Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1903 — The City Library Tax. [ARTICLE]

The City Library Tax.

Judge Thompson Says City Council Bumped In Where It Had No Business. In April 1903 a pablio Library waa incorporated for the City of Renseelaer. Acta 1901 PBl and aota of 1603 P 301. It owns a site and books and is about to build on said site. Its board on Aug. 28 1903 determined the rate of taxation at ten cents on the hundred dollars and oertifiid its decision ao that the auditor and treasurer can at the olose of the year fix the levy on the duplicate for 1903. The board decided said rate was necessary to equip and maintain “The Public Library” until June 1905. duty, SsO 7 pul L' >- -M i-> Bya “When •then s - «u~a: - all be certii*>d ; * !»« t ir L brary Board the same be placed on the tax duplicate and collected P 304 It hath pleased the law makers to place “all the affairs of suoh public Libraiv” under the direction of “Tie Publio Library Board” library board haa the only right to determine the rate of the library tax. There is in the City of Berleaelaer but one incorporated City library and there is no Carnegie Library. I write this to oorreni a false impression that the auditor vnd treasurer of the county can ilaoe on the duplicate and fix a svy also of eight cents on the *ollar of taxation in favor of some other Library at the request of the City Counoil. After the member* of the Library board

were appointed, the City Council hjtdLtto authority to determine a rate of taxation so as to bind the duplicate maker or collector who fixee all levies in bis notide basea on the duplicate “for the year immediately preceding Secs 1. 7. 10. Ps 301 tcT 305.

The Library Board is limited by the statue as to the rate, that it be one milbor less on the doll ar. Harmony of Sentiment, thought and Library affairs for the oondudt of which the Board deserves all praise or blame. The members of the board wish to furnish and keep open the Library uutil Jane 1905 and one mill is heeded and has been determined as the rate. 8, P. Thompson. President of Library .Board.