The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-31
BLACKFOOT CITY COUNCIL
AND CITIZENS MEET AND
CONSIDER CITY'S PROBLEMS
Continued from page one

pany the Boise-Payette Lumber com.
pany, have seventy-one yards, anG
that Blackfoot rates second in the
list for profits and prosperity pre-
ratio to their population. On their
books there is only one town out OF
the seventy-one that is better than
little old Blackfoot, and that town
was deeply in debt and levied high
takes for three years and got on a
CASH basis and are staying there.
Tax Money Lenders
Mr.. Thorstenberg said that If we
would tax our money lenders and
make them carry their share of the
burden Of taxation 1t would ease UP
very decidedly. He said all this talk
about favoring the capitalist to keep
from soaring him away is bosh
Down In Nebraska they enacted a
law that made double check on tax
exaders and they were afraid to cover
up their wealth of cash, under pen
atty of imprisonment, and they
neither left the state nor evaded pay
ment. They paid their share like
little men and relieved the other ele-
ments of the population and such a
law ought to be in effect here.
Councilman Sees Deficit
Councilman Pearson said he
thought there was little prospect of
wiping out the deficit in three years
by levying to the limit. The in
creased demands for service Of vari-
GUS kinds would take all the money
each year. Councilman Percy Jones
said there were new demands all the
time and no budget made up on the
last years experience would suffice.
During the war there was the rising
cost of everything the city used and
all wages, and people wanted libra
rain and got it; they wanted a lot
of motors for the sewing machines
at the Red Cross rooms and got
them; they wanted sewer extensions
and got them; they wanted the city
park kept up even at increased ex-
penses for the care-taker, and in
many ways there were perfectly rea-
sonable requests for service. The
improved lighting service had been
granted at an increased cost. but a
greatly improved service by making
a ten year contract, and it seemed
satisfactory, for people had quit COM
planning.
Touches Tender Spot
Councilman Davis said he had
tender spot in regard to criticisms of
extravaganza for lights in the SUBJ
urbs. He lived in the suburbs him
self and they had paid their sewer
tax cheerfully to maintain a system
for the rest of the town tho they
could get no use of it themselves,
and all they had asked was a little
light to go home by and they had
been criticised for that. He felt it
very keenly when that subject was
preached in the way it had been at
times.
Councilman Gets Peeved
H. W. Vanderwood said he had
come to the meeting realizing that he |
did not know very much about the
subject, but he was opposed to the |
occupation tax. After hearing alllof !
The discussions he was still more op-
posed to it. After reviewing the sit
lation somewhat, be suggested tS31
b. the proposed occupation tax was
n the nature of donation to the
ire department, why not 60 gu. and
collect 1t as donation. Council
nan Boyle replied rather sharply.
You try going out and collecting a
Donation that people don't have tot
'ay unless they want to, and see how
'ou like It. There are some business
men on the council and they have
tudied these matters thoroly, and
NOW pretty well what is practical
md what is not" 49,,
VIII Wait a Little /
The finance committee was in
tructed to take a couple of weeks
o see just what Is left after apply
ng the January tax collections and
go II they could arrange for small .
Ond issue or other matter of credit