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Show MAGNANIMITY NEEDED There Is some objection urged, as we hear, to the purchase of the Harwood paintings for the public library, on the score of expense. But surely the Council Coun-cil cannot entertain an objection of that kind, seriously. It is not the fact that the expenditure of the three thousand dollars necessary to get these pictures would seriously Infringe upon any other municipal expenditures necessary or advisable. The city revenues this year will be materially greater than ever before. be-fore. The city assessment roll is inn-siderabiy inn-siderabiy Increased in value, and the tax rate Is raised one mill The total valuation of the city, for assessment purposes, lust year, was $38. 925,177 the tax rate was 10 mills, the tax was $3S9,2al.77 This year the assessment roll valuation is $, 671, 996, the tax rate Is 11 mills; the tax Is J4J6,-3M.95. J4J6,-3M.95. an increase of $47,140.18. It tan-not tan-not be, therefore, that the city will be so short of money that It cannot expend ex-pend the small sum necessary to obtain ob-tain thttso art works, which would so fitly adorn the public library walls and be so graceful and powerful an educating edu-cating force In the public taste, besides being a mark of public appreciation of the magnificent gift of the grounds and building, so generously donated to the city by Mr. Packard. We all s!ty that we appreciate that splendid g ft, let us now show that we do so, by providing pro-viding It with appropriate fittings, that will testify at oncer to our appreciation and our taste. T..et it not be said that a Council which would appropriate forty thousand thou-sand dollars for a lot of useless canal stock, from which there Is not the faintest prospect that the city will ever derive even the least advantage, will renounce an opportunity like this, to get for three thousand dollars a refining refin-ing force such as this collection would exercise upon all the people, and would be a perpetual reminder of the Just appreciation ap-preciation which all the people have of the magnificent liberality which gave us, the library structure. It Is an occasion occa-sion where the city has an opportunity to do Itself credit, to the continual benefit and pride of Its citizens; and It would be hard to think that the Coun-( Coun-( ell would allow it to pass unimproved. Let a little of the Packard spirit prevail, pre-vail, so that the fitting thing may be done |