The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-06
DODGING THE ISSUE AS USUAL

Defense of the three per cent gratuty paid r. Atk
son upon purchase price of the water plant and
upon five per cent basis upon all contracts of $500
more are offered in recent article signed: "Bystander
inns answer to Bystander however is written from the
standpoint OF tax payer not from that of eavesdroppe
| nonresident or mere "Bystander."
Fundamentally the trouble is that our city budgets
being dictated in too great degree by tax-eaers and
bystanders. Those who have the teerty to criticize city
finances or who seek simply to inform their readers on
yled and bombasticay cassed seekers after revenge
How meodramatc But of this bobast reduces said
taxes.
In his article Bystander discusses not taxes or their
possible reductlon but raises counter issue former
accountant Of the Bismarck Water Supply company and
no stretch OF imagination these persons be considered
the issues involved in the matter of tax reduction in the
enrage "Bystander Neither an issue affecting imne
date tax reduction in Bismarck that T. R. Atkinson by his
valuation of the Bismarck Water Supply plant saved the
All of the Bystanders allegations whether they be true
or false much water that has gone under the bridge
and are merely reiterated to obscure the real
REDUCTION: This issue has been lodged by the city
people generally of this city hardly afford ignore
That many of them keeny alive to the situation mani
apoogst those responsible for the present tax load
Not figure put forth by The Tribune in it's analysis
OF cy @ finances mas been challenged by the Bystander
"Bystander" should know that great saving would be
effected if the city engineer were placed salary basis
should be apparent to this transient Bysander PRESIDENT
or non resident who knows if the offices of city engi
works combined and the five per cent engineering
commission eliminated that saving in of $4,000
the benefcares under the present exravagant sys
tenn and cut down the quota of Bysanders but would
be sweet music to the of the taxpayers.
1t is knowledge also to- the people of Bismarck
that in the last ten T. R. Atkinson has drawn from
ee ey 9n % e"n s for for @
from state and county the period Add
to this rather imposing sum for city of 1000 or
5000 souls the extra the city has been caused by
his costly bunders and the grand total of this ciy share
alone PAID Atkinson y5 Wqud reach the imposing figure of
Granting that T. R. Atkinson saved the taxpayers OF
Bismarck 100000 in the purchase of the old plant he
and five per cent sces It begins to look to an ordinary
dub of taxpayer that the saving made for T. r. and
not for him. Mr. Bystander be interested in this kind
of bounty but the taxpayers in the words of Kng must
continue to : "Pay, Pay, Pay
It might be enghtenng for the taxpayers Bismarck
per cent commissions it will take R. Atkinson absorb
completely this called 100000 saving nice but
easy problem for "Bystander's" next effort.
While the city commission refuses absolutely retrench
in the matter of city finances might be fertile field for
the city and county officials tackle the matter of
delinquency in Bismarck.
large percentage of taxes assessed against lots
De a ad Pee 3s 5 the
many fail to pay their taxes who and by such den
quency place heavier burden upon those who do pay?
What the city and county officials doing to collect
from those who don't pay?
To what extent is the mouthpece used by "Bystander'
delinquent in taxes? Has it ever paid cent of taxes in
Bismarck? "Bystander" spend profitable hour at
the county auditors office in to this question.
Of then in such event such trifles as
taxes and tax reduction cannot interest "Bystander
The Tribune will continue to discuss city expenditures
not from the blase interest of "Bystander, deln
quent nonresident eavesdropper but the very
vital standpoint of taxpayer.
Let's meet the tax issue squarey in Bismarck to the
desired end of bigger and better Bismarck that in all
tax reductions effected thereby all may share and share
alike in the benefits for surely government instituted
for the benefit of all the people and not for the benefit
clique whose fingers may happen to be the public
purse strings.
Heavy Grain Of a flax were psd Ps assresatns
k.A A..A makinr ahnn 50nb bnshel