The labor world., 1922-10-14
SPIRIT OF THE CHARTER.

sloners and the public held last Fri
day at the city hall the matter of city
finances was gone into at considerable
length.
From the presentation by the COM
missioners of the case Of the city 1T
became evident to all in attendance
that the officials are confronted with
q serious financial problem.
There are demands upon them for
various and sundries improvements,
the cost of which, together with the
regular administration expenses Of
the city, greatly exceed the amount
that can be raised by taxation under
the 16-n1ill limit of the charter, using
the assessed valuation of all real and
personal property as the base.
The state supreme court recently
held in a school board case that in
computing the aggregate value OF
property for taxation the board could
take into consideration that of monies
and credits together with the assessed
valuation of real and personal pro-
perty. The city attorney holds, in
view of such an Interpretation of the
law, that the city commissioners have
the right to levy taxes to the amount
of 16 mills of the value for taxation
purposes Of all real and personal pro-
rerty and monies and credits.
Should the commissioners decide to
90 so they may increase the city tax
rate beyond the 16-mill charter limi-
tation, as previously understood, to a
rate considerably in excess Of that
figure. This, they do not feel war
ranted in doing without public ap-
proval. The citizens attending the
Friday evening meeting, after listen
ing to all the arguments presented
thereat, unanimously voted to recon-
mend to the commissioners that the
tax rate be increased from Is to 10
mills.
It was at the time presumed that
the commissioners knew what they
were doing. No questions were asked
a to the introduction of economies
in administration. No one presumed
to interrogate the commissioners as to
possible extravagances and duplica-
ton of work. That much was taken
for granted until the Tax Payers
league called public attention to GER
tain economies that might be prac-
tieed which would save the city
thousands Of dollars.
Since then the commissioners are
seeing the matter in new light and
there is now possibility that the
tax rate for 1923 will not exceed that
of this year. ;, A bond issue has been
suggested to provide for the per-
mauent improvement fund, payments
thereon to be spread over a number
OF years not to exceed the life of any
Improvement and without levying for
the whole amount in one year as was
originally proposed.
So much and so good, but who is
there to say that the same financial
problem will not confront the city
one year hence! How can it be
avoided' There are but few checks
to commission government as at pres,
ent conducted, save such as are con.
taincI in the charter. Even these
have been subject to change by court
decisions or by city attorneys opin.
ions
Our commission government Il
without leadership. The five differ
ent divisions OF the government have
1t is conceded able directors, each OF
whom no doubt gives the best that is
IN him to the performance of his ad
mlnlstratlve duties. In general pub.
lie matters that come before the
council weekly the commissioners, al
working together, disagreeing some
times as to methods and policies
nevertheless do remarkably we'll. Ir
such matters commission government
is in action as it was intended il
should be.
Beyond the regular or special coun
Gil meetings commission government
ceases to function. 1t then becomes
oneman government and the city il
divided into five little governments
with the head of each exceedingly
jealous of his authority and preroga
tives. He brooks no interference
from any other commissioner ane
would question the motive of one wht
gets too 'nosey.'
When question is asked relative
to any department, as was repeatedly
done at the public meeting Friday
the commissioner in charge of tha
department was on his feet in an in
slant and gave ready and satisfac