The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-02-08

day, January 81, 1929. for the follow
| ing purposes;
/. To consider and take action on
| tax matters and proposed legislation
pertaining thereto.
2. To consider and take action on
the appointment of City Chemist ~
Veterinarian.
BY order of the Mayor.
A. o. KNUTSON.
City Clerk.
Present: Aldermen Tauzell, BANJO
vetz, Veranth, Homer, Kapsch. Mayor
, Hanson.
Absent: Alderman Olson.
Alderman Veranth reported for the
committee that represented the city
of Ely at the Legislative Conference
of the League of Minnesota Munich
palitieS, held in st. Paul, Minnesota,
on January "a, 1929, and mentioned
proposed legislation affecting the COM
munities on the Ranges. He stated
that the range communities had ap-
pointed a committee of seven to keep
in touch with any legislation that
may affect municipalities on the
Ranges and that City Assessor F. B.
James was appointed one OF this
committee.
City Assessor James reported
meeting of this Legislative Committee
of Seven was held in Buhl, Minnesota.
on the afternoon of Thursday, jan
uary 81, 1929, and that the committee
appointed a subcommittee of four
members to attend sessions of the
legislature whenever they may deem it
necessary and further stated that he
is member of the said sub-com-
mittee.
A general discussion was had on the
subject of proposed legislation tend
ing to decrease mining property val
uations, especially that of decrease
in the ad valorem tax.
Alderman Veranth offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
WHEREAS, There are and will be
decided efforts in certain districts to
procure relief for the mining industry,
which said relief will be in the form
of decreased valuation OF mineral
property values, that is, decrease in
the ad valorem tax from fifty per
cent of the true value to thirty three
and one-third of the same, as well as
relief along the lines Of reducing or
repeating the royalty and occupational
taxes on the ore.
AND WHEREAS, City expenditures
have materially increased during the
past five years due to the increase in
population of one-thouSand people
since the last census.
AND WHEREAS, Several plated adj
ditionS have been added to the city,
neceSsitating greater outlay OF money
by the city for permanent improve
ments and maintenance.
AND WHEREAS, the Municipality
must render far greater service to the
public today than in past years, due
to the greater demand of the public for
modern conveniences, which demand
is not only local here in Ely but can
be seen and heard all over the coun-
try.
AND WHEREAS, the Council in Ely
Is at present levying a very fair
| amount, not in any way disproportion-
at to the amount of money needed to
meet the expenses entailed in the
proper matchmaking Of city GOV ernment
and in fact is levy which cannot be
cut if the same services are to be rem
dered to the people in the future as
have been in the past.
AND WHEREAS, there has never
been a bona-fide charge of extrava-
gance made against this city and it's
various administrations, in that par
ticular the opposite has been true
in that the city has been very conser--
vative, as shown by the condition of
the city funds in January, 1929.
AND WHEREAS, the argument COM
ing from certain quarters to the eff
feet that as all permanent improve
ment are in, the city could exist more
cheaply, is fallacious and not found
ed in fact, In that there could be no
appreciable pairing down Of any ex-
penditllres now made, without a cor
responding lessening of che efficiency
of the governmental machine in this
| city.
AND WHEREAS, experts can show
that the lessening of the mineral val
uations, while it will help the MN
ing companies, will raise the taxes on
the small property owner an appre-