SMALL TOWN WAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 863, 6 January 1930, Page 13

SMALL TOWN WAYS

MAYOR’S SALARY 2A A YEAR TAXLESS CITIES Cities, like individuals, have personalities, and being thus endowed they sometimes manifest idiosyncrasies as interesting as those of their citizens, as recent news dispatches make evident. The authorities of Caney, Kansas, have posted on the park benches notices reading: “If you gijist whittle, call at the City Hall and register, and suitable whittling sticks will be provided.” This unusual courtesy is less altruistic than might be supposed at first glance. It was necessary to save the benches from being destroyed. Another Kansas community that entered the prints recently was Colby, the City Council of which voted against any tax levy for next year. The municipal light and water plant produced sufficient revenue to meet the city’s expenses. The earnings from this source have made it * possible to reduce the water rate 25 per cent. Until lately South River, New Jersey, had the enviable distinction of being the taxless town. But it has gone modern and has decided to have paved thoroughfares. Pavements cost money. The municipal fathers reluctantly voted a tax. Illinois communities have had an unusual run of peculiar situations the last few months. Lyons has had the rather sad experience of seeing a bill collector drive off with the new village fire truck because Lyons was £I,BOO in arrears in payments. It was a beautiful red truck, and the village was loath to let it go. Even greater woe has fallen upon Burkesville, Illinois, the town hall, gaol, read grader, scraper and a lot being announced for auction on the vote of the 63 members of the electorate to sell the town. Burksville is the oldest English-speaking community in the State. Elimination of liquor licence revenues brought an increasing depression in the public finances. Hoopeston, Illinois, has a contrary attitude toward prohibition’s effects. It has not had a saloon since 1877, yet it was able some weeks ago to announce such a prosperity among its population of 6,000 as to place a surplus of £5,800 in the treasury of the town. And now its citizens borrow from this treasury at 6 per cent! One cause of the happy situation is that the Mayor is content with a salary of 50 cents a year, and the aldermen are W’illing to hold their jobs for 25 cents a year, rates established in the town charter. Mayoralty candidates have been known to spend considerable sums campaigning for the 50-cent post. Palatine, Illinois, drew wide attention recently by being compelled to postpone the elaborate programme for the opening of its new escapeproof gaol, because the lone prisoner selfishly broke out on the eve of the scheduled celebration. His departure was the more inexcusable because the police had been to considerable trouble in getting a prisoner for the occasion. The fair name of Palatine was saved, however, by his recapture in Chicago a week later. Though late, the ceremonies eventually went through with splendour.