The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-10
WORK|NCMEN GROUP
commissioners OF
Pennsylvania CITY.
Former %Cigarmakers, Piano
Tuner, Plumber, Steam
filter Included
CITY STILL CONSERVATIVE
Socialist Movement Began in
1910 With Campaign
Against High Taxes
CITY STILL CONSERVATIVE

Reading, Pa, Jan. lO-NEA)-InlS
conservative industrial city of Ill 900
population faces 1881 with a city gov
eminent that is solidly Socialistic-
and believes that because Of that fact
it will get better and cheaper govern
nlent than it used to have.
Reading has had Socialist control
in its city government for two years
now. But last November 1t voted in
two more Socialists to make it unan-
imous. and also sent two Socialists
to the state legislature: and as 1891
gets under way Reading finoS itself
with the first Acknowledgements city
government in the United States.
It's mayor is j. Henry Stump a for
n1er cigar maker. Its city councilmen,
in addition to Mayor Stump, are
James H. Maurer. an cx-plumber:
William G. Hoverter. another ex-cigar |
maker; George w. Snyder. a former
piano tuner. and Jesse E. George. who
used to be a steam-fitter. Stump.
Snyder and Maurer were elected in
the fall Of 1927: Hoverter and George
were put in to join them at the recent
election.
Not a Radical Town
Yet Reading is not a radical town. |
On the contrary. it is as conservative
an industrial community as there is
in the United States. Its people are
substantial Quakers, pennsylvania
Dutch" with a sprinkling of South
Europeans. There are even some di-
rect descendants of William Penn.
But Reading likes its Socialists,
observation-disclosures they have given
it good government. while the Repub-
licans and Democrats before them
gave it bad government.
Really this city government dates
back to 1910, eve though it didn't
take office until two years ago. It
was in 1910 when a group OF cigar
makers. iron workers and other wage
earners got together to fight for low
tive cigar factory. founded a Socialist
local and bought a hall for their
meetings.
Jim Maurer. one Of the present
councilmen, was soon elected to the
legislature. He was a leader in the
fight which brought about a state
workingmen's compensation law. and
agitated for other reforms, And after
Is years of it. he and his associates
here decided to let the legislature go
and concentrate or city government.
Tax Boosts Unpopular
The time was propitious. Readings
city administration had been INSTALL
ing plenty Of city improvements, but
taxes had been going up alarmingly.
From 1917 to 1927 the city's per cap
tia expenditures for the maintenance
and operation of general city depart
mentS had risen from 1886 to $23.3l.
Citizens were protesting.
The city governmental that time
it was in the hands of Democrats =
listened to their protests and shaved
the taxes slightly. Then a reassess-
ment was ordered on real estate-with
the result that total assessments were
boosted by s51, OO0, 900. much Of it
spread out upon the home owners.
So the Socialists got together and
made their campaign, demanding
lower taxes and a. more. efficient
government. They were victorious.
too: they won the m%ayoralty election
and two places OF the council; and
since the city is ruled by the mayor
and four councilmen, who joined with
him to make a commission of five, the
Socialists had a clear majority.
Property Is Reassessed
They were not long in getting busy.
Once they took office they hired a
tax expert to reappraise city property.
This expert. soon showed that home
owners had been Disseminated
against in favor Of downtown prop
erty owners. A big store, for instance.
had managed to get a reduction of
nearly $4,000 while assessments on
homes were being increased. A lead
ing hotel had enjoyed a reduction of
nearly $500 at the same time, a fac
tory had profited similarly, a theater
had done likewise.
So values were reasSeSsed with
the result that IS per cent Of the
city's home owners were given sub
stantial tax reductions. Today the
city tax rate is only $1.52 per 500.
one Of the lowest In the state.
Then there was the matter of a
new city hall. The outgoing admin
istration had voted $3.50, 900 to build
q new one, but work had not been
started when the Socialists took Of
flee. They noticed that q big high
school building in the center Of the