The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-05-05
BEMIDJI CITIZENS
CANL0WER TAXRATE
Auditor George Tells Commercial
Club Members That Honesty in As
sessments Will Bring Results.
CITY MAY HAVE NAVAL MILITIA
Interest in Organization Renewed and
Most Active Year in History is Ex-
pected-New Members Elected.

pected- New Members Elected.
That the citizens of Bemidji are
themselves responsible for the city's
high tax rate was the text of short
talk made by James L. George,
county auditor, at the regular month
ly meeting of the Commercial club
held Tuesday evening. Mr.. George
admitted that the tax rate is high
and he explained. that such a condi-
ton could be remedied by employ
ment of honesty in dealing with the
assessor.
'There is one way in which every
taxpayer can assist in reducing the
Bemidji tax rate" said the auditor.
land that is by truthful statements
to the assessor concerning personal
property, thereby increasing your to-
tai valuation and consequently re-
ducing the rate. We must admit that
as conditions exist and the board of
review is powerless to increase as
sessments when proper because tax
payers are not willing to testify as to
the low valuation on his neighbours
property. But if each man would
make it a point to state true and full
figures to the assessor he would be
in a position where he would and
could force the man next door to do
the same"
Club Activity Renewed.
Much interest was taken in the
meeting and that period of re-
newed activity in the accomplish
ments of the club has begun was
most evident. There was large at
tendance and the sentiment seemed
to favor a plan to change the bylaws
of the organization whereby the
board of directors would relinquish
much of it's authority to the club as
a whole. E. A. Barker, president of
the Merchants association, w. L.
Brooks, cashier of the Northern Ma
tional bank and w. z. Robinson, OF
the Smith, Robinson company, were
appointed as committee to inyesti
gate the feasibility of such a change.
Schumacher Makes Appeal. =
r. H. Schumacher, president of the
club, has appealed to every member
of the club to attend all meetings and
to assist in securing desired results.
It is Mr. Schumaker's idea to make
the organization a Commercial club
in every sense of the word; club,
the influence of which will be Of suf-
fic1ent Importance and strength to
promote and further the progress
and advancement of Bemidji.
May Have Naval Militia.
Much enthusiasm was shown over
the possibility of securing naval
militia for Bemidji. Harry H. Mayer,
secretary, read a letter from Guy A.
Eaton, of Duluth, commander of the
Minnesota naval militia, in which it.
was stated that Bemidji will be
given opportunity to secure COM
pany, providing so to 20 young men
can be secured for such purpose.
The state is to have eight such Or
CARNATIONS. Ralph B. Lycan, John
M. Herbert and Ralph Brandon were
selected as committee to interview
the young men of the city and ascer-
tain whether the required number
needed can be secured. The train
ing should be great inducement.
Good Service is Certain.
Captain w. M. MacLachlan at
tended the meeting and outlined his
plans for the providing of passenger
and freight service on the lake this
summer. He insisted that the SER
vice would be the best Bemidji has
ever had and announced that four
trips would be made to all points
around the lake each day. The first
will be made at nine in the morning,
another at one in the afternoon, the
third at three in the afternoon and
the last at 1880 in the evening. =.
Rogers Addresses Club.
c. F. Rogers, president of the Min
nesota Electric Light and Power
company, which Last Saturday closed
a deal whereby it merges with tho
Warfield Electric company and the
Beltrami Electric Light & Power
company, addressed the club. Mr..
Rogers assured those present that the
good service which has been provid-
ed in the past will be continued.
Kaith Plan Discussed. .@
The proposition made to individu-
ais recently by Mr.. Kaith with re-
gard to the establishing Of destruc-
tive distillation plant in Bemidji was
discussed, the matter being explained
by George Kinney and E. H. Winter.
Jack pine and white pine stumps will
be used as material for the plan,
these to be purchased from farmers
at $500 a cord. Turpentine, pine
tar, stains and varnishes will be ex-
tracted from the stumps. The estaD-
lishment of the plant would require