| Show THE VEXED TAX QUESTION THERE never was so great a protest against excessive excessive valuation as that now now pending before the city council the valuations are without doubt excessive there should be a remedy for every wrong the remedy in this case cam is in the hands of the city council that body can give relief to the suffering taxpayers if it will we hope it will not dot turn a deaf ear to the complaints of the people the council is in a difficult position improvements are demanded commensurate with the needs of th the city the rho public debt has almost reached its legal limit money is wanted rio no doubt but the public are very much aroused and it seems to us that the council should pay proper regard to public opinion if there is not money enough to carry out projected improvements providing the valuations on property are lowered the council will not be blamed but it is the general epli ion that an abundance of funds will be raised for current purposes by a reduced tax and that there is no need as there is no justice in these exorbitant assessments assee scents on the question of a reduction of the rate fixed we suppose there is no use to say much the council decided last year that after it was fixed it could not dot be changed it was au aia absurd conclusion we think but it was arrived at and probably the majority of tho council would not change their opinions concerning it A reduction of twenty five per beni all round in the valuations is asked ed al and with a good show of reason lt would give great relief but there 1 so many cases cam in which this uni reduction would not meet the wrong complained of that we think each one will have to be viewed on H vo merits the county assessment appears wv ai rule to be more in accordance with right and fairness As a general rule a re reduction to its figures wo we this would meet with general favor al 1 hae t though th ough they are considerably considerable highe big than the present condition of the res estate market would warrant aw and I 1 that were done there are individual i ii stances which ought to be special considered f we trust the city authorities will ao this important matter with due u respect for the rights of the peo people ale and that they will not ride a high horse anti and overlook their duty to the public and a proper regard for public opinion there is a grievance of no small import importance anoe to meet and it if it is considered in ft a proper spirit it may save a great deal dad of trouble and prevent a far greater otist obstruction ruction to the growth of the city oita than would result from the low ora few thousand dollars of expected revenue let the city councilors councillors Counci lors be wise and not run their heads aga against inual the strong wall of public indignation |
