Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-04-28
FOR BONDING ORDINANCE
FRAMED FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE AVERAGE CITIZEN

! Un UUlSUllVu UNklItHlVUL
FRAMED FOR THE BENEFIT OF
THE AVERAGE CITIZEN
Let Every Public Spirited Citizen of
Viroqua Line Up In Favor OF the
Sewerage Proposition
We regret to give publicity to the
fact that opposition to Viroqua's sew
erage proposition has developed to the
point where a remonstrance petition
has been circulated, signed by seventy
citizens and filed with the city clerk,
calling for special election on the
goth of May, with the apparent in
tention of killing the whole PROPOSE
ton. The bonding ordinance has been
introduced and passed, all necessary
legal steps taken, and everything in
line to push this much needed inn
provement to a successful conclusion.
1t seems a shame that the council,
Advancement association, best citizens
and large taxpayers of the town can
not start a necessary betterment with
out some of our people endeavorlng
to defeat the good which is sought to
be done.
Believing that those who conceived,
circulated and signed the petition arc
laboring under an entire misconcep-
ton Of the facts in the case rather
than desire to retard the improve
ment of ogr city, we wish TO present
some facts bearing upon the subject.
The previous council and mayor met
with the advancement association and
leading citizens Of the city some time
ago and completely discussed the sew
erage proposition. 1t was unanimous
ly agreed that Niroqua mist have sew
erage. Not a voice was raised against
It. The only question was as to the
manner Of paying for it, II was APP
parent to everyone pres sat that the
bond Issue Was the least ilrtseasome
and fairest plan, because>it decidedly
| favored the small taxpayer-zand
threw the burden on the wealthy men
of our town. Accordingly, and wise
ly, Mayor Garrett and the Council
placed this plan in operation. We
highly commend their good judgment
and progressive impulse.
At the meeting Of the new council
last ewing the petition was received,
accepted and the special election order
ed. However, it was the sense of the
mayor, council and retained legal
counsel that the step taken by the
previous council must stand, that no
legal steps could be taken to annul
their decision, and that in case ma
iority of our citizens voted against the
bond issue it would simply be a de-
feat of the bonding proposition with
out affecting the original order for
sewerage, and this would force the
council to levy a special assessment
of so much per front foot against all
owners past whose property the sew
er would run.
There will be city here 5000 years
from now; if the world lasts that long,
and the need for sewerage viii grow
more acute with each passing year. 1t
MUST come soon. Why not now?
progressive citizen who has the inter
est of the city and its future at heart
but will concede this,
The question, then, is whether to
sell bonds or levy a special assessment
| This can be disposed of to the salts
| faction of anyone by citing one in
stance. Take the fine Bekkedal ware
house and an unimproved lot Of equal
| frontage. Under the front foot as
assessment, they would pay the same
money Under the bonding PROPOSE
ton, the valuable building and its
large tobacco holdings would pay more
than a hundred times as much tax
This is also true of bank stock, auto
mobiles and other peFsanal property
This class Of property would not con
| tribute a cent under the special assess
ment plan; nor would the city's build
| ings contribute. A modest $4,000
home and one lot Of ground would pay
( the same as a $4,000 home. Does
the small taxpayer want the special
assessment? Not when he under
! stands how much more it will cost
him. Our wealthy men know this
yet 10 their credit be it siad that the
petition signed by 10 men represents
! an assessed valuation Of $780, 600
whereas the citys valuation is above
three million. The heavy tax payers
want this improvement and are willing
to pay more than their share of the
tax to get it, They did not sign the
petition. Fourteen of its signerg pay
no tax whatever, and only eight are
assessed the equivalent Of modern
4 home.
The Censor, which stands at al
times for every public betterment
which stands for the hospital, tbs
housing corporation. street paving
and the like, pleads with our citizens
TO vote for the bonding ordinance. Dc