Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1901 — TROUBLE IN THE CITY CAMP. [ARTICLE]

TROUBLE IN THE CITY CAMP.

Council Sets Commissioners’ Street Assessment Aside and the Latten Promptly Resign. The common council held a special meeting Monday night to pass on the reports of the city commissioners on the Van Rensselaer and Cullen street improvements. On the former the commissioners’ assessments were changed as follows: A. Leopold, from $363.75 to $398.75; C. A. Roberts, from $87.30 to $72 30; Michael Eger, from $242.50 to $162.50; Candace Loughridge, from $242.50 to $192.50; Benton and Cora Forsythe, from $291 to 477. Robert White’s was left at $169.74, on basis of benefits derived, The cne missioners had made the assessment on street frontage, the same all along. It would seem that Mr. Forsythe has the “hot end” of the expense, and just how the council could figure that he was benefitted almost SIOO more than A. Leopold is a mystery. The former has only his grocery department as a business room fronting on s**4 street, and has but 120 feet, while Mr. Leopold has three business rooms and 160 feet. Mr. White also has a livery stable and two other business rooms fronting the improvement and ought by all sense of justice be assessed more benefits—if this plan is to be adopted—than Mr. Forsythe. The difference in the assessment of Mrs. Loughridge and Michael Eger was made on account of the 4 feet offset on Mr. Eger’s side of the street, which proportionate reduction was allowed C. A. Roberts. Mr. Forsythe thinks the assessment made by the commissioners should have been allowed to stand, but says had they reported the assessment as finally fixed by the council he would not have complained, as they were the regular officers appointed to make such assessments. As it is, he will appeal from the outrageous assessment. On Cullen street sls was taken from Albert Brand and $5 of this was added to that of J. F. Warren and $lO the city. The City Commissioners were offended at the action of the council and have all tendered their resignation. The commissioners are J. F. Irwin, Nelson Randle, Felix French and A. Leopold, and are appointed by the Judge of the circuit court. The two latter were disqualified from assisting in making the assessments on these two particular streets, being interested parties. J. H. S. Ellis and C, D. Nowels were appointed in their stead.