The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-07-28
DECISION REACHED
THURSDAY REJECTS
PLEA OF TAXPAYERS
Proposals Are Advanced by
Electorate at Stormy SEES.
sion Wednesday Night
SIX SUGGESTIONS LISTED
Some Want to Cut Auditors
and Commissioners Salar-
les, Pay Laborers More

::
After a stormy session Wednesday
night, at which numerous citizens
made suggestions for changes in the
citys budget for 1882, members Of the
city commission passed it, at a spe-
cial meeting Thursday afternoon,
without change in any items.
Discussion of the proposals by citi-
zens was had but no action was taken
on them.
Approximately ~ persons attend
ed the meeting of tine city commits
sion Wednesday night.
Among the suggestions made by
an aroused electorate were:
1. By Peter Aller, that someone
other than man already employed
be appointed dog-catcher.
2. By John l.. Larson. that the
commission use the axe sparingly in
reducing the wages of common labor.
8. By Meyer Cohen, that the two
jobs now held by the city auditor,
that of auditor and supervisor Of t e
waterworks, be divided between two
men.
4. BY Frank Alderman, that
some provision be made to enforce
collection of. taxes from the big tax
payers who are able to pay but have
not.
5. BY William Barneck, that pro-
vision be made for eliminating the
assessments for water main extern
sions at this time, some other means
Of financing this being found so that
the entire burden will not fall on the
present taxpayers.
Suggests Foreman Plan
6. By Henry Richholt, that the
position of street superintendent be
eliminated and the work Of the men
on the city's street forces be SUPER
vised by the street commissioner, as
sisted by a foreman who would get
81 day more than the other work.
ers on the same basis as section fore
men.
Z. BY H. F. Keller. that the posi-
ton of recreational director be elimi-
mated.
Numerous questions were hurled
at Mayor A. P. Lenhart and brisk
exchange occurred betw en- him and
Richholt, who was auditor Of the
city back in the late niaeties.
There was relatively little order at
the meeting, several persons talking
at once on some occasions, but t
was an interesting session. 1t DEM
onstrated definitely that a large
number of Bismarck taxpayers have
become tax conscious.
Aller Opens Protest
Alters was the first voice raised
when the budget was thrown open for
discussion after reading by City Au-
ditor M. H. Atkinson He said the
man now employed as dog catcher is
employed during the daytime and
pursues CANNES at night. Asked by
Lenhart if he wanted to be dos
catcher. Aller said he was out Of
Job and would do anything. The ap-
preparation for the job Is 1927.
Richholt challenged the arrange
ment whereby the city paid delin-
quent special assessment taxes by
taking money from the Front street
paving fund, paid in cash by the
Northern Pacific railroad He said
the bonds should never have been is
sued in the first place and that the
city commission should have known
the railroad would pay in cash. City
Auditor Atkinson said after the meet
ing that the city had tried to ascer-
tain if the railroad would do 50 and
had failed to obtain the information
in time to prevent the bond issue
covering its share of the cost.
Richholt drew applause when he
asserted that city the size of Bis
marck has no right to pay $500
year to any man and asserted that no
city employe should live in luxury"
while others starve.
He drew further cheers when. after
a statement by Lenhart that the
board had worked long and faithfully
on the budget and other matters, he
asserted that the city commissioners
never got In the past the salaries they
are drawing now. Under the budget,
the salaries Of commissioners were
reduced from SIS to $50 a month.
A comment by Lenhart that he
pays taxes and sympathizes with the
taxpayers position. drew the retort
that the commissioners could pay
their taxes with the amount they
draw as salary for coming to the city
hall once week.
There followed discussion Of how
much work the commissioners do for
their money, Richholt contending
they get too much and Lenhart as
sorting that he has as many as a
dozen callers day who come to his
store to discuss city affairs. This
brought the question of what the rest
Of the city's employees are paid for.
H. F. Keller was told by Lenhart
that the salary of the recreational
director was cut from $500 to 5000
year but Keller moved to eliminate
this service anyway.
Opposes Labor Cut
Walter Berwman. commenting on
the reduction In the pay Of street la
borers from 40 cents to IS cents an
hour and the shortening OF the hours
from 10 to eight day, expressed the
view that the commission was Jump
lng on the poor man because he's
Continued on page three)