The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-02-24
ROB ROY
Gives Solid Facts in Reference 10 hisn
Salaries Paid Some of Our
city Oficiais.

been, still is and ever will be the mother
Of prolific injury, injustice and wrong.
Most especially will this be the case
whereby lapse OF time an Office would
appear to belong to one and not to the
public. This article is written pro
bono publico. Economy and reform
should be our watch-word and our
guiding star in the selection Of those
who are to rule or ruin our city. In
one channel of expense several hundred
dollars could be saved to the city and
placed where it is absolutely essential
to defray expenses necessarily incurred
under present conditions. l refer to
the compensation paid to or allowed to
be retained by the Marshal. The tax
able property of the city of Grenada is
estimated at S945, s52 90 for 1899. The
taxes, &C., collected from Oct. l, 1898 to
Oct. /, 1899, as shown by statement
published Oct. IA, 1899, amounted to
1858 So 80, the Marshal as tax-collector,
receiving 5 per cen thereon-got from
this item alone the sum OF 1857 81;
more than the Sheriff would receive
from the same amount of county taxes.
There are several other tributaries
emptying salaries and compensation
borne upon their bosoms into the Mar
shal's lake. He is paid a fixed monthly
salary OF $50 90 for police work; he is
paid as assessor. The output of said
ofice-aside from such perquisites that
he gets from civil and criminal cases
amounted from Oct. !, 1898 to Oct. l,
1899 on these two items to the sum Of
81 ,127 81. Perhaps l have not men
toned all the sources whence revsnue
is emptied into the Marshal's Golfer.
In discussing this matter the person
occupying Dr. filling the Office is not a
factor; he is entirely eliminated from
it. | took this position when another
man filled the Office and I make public
my idea while another person besides
the present incumbent, is "a candidate
for the Office. I am only exercising my
iualienable right of crying out against
oppressive burdens. Years ago when
taxes were very much lighter than
they are now, say one half, and the
property much less valuable, the office
of Marshal with as much work at
tached to it then as now was filled at a
much less compensation; where taxes
are doubled it is no more trouble for
the city taX-collector to collect 500 %
than it is to collect $50 90 from the
same person on the same property.
There are other sources of waste which
can he amended or absolutely stopped.
To these [ may devote some article in
the near future. l favor the old demo-
cratic battle cry, economy and re-
form" In appealing to our city fathers
in the language of the congregation of
Israel TO Rehoboam: ''Thy father
made our yoke %grievous; now therefore
make thou the %grievous service of thy
father and his heavy yoke which he
put upon us Zig liter, and we will serve
thee we do not wish the answer
Rehoboam gave to Gods chosen people
"My little finger shall be thicker thar
my fathers loins. And o whereas
my father did lade you with a heavy
yoke, l will add to your yoke; my faith
er hath chastised you with whips, bu.
| will chastise you with scorpions" A
change in the compensation of officer
can be made at any time without vic
lation of the constitution n, law or RICH
and justice, but if the present iucum
bents will not act the time is not far Of
when a change can be made such a
will insure a decrease in the expense
of the municipal affairs. ITO you
. tents, o Israel; now see to your ow
house, David" Think citizens, of thi
: oppressive taxation and OF the differer
t channels where applied economy wi
be fruitful OF good. | have mentione
) one leak. There are others. From a
80 examination of the report made by tn
Board of Mayor and Aldermen INTENDED
[ suppose to conform to the require
= ments of section 1925, code of 1892,
8 find that the disbursements for the Gil
y from Oct. /, 1898 to Oct. /, 1899, wei
1929, 779 81.
l would suggest to the Taxpayers
e the city-especially those who al
contemplating a sacrifice OF themselvt
y upon the affairs Of their country
read section 1925, code of 1892, whic
applies to all towns. Neither the tar
nor Indebtedness of the city can bs i,
creased save 10 the manner prescribe
in the chapter on municipalities at i
:. appropriate place. 1 have not here
: undertaken to ferret out and expose a
the sources OF waste that make
~ grunt and sweat under a weary lite.
our officials would go pruning tn,
. would find many twigs and some lar,
j, limbs to sever from the trunk Of ia
lie alton. From an examination OF u
a report published in your paper Oct. ]
:" A. D., 1899, l find that the treasurer