Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1902 — How to Reduce Taxation. [ARTICLE]

How to Reduce Taxation.

Editor Republican: , There is one sure way of reducing taxation and that is to make no public improvements. If tbe people had made no dredge or other ditches in this oounty and allowed tbe wild geese, docks and muskrats to have fall sway there would be but few calls for bridges and oar taxes might be as low bb some of those old counties where tbe improvements have all been made and paid for years ago. Tbe last Republican County Council could have kept the taxes down but the people of Carpenter, Jord- : an, Milroy, Gillam, Barkley, Walker and perhaps other town-: ships would not have the bridges they now have. Ail of- those bridges were purchased for less 1 money than the appropriations made for each bridge. Tbe amount * was specified in each case and tbe Connty Commissioners dare not go beyond it. As a member of the County Council, I very much regretted the increase of connty tax, bat it was “up to the council” to stop the improvements or raise tbe taxes and the Council decided to continue the improvements and [ raise the tax to pay for tbe same. The Council selected tbe places needing bridges tbe worst and made the appropriationi accordingly.

In my jadgement, tbe Council should be nonpartisan in every oounty and good men wonld give their time for tbe good of people of the oounty ee tbe patriotic citi- J zen should do for his country in time of its peril. The requirements of every candidate should be ia he honest, competent and sober so , that he oonld give the very beet : service possibleL B. Washburn, Bananas, oranges, California grapes. Concord grapes, pears, cranberries and apples, new Wax beans, lettooe, cauliflower, cabbage, egg plants, celery, sweet potatoes, Hubbard sqnasbee, pumpkins, ornipe. beets and onions, at John Bgw*n