The Detroit times., 1916-07-24
Connolly's Statement


To the many urgent opportunities
Of my fellow citizens TO become
candidate for Mayor II Is my duty TO
make response.
These citizens have sought 20 CON
vince me that there 10 real need
az my services In that larger heid OF
action.
In giving a reluctant assent 20
their urging there 10 no need 20 dip
the pen or malic. in the Ink pot 81
dIspavRg-msnt. in order TO write win
truth that many conditions IN our
civic hfe require prompt and drastic
remedy.
First Of all. the cos, OF city gov
eminent 10 growing TO DEERE. that
should inspire profound eone.rn. Last
est tax rate In the clty's history. This
year We bend our backs TO the high
est assessed valuation In the eitys
history.
Ina Ave year period. Detroirs tax
6Sss7 In 1910. 20 sis.I0s. 1872 In 1918.
nearly 100 per cent In the slmo.t
Z tratfon there has been an authorized
I outlay--to ne met by taxation or
( bonds--of almost 80 million dollars
I torn-up streets. dlsreputabie pave
ments and dirty highways and alleys
viii doubtless be shocked by these
\ figures
raising the property valuation by
I ~ lan- n11,-ln order TO effect nc
! titiously lower tax rate for election
year purposes r. cold comfort TO the
OF rate. fnds hts taxes even higher
/ than last year
And this political appraisal works
double hardship 10 the taxpayer In
1GE r. ri
/ the basis Of his state and county
taxes as well as hts city taxes neuce.
when he makes his December pilgrim
age 10 the county tresturers oincs,
/ he will get second dose OF high
taxes for state and county purposes
because Mayor Mars assessing
board has boosted" his valuation
/ upon which those taxes viii be cal
II is estimated thu, 20 per cent ot
4 Dstroits taxpayers got this jolt this
I year. presumably. next year. with the
! removed they viii get another treat
msnt" In the shape OF high tax rate.
inquired on this years high valuation
OF the othsr so per cent Of our tax.
| the double burden by receiving a sim
liar rs per cent boost In assessed
| valuation.
The futur. OF Detroit. commercially
and industrIsliy considered. lies In it's
manufactures A reasonable tax levy
holds industries here. encourages eN-
pansion. and ATTRACTS new ente--
reputation for orderitnsss and indus
trial peac. does the r-ssonabIeness OF
the municipal budget influence both
| capital and labor I'm our favor
and or buildings directly; the renter
| in his rent or the purchaser In tho
price OF his purchase, Increased ex.
penditure. unwiss budget voting and
waste hit evrey man. woman and
| child within our gates.
wherefore, tn. question Of high
| taxes IN not politfcal or party ques-
zion any more than q toiiers daily
party or political question. IL 10
Il demands that public business shall
the same az private business The
| apple alton Of aAne business manage
ment TO municipal AFFAIRS: the stun
~ costa the elimination Of waste. the
work are urgently needed TO check
This Il not done. sfrsctiveiy and forth
. fh D' 5S. n .nEoss. r r..u s' Of g"a as.
evsr growing burden OF taxes 10
growing lack OF confidence in the city
administration. Stating the case In
a.nee' Joined with impoiitie m.tSods
Of dealing with the public. have re-
suited recently In an apparent rsbun
10 the cause OF public ownership. and
in q curt refusal by tho people TO vote
the Belle Isle bridge bond Issue IL
the needs Of the city are TO be denied
because OF chagrin over high taxes,
H. II not time to remove. by the hrm
but humane surgery OF the ballot.
the cause and source OF this condi-
tom
The casual sojourner who has oc-
casion TO seek the refreshing breeses
OF the river In the vicinity OF Belle
Isle there observee GROWING monu-
ment TO the tnefhciency 70 which j
refer. To many citizens II 10 an open
question whether our greatest civic
affiction was the burning OF the old
bridge or the building OF the new one:
For Is months We have dawdIed
about on this matter OF vital conse.
auence to our people, with the result
of erecting an abortion that should
do not propose 10 allow myself
to drift into personal disparaFement
have no taste for personal bicker-
wise policies and inadequate systems
Of conducting public business. not to
individuals. This In particularly true
with what shall now say about the
police regulation OF the city. OF
course. y could not b. expected that
Ume Of detail. but only that I should
outline some general lines OF action.
Neither an individual nor n city is
compelled to choose between Going 10
hell cross-lots on the one hand. or
Of july on the other. sensibis folks
pity the "dub'--individual OF city
who II obsassed Of the idea that he
must get "wali-eysd"-to borrow the
ysrnaeular q the st!ss,.m Yrd;r to