Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-01-09
Reader Column
ON SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.

Editors Note: While the Tribune
does not agree with all sentiments ex
pressed in this column, it welcomes
all we'll meaning communications upon
public issues. The writer of this
communication probably mistakes the
function of the Auditorium. 1t is not
available for public meetings arbitrar-
lily as it costs money to heat and light
Qhe building and revenue must be
secured to foot this expense. This is
true of all cities owning municipal
auditoriums.
The Commercial club is always
available for such meetings. In the
opinion of the Tribune there can be
no criticism relative to the manage
ment Of the auditorium. All are
treated on an equal basis there. 8
The communication follows,
Jan. s, 1915.
Bismarck, Tribune:
81 was one of those who attended
the taxpayers meeting at the Com
mercial club On the evening of Jan.
9TH, which, as Mr.. Reed stated, seemed
to be unique in: the heating Of the
city-so far as l was personally con-
cerned, l had already in a commune
cation to the city commission aired
my grievances in the matter Of the
special assessment against my own
property. AS I understand it that
meeting was primarily for the pur-
pose of exchanging views as to what
had been done in the matter of street
grading and special assessments un-
der the improvement district law and
to suggest a plan or plans whereby
conditions could be improved and to
work for the same. Naturally in a ga.
thering called for this purpose the
issue sometimes becomes clouded,
and a few personalities will creep in,
on the whole though, the main purpose
Of the meeting shown out very plain
ly, and the resolutions adopted were
satisfying to everyone.
/ am paying ten per cent of my In
come for taxes and special assess
ments. 1 will accept several hundred
dollars less for my property in cash
than it has cost me to date. l do, not
like the improvement district law,
under which we are now running. l
not not think very many do. Some
of us believe the whole city should
pay for all street work and improve
ments and certainly had nothing to do
with the making Of the present law.
l have never felt justified in blaming
any ont man for these conditions that
exist. I would be glad to see meas
,.noc knI,o~ ~ ,an1o1 mr. ornnn6 tho
improvement district law.
This taxpayers meeting was held
as mentioned before in the rooms OF
the Commercial club. The city, or
taxpayers of Bismarck, have built and
are paying the expences of a public
auditorium-why should a meeting
of this kind not be held at that place?
Is that not one of the chief purposes
for which the building was erected
Has there been SO far since it was
completed a meeting of this kind
within its doors? l. am not blaming
any one particularly for this-t Is
quite possible that the proper authori.
ties were never asked for the use of
the building. This is just a sugges-
ton and If it should turn out that
this building is for the S of the
citizens or such occasions as the
above, it might suggest Itself to all
those interested that it would be well
to avail themselves of the privilege
more frequently in the future than
they have in the past, to the end that
all things of interest to the ciizens
could be aiken up there and discussed
at intervals not too far apart to de-
feat their object.
"A. D. GALUSHA,
"City."