Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-10-07
Editorial Page TIE Ybstdeen Herald Thursday October 1915
PERSONAL. P,RATTLE

| ledl is HOt STdSpeu ny lHe eHllIe
membership of that body, whose eff
forts appear: to be confined to Keep
ing the current expense levy within
the limit of Is mills.
If the taxpayers of the city were
the only consideration, the attitude of
the council might be well taken, but,
in my humble opinion, that is but a
minor consideration, and l shall en-
deavor to point out briefly my reason
for the belief that high tax levy
will prove a disastrous blow to the
progress of Aberdeen.
The largest need of Aberdeen is the
investment of new capital in indus
trial enterprises, for the which our
natural advantages offer splendid in
ducements, and we are amply justified
in expecting great development in
those lines throughout the Northwest
at the close OF the European war.
But, the Pacific Northwest is dotted
with places nearly if not fully as well
favored as Aberdeen and they are
not slow to make their advantages
public. hence the positive necessity
Of holding down the tax rate. and not
attempting to care for all the extra.
ordinary expenditures that confront US
at once.
Industrial capital seeking permanent
investment always scrutinizes fixed
charges closely and among those
charges taxes rank first. The pros
pective investor of this kind will agree
with what we say concerning our SUI
perior facilities for his purpose, but
when he learns of the high tax rate
he begins to think of other points i'm
mediately as much safer for the sue
cess of his enterprise. When this is
considered the gravity of the present
situation will be apparent.
But, the council will probably ask,
how can the budget be reduced? AL
though the budget may be adopted be-
fore this appears, I will offer few
suggestions for what they are worth:
First, cut out the proposed police
auto and matron, thus saving 1920.
With the abolition of the saloon, we
have right to expect that prohibition
lists were truthful when they said their
theory would reduce police costs, so
that this addition appears wholly un-
necessary at this time of reductions.
Second, omit the item of $4,000 for
the West bridge, and use the bridge
this year as it stands, thus getting
value for the $4,000 expended for the
temporary span now in place. 1t has
been said that the war department
would not permit this to stand, but
am of other opinion The war depart
ment is concerned chiefly with the
nayigable space left open by a, bridge,
and i am satisfied that permission can
be obtained to retain this span if the
proper steps are taken so to do.
Third, reduce the estimate for street
laborers from $1,000 to $4,000, and
l.tAAr: Tor str rect lumhar froafG3ss,s@ to
ri, 900; and effect asxedudtidn. 1f :s11.-
300. To do this the city must aban-
don the unjust policy so long pursued
of keeping plank streets and sidewalks
in repair continually, and adopt the
plan of repairing and rebuilding those
streets at the expense of the property
when such becomes necessary. The
who is paying for permanent streets
pay also for the upkeep of planked
streets, an upkeep that in some in
stances exceeds the original cost of
such streets, and induces the benefi-
Charles on the plank streets to resist
as long as possible the building of
permanent streets.
The adoption of those suggestions
would reduce the budget in the sum
of $4252O, and enable a tax levy that
will not operate as a scarecrow to
prospective investors, without working
any material hardship upon the city as
whole.
Petty Politics.
A mass meeting of those favoring
the commission form of government
was announced in the daily paper Tues
day and Wednesday, to be held in the
city council chamber tomorrow, Fri
day, evening, yet, with full knowl-
edge of this called meeting, the city
council last evening adjourned to meet
again on Friday night, thus necessitat-
ing postponement Of the meeting of
the Commission government until Sat.
urday night.
Whether it was thoughtlessness on
the part of the council, or deliberate
attempt to interfere with the meeting
is left to the candid judgment of the
reader.