The daily Nome industrial worker., 1917-01-26
AS TO TAXES.

If the Aldermen who preside over | the destinies of this city ever read the Bible with care they will come upon short and pithy phrase which 1 rebukes those who lack confidence in themselves: Woe to ye men of Little Faith.
 Just now an effort is being made 1 to prevent the collection of taxes upon that portion of the incorporat l ed district outside the section of the 1 townsite patent, and because the aldermen fear that the entire scheme of incorporation may be invalidated, they are reported to be ready for compromise so that the Moves deci. sion may be again relegated to the obscurity of a forgotten past and only such as were taxed in former years will be again assessed.
 The serious nature of the conse- quences of such compromise over comes whatever consequences would i follow the invalidation of the incor poration and if the incorporation could be invalidated, it is time , that it was, and the position of the city as an incorporated and authori tative municipality removed from all doubt.
 If by threat of proceedings to i invalidate the incorporation ct Nome, those who are otherwise tax able can escape taxation, it is open. ing the way for a general refusal of the people herein to refuse to pay cent of taxes. And if the council shoud possess such little confidence ] in themselves and their position that they would arrange a compro- mise in this matter, it would be a policy commended to the people who have not been so able to avoid pay. until this question of the city's legal incorporation is definitely settled. It is a prepusterous condition of affairs when wealthy companies could hold over the assessor and tax collectors the threat of invalidation of the incorporation every time the city sought to collect teh legal taxes due upon the properties within the citys properly and judicially pre- scribed bounds.
 It was stated at d council meeting by the competent legal adviser of the city that the city council had no powers to curtail the taxable extent of the city's area and il would be gross supererogation upon the part of the council should they in fear of such invalidation as above mentioned, consent to effect any such an illegal curtailment.
 If such a curtailments were au- thorized, being illegal, it would vii tiate the whole assessment, and the city would be unable to collect one cent of taxes from any portion of the area within the judicially decid- ed limits of incorporation.
 Compromises of this sort are met in one way only and that is by com plete condemnation. If this city is not legally incorporated the only proper procedure is to have it disin- corporated, and by having an annul- ment of such incorporation which was illegally effected in the past, immediately and legally effected in the future. In this way the city is on firm grounds and the council can be intimidated then or thereafter by no threats of disincorporation be- cause the incorporation was invalid.
 It is possible all these criticisms and this comment is premature. It is possible that they are founded upon transformation as to policy which is under consideration. If so all the better. The councilmen can be assured if they exercise a little vertebrated action in the matter, the people of this community will stay with them to the end. If not the sooner they retire from an office