The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-02-01
PUBLIC STATEMENT
communicated

Dy SOIlS VI tuS tdApdyClS VI tuC SiIy,
feel it my duty to present a public
statement bearing on my resignation.
My decision to resign was brought
about by a combination of circum-
stances, resulting mostly from war
activities. Ever since the war was
declared all public officials were
called upon to help the government.
The orders had to be obeyed and l
have tried to discharge my duty as a
public official as periodically as |
possibly could. Many of the citizens
could not see the predicament the
country was in, and hence some Of
my actions have been misunderstood,
which brought me serious personal
loss.
My association on the Council of
the City of Ely as Alderman and as
Mayor has been very pleasant; the
members have been very considerate
and progressive, which fact / appre-
ciate very much. Neither the City
Council nor the affairs of the City
had any bearing on my resignation,
but in order that the citizens of Ely
know the difficulties with which the
City Council had to contend, it is
only proper that they know the prob
lens which confront us today.
First of all, we must realize that
we are at war. At war to protect not
only our own homes and institutions
but at war to make Democracy safe
for the world" as our president has
ably stated, a war which has been
forced on this country and which
every true citizen must help to win
regardless of any personal inconven-
fence or loss. This war has pro-
duced conditions which are not famil
lar nor pleasing to us, but which we
must bear patiently as good citizens
and soldiers for humanity.
To all those who are not yet in
the citizenship family of the. Unite1
States, whether they stay out of it
deliberately or because of lack of suf-
ficient residence in this country,
say: If this country has been good
enough to receive you and give you
protection, it ought to be good enough
for you to protect in time oSher need
A large portion of the best Citizen
| ship of America is made up Of foreign
born citizens who became citizens Of
their own choice and who are stand
ing by their country. Those who are
not willing to share the responsible
ties of American citizenship, should
quit their kicking or get out.
In getting back to the problems o
our City, wish that every Taxpayer
and citizen would study the history o
our community to this day and Sc,
l just what has been neglected or &C
complished in the past. Our cit.
was one of the first mining camps il
the state. Very naturally, none .
the pioneers foresaw the future, ant
lack of this foresight prevented cit,
improvements in the early days which
we were called upon to make in late
years. In the meantime other com
munities on the Minnesota Irol
Ranges were established and pre-
crossed faster than we did. All thi
woke up the citizens of Ely a few
years ago and in order to keep pac
with other communities, very mucl
needed improvements were started
and are still in process of construc
ton, all of which needed extraordin
ary expenditures.
There is one thing which the cit
zens OF Ely neglected very seriousl
in the early years of the City's ez
lstence and that is the taxation O
the property within the City's limits
This neglect has been very apparen
throughout our history and is gettin
quite acute at the present time. N
one bothered if the valuations wer
properly made and no one cared, a
long as the City was plugging" alon
somehow. But when the improve
ments were started, naturally, a revs
nue. had to be found This started
study of our tax values and thi
study revealed the fact that the mil
ing properties within our limits wer
grossly undervalued, whereupOn tn
City Council ordered an investigate
which proved much of this contention
The City's valuations as the resu
of the work of the Committee a,
pointed by the City Council a fe7
years ago, have been increased nearl
100 per cent, and yet it seems to b
the opinion of many, that the valu;
lions are not where they justly shout
be. This opinion is based on CIV
dence presented at the last hearin
in the Supreme Court of the State {
Minnesota, where there was suff
cient evidence presented to sustai
our contention, but in spite of whicl
the Supreme Court ruled that accor
ing to the Minnesota Statutes, til
Tax Commission, which now consist
of three members, has absolute rigl
either to raise or lower any and a
valuations regardless of any evidenc
presented. This seems pretty stron
but yet, it may be within the law,
it is, then it is well nigh time for til
taxpayers of Ely to wake up an
work for the repeal of this obnoxior
law. have always advocated ha