Stratford, Nov. 14, 1927. Editor "The Mirror": Dear brought Sir--I am in about a quandry, by reading the pro- position or rather suggestion brought forward of a proposed reduction in the number of aldermen in the local coun- cil; and would like to know to what advantage financially we would at- tain seeing that these gentlemen give their valuable services to the commun- ity, or whether the suggestion is only camouflage to distract the attention of the ratepayers from the crying need of a curtailment of expenditures of public monies for motor cars, and overstaff around the City Hall. Who will be grave enough among your readers to answer my quandry? --INQUIRER. TALK AND TAXES When we are hearing continally the complaint of the unequality of the present assessment of property from all quarters. of this and other communities, the question is natural- ly forced upon us as to whether pro- perty, as a basis of raising public rev- enue is not obsolete, or fast becoming so, and whether revenue (or income if you will try and gather the meaning I have in mind), would not be a fairer, or more equal ground upon which to base our debts to the community, for such is the meaning I have in mind for taxation. Let me try and illustrate my con- tention. I have in mind two parties who came to a certain locality and en- tered upon like positions at equal re- muneration. Both were at the time single men, and perhaps both had the same aspirations for a comfortable home in the future. Time passed, and both had acquired a sum of $2,- 000. The one bought qa house for $5, 000, making a payment of $2,000, and procuring a mortgage for the balance. In this case he at once becomes a taxpayer 'of the commufiity,-being as- sessed for a varying percentage of|| the value of his investment ,according |} His small. to the vagaries of the assessor. equity in the investment is The party holding the mortgage hav- || ing the much Jarge share, but he se- cures his income from his mortgage investment free from any taxation at While the would-be own- || er pays both taxes and interest on|} this stage. the mortgage ,and at the same time becomes sponsor for his share of any indebtedness of the municipality previously incurred by general pur- poses, along with local improvements for his onw immediate locality. The other party procures an automobile for $2,0000. investments in securities are exempt from taxation up to a considerable sum, and his neighbor will pay for}+ pavement or for him to use for his |} car. Who among my readers will say this is a just programme? Have we not reached a stage where ; our legislators | dispensing 3 THE *han!l setae Leeudiet should consider levy: | ing all taxes upon a basis of income-- with all and and collecting the same per-| centage upon all incomes so that each | will share a like portion of the upkeep of the community, and all ments come from one source of rev-| enue. The question no doubt will be raised | that improvements increase the value of your investment, but a home is a necessity, not an investment, and its increase in value is of ho moment un- til you wish to dispose of it, once the investment of the increased value would if the home were sold be the basis of revenue tax from such in- vestment were taxation basé@d on in- come. Think this over reader. Think whether one person should pay 40 per cent. of his income for taxes because he owns a home and a similar home owner pay 15 per cent. because his income is larger, or is he patriotic enough to desire to bear his own share of the upkeep of the country for which he is so willing to shout himself hoarse before the public. --ONE OF YOUR READERS. exemptions, 7 levying im prove- | He incurs no liability to || the community in which he resides.|| His income is not such as makes him |; liable to tax and the income from his || FREE With any box of staionery FOR ONE WEEK ONLY One box of the best Talcum Powder, and a packet of 100 art corners. GIFT BOOKS We have a most complete line of Books of all kinds, suitable for Christmas gifts. Our store is now showing the most exclusive fine of Xmas Cards we have ever shown now ready for your inspection. They are the Gibson Line. When it comes to Ladies' Note Paper and Envelopes, no better can be had anywhere. We pride ourselves in having the very finest boxed stationery and the prices are so reasonable, from 25c up. Large size Kid Finish Writing Pad and Envelopes to match, white paper, 100 sheets to pad and 50 envelopes for 30c. Large size pad, pink or blue envelopes to match 30c. One pad and 25 envelopes for one week only 15c. A nice assortment of Dolls, 25c up. Children's dishes, etc. Toys for the Kiddies. A great array of Bridge Prizes and Cards. J. H. Moore Patterson's Bookstore 103 Ontario St. MIRROR November Is The Sausage Month Every person likes the flavor of a good pork sausage at this season. Try "'Whytes" Brand. It's pure, that's sure. Government Inspected Plant. SATURDAY 20 PER LB. Same quality and price at all our stores. Whyte Packing Co., Limited Market St. Mitchell Queen St. St. Marys. Electrical Wiring Fixtures and Supplies Work Guaranteed Estimates Free DAN WOLFE 105 Ontario Street Suite 2 Phone 2007 COAL: ANTHRACITE COAL POCAHONTAS, Egg Size Red Jacket, Egg Size Solvay Coke Cornish Coal Co. Phone 44 Let us figure on instal- ling a New Furnace for you or replacing your old one, at prices that 1s right with workmansbip and material the best. L. COOK 110 Downie St. Phone 175 Plumber and Electrician Down&Fleming 'Funeral Service Rooms 94 Ontario St. Phene 314 ME. DOWN Eel. 308 MR. FREEMING T#. 311 OUR BUSINESS IS REPAIRING SHOES For years we have devot- ed all our time to this trade. Do not ask us how well we do our work, but ask some one who has been here with an old pair of shoes. Charges very moderate-- and that's a consideration. Try The Superior Way. Superior Shoe Repair 119 Ontario Phone 94! IOADEAEDEREAREURRAEREEED QEAEEDQUSEREGREOROTUEDGEDOSEEOERDOERUEGRSORAABDOGEE For Teas and Coffees With a flavor that you are sure to enjoy, try our blends- They have the extra rich ar- oma that every member of the family will enjoy. Prices are no higher than you'll pay elsewhere. |. L. BRADSHAW CHINA HALL COPTEEEEEEEEETEE EOD EEE DEERE eee | ) C.C.M. Tube Skates McPherson Hockey Shoes. Grinding Skates a specialty. Open every evening Phone 781} W. E. McCARTHY Phone 7813 Wellington St. Pe en sgpitinranilintine nie aie THE MIRROR Seen eat hie Sie ' He knows blamed well he is. Leaks. HERE AND THERE By "Doc." Only thirty-one more shopping days until Christmas. * * * We'll be able to have brandy in the pudding sauce this year. ; : * * a It is claimed that the smallest man in history was the Roman _ soldier who went to sleep on his watch. J * * coy We have discovered a new game. Just cut a piece out of the daily paper and then hand the paper to your wife and the fun commences. * * cd A negro woman asked her lawyer to start hokus pokus proceedings to get her out of jail where she had been lodged for writing unanimous letters. : * * x The Wtchison Globe says that if a man's cigar doesn't taste good, he im- agines he is sick. Imagines nothing! * * * A traveller drove into a Western 'Ontario city the other day and asked a man in front of the hotel if he would watch his car for him. "Sir," said the man, "I am the mayor of the city." "Oh that's all right," said the traveller, "You look honest." * * ok Molly Cassidy lost her references while crossing from Ireland to Ameri- aa and so informed her friend Pat Murphy. "Niver mind Molly," said Pat, "I'll write one out for you." So Pat wrote as follows: "This is to certify that Molly Cassidy had a good karakter before she left the Ould Counthry, but losht it on shipboard comin' over." * * * Detectives William Boyden and Samuel Battles of the New York force were recently charged with trying to frame up a murder case against Leroy Leaks, a negro, and Leaks narrowly escaped the electric chair. District Attorney Brothers, who investigated the case proved that the accused man had not been in the vicinity at the time on the night of «the murder. Richard Daly, an ex-con- vyict had sworn before the Grand Jury that he had seen Leaks fire the shots which killed Joseph Woricker, a gro- cery clerk, in a hold-up last March. Daly afterwards bared the perjury plot arid implicated the detectives. Judge Koenig in dismissing Leaks characterized the alleged plot as the most vicious frame-up he had ever known and recommended the dismis- sal of the detectives. These men are deserving: of more severe punishment than this as they had deliberately tried to sentence an innocent man to the chair. No doubt many an inno- cent man has been punished, or put to death, by the third degree as used by detectives and police officials in large American cities. ed by the detectives to swear against THE OTHER FELLOW'S SIDE When you're forming your opinions Do it carefully--then go slow; Hasty judgments oft are followed : By regretting--that I know. And in argument be careful Not too quickly to deride-- Try to look upon the subject From the other fellow's side. Ah, if we use but caution, And a little less of self; Think a little more of kindness, And a little Jess of pelf; Try to help the other fellow, Not to hurt him, don't you see How much fairer, brighter, better, This old world of ours would be? O'er and often I've discovered That the other fellow knew Lots of things about some subjects Which I didn't think were true, And I'd still be groping vainly In-my flickering light and dim, If I hadn't hesitated And hearkened unto him. Keep the path your mind would travel Broad and open all the way, Walk with Wisdom's comrade, Cau- tion, Heeding all he has to say, And no matter what arises, Ere against it you have cried, 'Try to look upon the subject From the other fellow's side. --SELECTED. SURE Working faithfully eight hours a day and Don't worry. Then, in time, you may Become the boss, and Work twelve hours a day And have all the worry! == ; H of ja tu | well These shoes are designed specially by Your Boots and Skates Are Here We have just opened up a shipment new Hockey Shoes and _ Skates, known and celebrated makes. hockey player and have every fea- re that makes skating a pleasure. They fit at the heel and hug the in- i step. Ww so Ua L221 Come in boys and try a pair on. e have marked them at very rea- nable prices $3.50 and up Tube Skates guaranteed from $3 up Don't think of buying until you have seen our stock. JAMES K. MYERS 51 Downie St. Phone 162 CAN'T There are times when all of us are cowards--afraid to tell the truth. At such times we hide behind evasions, alibis, mis-statements. Sometimes we convince even ourselves that we are telling the truth. . The word "can't" is a word behind which cowards hide. It seldom means what it seems to mean--that we are unable to do what we say we "cant." It means we "won't" but we haven't the courage to face the truth. Won't because we are lazy, or uninterested, or unwilling. Unwillingness seems to us to be a heavier burden than inability, and hence we take refuge behind the word "can't." But, since we seldom check up on ourselves, if we will check up our friends we can shortly prove that "can't" is a hiding-word for 'won't." And haying learned that, about all we have to do to accomplish more for the world and for ourselves is to drop the word "can't from our 'vo-.. cabulary and the unwillingness to do which it denotes from our mind, and we'll find the rocky road to Dublin far less rocky than it was before.-- Stephen's Paint News. te J. S. RUSSELL} Registered Architect Phone 1533F Gordon Block there's a ENVELOPES BILL HEADS LETTER HEADS FACTORY FORMS painting. SERVE YOU. WEDDING STATIONERY The Fletcher Johnston Press Printers and Publishers of The Mirror difference === The painting of one man is subtle and elusive, while the painting of another is dull andstupid. There is just as much difference in printing as there is in For quality printing let our printers TELEPEHON 1l5w FOR ALL YOUR PRINTING NEEDS Daly swore} that he had been beaten and threaten-