The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1923-06-23

be built within the million dollar
figure; ca that the contracts be
let piecemeal, as available funds
permit; (3) that $4,000 be taken
from next years tax levy, which
in addition to the million In bonds
would be sufficient for all the work
THAT can be done before the next
tax levying time; then in the 1926
levy, the balance necessary fol-
completing the building might be
levied; ca that a bonding PROPOSE
ton be submitted to the people at
once, asking approval of possibly
100000 additional bonds, or as
much thereof as may be necessary
to complete the project.
The first plan is desirable so far
as the amount of money Is con-
cerned, but 1t raises the question
OF how seriously It will interfere
with the grouping plan, IL the size
OF the building is materially re-
duced.
The second plan has the ad-
vantage OF starting something Inn
mediately, but has the disadvantage
Of committing the city to an un-
| certain end.
The third plan, lis perhaps, the
easiest way out, from the city
councils point Of view. Under the
SIS per capita limitation, the city
may levy $3O0, 900 In excess OF the
amount allowed this year under the
sixteen mill limit. 1t Is thought by
many that It is better to get at
least half OF this into some per
tmanent improvement, which will
stand for many years to come,
rather than to have It expende n
some current expense that will have
no lasting benefit. However, the
matter Of levying $4,000 against
the taxpayer of 1924 Is no slight
matter. It will of itself make q
two mill increase In the tax rate.
1t may reasonably be questioned,
whether 1t is right or just to make
the taxpayers of 1924 and 1925
pay 20 per cent of the cost OF q
building, which, in all probability,
will last for at least SO years.
The plan of submitting an adj
ditional bond proposition to the
people has the advantage OF giving
the citizens chance to say how
much they are willing to pay for q
city hall. II the bonds are voted,
the present plans may be accepted,
and construction started. IL they
are rejected, the city council will
know that the citizens do not wish
to spend more than 100000 for
the city hall. 1t will then be
necessary to revise the plans. The
disadvantage OF the scheme is,
that a special election costs money,
though IL held at the same time
as the senatorial election, the cost
would be small.
The Taxpayers League favors the
first proposal. 1t is believed that
81, 100000. is sufficient to build and
equip city hall adequate for many
years to come. Dayton, Ohio is
building q city hall that will cost
100000. Many other cities are
satisfied with q building costing
even less.
Many other propositions, vital to
tie welfare of Duluth, are so nee
essary that it doe not seem wise
to burden the taxpayer with a
municipal building costing in excess
of a million dollars.
While It is believed that the cost
of the site should also some from
the million dollars, 1t is not likely
that any serious criticism will be
encountered il some Of that cost
is paid for out of direct taxation.
The proposed building will pro-
vide six times as much office space
as the present quarters. 1t would
seem. that, SO far as the city gov
eminent is concerned, no great loss
will come IL the size OF the build
ing Is reduced. II the proposed city
hall (reduced in size to effect
economies) still maintains its beauty
Of design and monumental appear
ance, provides edquately for the
present and future needs OF the
city. and conforms reasonably with
the grouping plan, the question
then raised is, ."Is complete COM
pliance with the Durham plan
worth the increased cost?" True, 1t
would be a splendid thing to have
the building conform completely
with the suggested plan, but when
II comes to a question Of either
overburdening the taxpayer, or OF
giving up part Of the artistic
features Of the plan, 1t Is believed
that the taxpayers pocketbook