The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-04-30
SHALL SALARIES
Be REDUCED
MATTER DISCUSSED PRO AND
CON AT BIG ASSOCIATION
MEETlNG-ATTEMPT MADE TO
CUT DOWN TAXES,

One OF the most interesting gath
erings ever held in Minot was the ban
quet given to the members of the Mi
not Association of Commerce Tuesday
evening, with lively discussions. We
say lively but this hardly expresses it,
tor 1t seemed that everyone was on his
feet at some time during the evening,
including J. M. Devine.
Secretary Hollenga had been maxi
ing quite study Of the tax problem
In Minot, and he wanted to give others
the benefit of what he had learned, and
took this method of doing it. The Sec
retary read carefully prepared pa
per and he really grew quite eloquent.
he made plea for cooperation, the
secret of any city's growth. He dwelt
upon the fact that this city must get
busy and develop it's possibilities. We
must work for immigration, add to
our factories and jobbing houses and
use every means known to get our lig-
mite coal developed to it's highest cap
acity.
One of the objects of the gathering
was to consider a report from a COM
mittee headed by M R. Porter, which
has been looking into the financial con-
dltlon OF the city, with view of Of
terlng suggestions for saving money
TO the taxpayers. Mr.. Porter reported
that the city had run practically $13,-
goo behind last year, there being per-
tectly good reasons for this, one being
that about $4,000 had been spent for
the new fire truck. The committee
suggested a plan whereby about $1,000
might be saved during the coming
year, providing everyone concerned
was willing. This would mean the
trimming down Of salaries. This brot
forth lively discussion.
The city commissioners were pres
ent and when it was suggested that
their salaries might be reduced from
$500 to 500 a year each, several of
them appeared willing to consider this.
One speaker remarked that the patri-
otlc commissioners would probably be
just as willing to donate their SER
vices as to accept such small salary.
No definite action was taken Tues
day night, but committee was ap-
pointed to go over the proposition
with the City Commissioners Thurs
day night
One of the speakers declared that
there had been reason for the high
taxes in Minot, for $157,OOO worth of
churches were built in nine wears:
$4,000 has been paid for grading the
streets; $140,0OO worth of school
houses have been constructed and an
other, which is needed, is to be built
at cost of $4,000 or more.
Many miles of water main have
been laid as well as sewer, and miles
of cement walks constructed. The
white way cost a nice sum and consid-
cradle money was spent for street
paving. The speaker didn't think it
advisable to trim down the salaries
of the city employees, but said he
could show where the taxes could be
cut without cutting the salaries. He
didn't think it advisable to expect the
chief of the fire department to fulfill
the duties of driver as we'll. \ He sug-
gested that committee go before the
board Of equalization and work with it
and ventured to say that the extra
$1,000 that could be saved by reducing
the salaries could be more than made
up.
The meeting was a good one and
considerable benefit is likely to be the
result.