The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-08

morality as we have some tax dodg-
ers among the business men as well.
Everyone should realize that the
interests of the business men of the
city in this controversy are not iden-
tical with the interests of the people
as a whole and neither is an estab-
lished business firm anything but a
detrim emit to city who takes sides
with a corporation for personal gain
against the best interests of a ma
jority of its people. Be not misled
or allow the plea OF men who claim
to be business men to befog the issue
for it is the poor man and the man
of moderate means who support the
city, for such a thing as equal taxa
ton is unknown in keokuk and the
business men are kept in business by
the support of the people and the
people are not held here by the sup
port of some business men although
many are driven away.
A great many people of Keokuk
were led to believe that the Stone d
Webster corporation would be bene-
been a benefit? 1t could only be a
benefit in.as-much as it served the
majority of the people and that could
only be brought about by furnishing
it's citizens with liberal gas and
electric rate. We find the contrary
has been the case and that the peo-
pie of Keokuk are paying higher
rate for gas and electricity than any
town no matter how small the town
or how small the plant Installed.
Then haven't the citizens Of keokuk
been anything else but benefited?
Look at Kansas City, Kansas, with
her municipal owned plant and her
Scent kilowatt charge, and to other
cities with equally as good a rate.
Small towns with a lower gas and
electric rate. Then do you ask if we
have been benefited by the coming
of this corporation to our city?
The time is fast approaching when
the awakened conscience of the peo-
pie will not permit corporation to
fasten its fangs into the life Of city
charging excess rates., control cleo
lions, controlling the press and hold
| ing dominion over the people.
The Stone & Webster corporation
was assessed by the city assessor at
| sS.OO0000 which was the estimated
valuation of their property and on re-
! fusal of the company to give in the
valuation of the property was assess
ed as provided by law at 100 percent
more, or $16,O00,000 and on complaint
filed by said company the present
city administration we understand
ignored the assessor and placed the
valuation at 100000. What authority
has this administration for lowering
| the valuation of this corporation S
property $7.50O.000 in defiance Of law
and the valuation as placed by the
assessor? Is this corporation going
to run the city? Hasn't our city ad-
ministration enough backbone to en-
force the law in dealing with a cor
poration as with the small property
holder?
The majority of the people 10 not
doubt that the assessor did his duty
in placing this valuation on the prop
erty as owned by the Stone G. Web
ster corporation. This corporation is
not public institution nor does the
public derive any benefit therefrom
| for which it does not pay maximum
price, therefore is not exempt from
taxation S. II. Johnston as assessor
did his duty in placing this valua.
ton He should receive the heart,
support and cooperation of every
| person in the city. Let every man
who has an ounce Of honesty or de-
cency left and every person who be-
lieves in equal rights stand by the
assessor and this movement for equal
taxation.
WILLIAM A. DORSON,
Blondeau Street.