The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-06-02

piOyob were Wiling 10 6upSCIlUc " tuC
principles and to become affiliated, I
would certainly sign the ordinance.
Question Number Nine.
Realizing that the extreme need Of
the present is the permanent improve
ment of our principal thoroughfares
II where do you stand in the
matter of street improvements that
will be of lasting and permanent bene-
fit to the taxpayers of the city,"
No one realizes more than i what a
criminal waste of money there Is in
trying to maintain a system OF ma
cadam streets under present traffic
conditions.
stand squarely for permanently i'm
!! proved streets.
Question Number Ten
"At present we have very made
quate and inefficient sewer system as
proven. - We therefore, ask and
desire a full and complete answer to
the policy you will pursue in regard
to this vital problem?"
To provide a remedy for the present
admittedly inadequate sewer system
is an engineers problem.
The present apparent remedy lays
in the construction Of capable relief
sewers. relieving the present sewers
of their over load. To be specific,
flooded Easements on North E street
between Eighth and Tenth streets,
have always been a source of much
concern to the city. If relief sewer
was constructed on North Twelfth
street from North E street to the riv-
er, to care for the water from e street
east of Twelfth, the E street sewer
west of Twelfth would not be over
loaded. The same method could be
applied to relieve the Main street
sewer by constructing relief sewer
on South c street from Reeveston to
the river and tapping connections
from Main street to that sewer.
The problem is too large and intri-
| cate to be dealt with in this answer
farther than to say am awake to the
pressing need of a remedy for the
present condition.
Question Number Eleven
knowing there will be distinct
| loss if revenue resultant from the pro-
hibition law recently passed, we are
| interested in knowing how this loss
| of S13 10000 will be metz"
l desire to take exception to your
expression that it will be "A distinct
| loss of revenue" There will possibly
be unavailable from license fees the
amount mentioned, but am fully
1 assured there will be an economic re-
adjustment of conditions that will
neutralize the temporary loss of in
come from that particular source.
In the meantime there must Of ne
cessity to re-systematizing of expen-
ditures and the availing ourselves of
the privilege granted under an act of
the legislature Of 1915 to appropriate
for general fund purposes, from the
surplus earnings of our municipal
utility such amounts as may be need
ed to make up the temporary defici.
ency. No increase in the tax rate is
necessary.
| Question Number Twelve
"To meet the increased expendi-
| lures consequent to the growth of the
city, it's extended and necessary i'm.
provements and the present high
| prices of necessary material
what method have you in mind by
which we can equitably meet this in.
| crease?"
A part Of this question is included
in question number eleven and ans
wered in my reply thereto. The in
crease in expenditures consequent to
| the growth of the city, happily, is pro-
yided for by the growth, since such
growth must of necessity, add to the
city's taxable values. The improve
ment program must be judiciously ar
ranged not to infiict burden unnec-
essarily and the volume of work done
should be governed by prevailing
/ prices.
! Answer Number Thirteen
would you favor the changing of
the law so that street improvements
could be met by taxing the entire
city,"
The changing of the law is a func-
ton of the state legislature. I have
always felt there was a manifest In
justice in changing so large proper
ton of the improvement cost to the
immediate adjacent properties, since
the street becomes public thorough
fare.
do feel, however, such amounts as
would represent the increased value
to the property, combined with the
value of improved sanitation, should
be assessed against the properties
abutting. The city of Richmond is
the only city in the state that pays
any part of paving it's streets, saving
intersections, but we pay 20 per cent.
of the cost, plus intersections. I be-
lieve it is just to all that the city bear
such part.
Paying the entire cost Of improve
| ment from general taxes would neces-
state tax rate SO high as to result
in driving business and every form Of
! development from our midst. The
taxing of the entire city the cost il
| such permanent Improvements is i'm
pregnated with too many dangers to
make it advisable.
Question Number Fourteen
Feeling that the present method of
| taxation is unjust and unfair, we, as
| laboring men would like to know
what method Of municipal taxation
would you propose that would better
the condition Of the small taxpayer"
That is question that is taxing the
minds of more profound and deeper
thinkers than / ever dared to profess
to be.
1t seems hopeless to think Of devils
ing q scheme that would be strictly
uniform in its burden. If taxes are to
be looked upon as compensation for
l