Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1905 — THE FACTORY SITUATION. [ARTICLE]

THE FACTORY SITUATION.

There was a good attendance at the “factory meeting” last Friday night at the court house, and considerable talk was indulged in regarding securing the present offering of the overalls and shirt factory. The sentiment seemed to be unanimous in favor of the factory coming here, but the ways and means for raising the bonus was the stumbling block. The meeting finally decided that the easiest way out of this dielemma was to ask the legislature to allow us to. vote a tax on ourselves for the purpose, and petitions are now being circulated to that end. The petition asks that cities of under 2,500 population be allowed to vote a tax not exceeding one mill on the dollar (10 cents on the 1100 valuation) to erect a factory building and equip it with power, heat, etc. While this would probably be the easiest method of meeting the financial problem in this case, and possibly be the most equitable way of paying the bonus — for that is what it really is—as by this method each man would pay in proportion to what he is worth (or what he is assessed, rather) and it is granted that everyone wants to see some such enterprise located here, yet The Democrat believes that it is a waste of time and energy to ask the legislature to pass any such measure. It is so clearly special legislation that it would not stand for a moment. The last legislature enacted a score or more of laws granting certain privileges to cities of certain population, or so near certain population that it was plain to be seen that practically but one city was meant, and everyone of the acts was knocked out as fast as presented to the supreme court, and a whole grist of them was knocked out in one day. In view of this we do not think present legislature will care to father any bills of this character. Unless the bonus can be raised in some other manner we do not believe it can be. raised at all.