftucc "l
tl'ir tuuufN. ltoWcyor. 100 times or
pcu,c the, tro willing 30 hive tho very
ll:c blood sIppru oyt of tfcir government
h' bands uf politicians Who arc more Jan
c-r"iis than foreign enemies Dhc at least
~ lf on tic omen lHot arc IS Wiling e.
t,"r their own city aud stat' to the
W"r'v oi "HirriuF- who. CARRIED with
the auihorif. of ,flirc. can foster their
lruDlm vith irIpunty And vet. iu
their sFif-'c1tr'dn's, and narrow minded
nos. fh"v -It ~utualy b' and 'pmlIa-
Gently ioayc tlo work &c. and d'ucnd
upri. = lIudfIl Of i'Ai lis spirited mon.
civic or taNpaN're organizations to cor
rect even the most flagr'nt evils
These Indifferent 'itiI"us belong TO tha'
ia -s who mover complain until their own
pockets arc affected. and then they ie-
ro-au'ly crticisc and loudly condemn the
pUllir Official who onfurccs tin law. and
10 prevent tho enactment of obnoxious
I'd