Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1914-03-05

is true that city government requires
few more officials than village. and
salaries might be somewhat greater.
However, at present village trustees
receive S1.25 per meeting. City
government in this town would re-
quire mayor and six alderman to
take the place Of the three trustees.
However. it would only mean diff.
ference of a few dollars in year.
1t would not even mean a cent extra
in taxation. At present, it is
well-known fact that village ordi-
nances are laughed at rather than
obeyed. There is practically no rev.
enue from fines and the like. There
would undoubtedly be some income
from that source. At the present
time the taxpayers of this town pay
some $3.50 for poll-tax. About $50
is the most ever secured in one year
by the village. The reason for this
is the fact that the rather strange
method of allowing the county
TO keep the poll-tax when paid d.
rect to the county treasurer and of
allowing the village to keep poll-tax
collected by it makes it sort of
grabbing" source of revenue. The
$l20 we haven't been getting would
more than pay any added expense of
city government.
The law governing city govern
ment provides for certain licensing,
draymet being one class subject to
the provision. The writer under
stands that the local draymen would
gladly pay such license, if it were
understood that the number of licens-
es allowed would be limited.
1t is possible for cities to require
franchises from telephone companies
and the like, and that is feature
which would appeal strongly to the
residents of this town. A city can
enforce certain ordinances in the ma.
ture Of fire protection and inspection
of buildings and the like. Our fire
protection at the present writing is
much in the nature of joke.
1t is not wise to listen to any ar
gument that city is in position
to run the corporation head over
heels in debt The same conditions
apply in both city and village gov
ernlnents. Bonding of any kind can
only be accomplished at an open
election by the majority vote Of the
qualified voters.
| Personally, the writer believes
that we need city organization in
Linton even we're it to cost us some
thing more in the way of taxes
which it will not We believe that
there is even less danger of unwise
action on the part of mayor and
six aldermen--the mayor having the
usual veto power-than there is
where the town is governed simply
by three trustees.
| In the cases of trustees the mem
bers have only equal powers, and
none at all unless supported by each
other Under city government the
mayor has some definite rights and
is in a position to assume active
management of the city business, al.
ways under the supervision of the
board of aldermen.
The commercial club has expressed
its hearty approval of the change
the voters one and all supporting
the movement and the writer be.
| lieves that after the Oath of next
March Linton will be officially 5
city, rather than village
The writer believes that the spiri
which is being manifested by the bus
mess men and others of this town ii
their commercial club is destined tt
bear much fruit and that it viii no,
be year until the most skeptica
observer will heartily agree that the
club is worth much more to the towr
than the money expended could be