White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-22

The rate of taxation for the city
of Ely, for the ensuing year, is to
remain at $1.00 on the hundred, the
same as last year. This was decided
at the meeting of the city council,
Monday night, after an exhaustive
discussion of the subject in general.
There was a dissenting opinion as to
this rate, Councilman Brown holding
to it that this rate would be INSULT
cient to meet the expenses and that
the city SO to speak would be in the
hole financially if the tax rate was
not increased and more income pro-
vided. Thereby an interesting and
Illuminating discussion was precip-
itated in which the changes were
rung on the entire gamut of taxation
subjects, from sidewalks and storm
sewers to street lights and gambling
games. Sometime in the dim fu-
ture, there will probably be recorded
a city council meeting when the
storm sewer is not recalled directly
or indirectly.
The debate really commenced with
Councilmen Bates statement of the
city's incomes and outgoes followed
by his opinion that a dollar tax rate
would be adequate to the needs
thereof. In making this estimate
Councilman Bates was guided by his
belief that during the coming year
certain retrenchments could be made,
that the past year had been marked
by certain extravaganza that could
be side-stepped in the months to come
and that numerous bills had been
presented for payment in the year
past that would not have to be met
again.
For instance, last summers un-
timely cloudburst had cost the city
in the vicinity of $4,000 This was
one item. Another was the bill of
$1,000 for licenses collected by
Messrs. Short and Baird, ex-marshals,
a sum that former administrations
SnOuld nave 0e1rayed.
\ On the subject of gambling fines,
J Councilman Bates considered this an
uncertain means of income, liable to
he eliminated at any time and there
fore he eliminated this revenue from
his estimate of receipts, although
during the past year the gambling
fines had figured to the amount of
about $4,000. This had been largely
offset by additional police force ex-
penses and expense of caring for
prisoners. Notwithstanding, with the
income from licenses and fines. which
the past year totaled SIS, 900, and
the city expenses figured proportion
ately, and with the bonded in
debetedness more than taken care of
by the direct tax, there would be no
trouble in financing the city without
raising the tax rate above one dol
lar He called attention to the fact
that this rate had always prevailed
with the exception of one year, when
40 Ccut Tioc was hidue lldt hSdiiy
resulted in the elimination of the
city council. Councilman Bates was
not anxious to have that experience
repeated during his term of Office.
In these sentiments Councilman
Gallagher concurred, but Council
man Brown viewed the proposition
from a different angle.
Councilman Brown conceded that
IL was poor politics to raise the tax
rate but that it was good business.
According to his budget, $4,000
would be necessary for sidewalks and
street Improvement and repairs.
That another cloudburst was liable to
occur. That Murry creek needed
watching and Murry valley j side
walk. That the city was $4,000 be-
hind in it's sinking fund. That If the
gambling fines were eliminated
considerable source of income would
be lost That with fixed and other
expenses including $11, 900 for salar-
les and $500 in water bills, and ap-
last years running ex-
penses at $4,000, unless something
was done to increase the income, the
city would go to the demnition bow
vows financially.
The argument of Councilman
Brown failed to convince Councilman
Bates and Councilman Gallagher. and
the question was finally settled by
Councilman Bates resolution fixing
the rate at one dollar, Councilmen
Bates and Gallagher voted yes and