The Daily Texarkanian., 1900-06-06
Communicated.
To The TExARKANIAN:

friends of our city who have so
generously expressed their approval
of it, l ask you to indulge me with
a little more space.
Our friends, the obstructionists
say, SIT is useless to argue the ques-
tion," and they cast a beautiful
bouquet at the court, which is in
tended, of course, to be "to no pur-
pose"
So far as they are concerned we
admit the uselessness of any argu-
ment. Every point they have raised
has been refuted except one, and
that is, THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR
THE IMPROVEMENTS. This we cannot
deny. But sudden change has
come over the spirit of their dreams
in regard to arguing. The devil has
no greater propensity for quoting
scripture than these men have here
tofore manifested for quoting the
law and arguing the question.
The obstructionists argued the
same way when we were organizing
the improvement district to build
the sewers, and on account of their
opposition the sewer district had to
be reduced, to leave out the rail-
roads in the city; and although the
railroads were benefited by the
sewers, they we're left scott free
from paying any part of the sewer
taxes.
While the opposers we're, few
days since, arguing the question,
they quoted the law to suit their
convenience without waiting for the
opinion of the court. 1t suited their
case to say that under present law
assessment will remain unchanged
that each property owner will con-
tirue to pay on the present assessed
valuations, regardless of improve
ments to be made hereafter. This,
however, was an after thought, but
they used it to the best advantage
to create sympathy for themselves
and prejudice against the improve
meuts.
They say, for Illustration, that
Mr.. Foreman has a fractional block
now on the tax books, as vacant
property, at valuation of $4,000;
that he is to erect a $40, 900 build
ing on this vacant lot, but will still
be required to pay on the $4,000
only. And they say Mr.. billiard
(who is not an obstructionist) has a
fractional block which, as vacant
property, would be valued at about
the same as Mr.. Foreman'S but he
has an So, 900 building on his, and it
is on the tax books at valuation
of, say, $4,000, Now they say the
great injustice lies in the fact that
Mr.. Foreman will be required to pay
taxes on a $4,000 property at a
50, 900 valuation, while Mr.. billiard
will be required to pay on $4,000
property at a valuation of, say,
$4,000. And if we appeal to our
niggardly selfish instincts, we are
apt to agree with them.
For the sake of this argument we
will suppose their Interpretation OF
the law is correct, and then let us
examine it from a more patriotic
standpoint.
If we agree with them that we
will not improve the streets until
all lots in the district are improved,
then when would we begin the i'm
provementsP Must we wait until
every lot is improved to the highest
degree possible for fear that some
one will get more benefits than we
get, for the taxes to be paid2 Or
shall we say no one shall build a
new house until the last tarthiug is
paid for these street improvements
The additional houses that may be
built will add nothing to the taxes
to be paid by those who have al
ready built.
Ought we to improve the streets
If we knew that no additional
houses would be built2 For one, |
say, yes, and if such street improve
ments may induce others to erect
fine houses we should gladly make
them, for then we should have the
benefit not only of the street i'm
provements in themselves, but the
further benefits of the enhanced
value of our property, by reason of
the new buildings, the construction
of which adGs nothing to the taxes
to be paid by us in case they should
not be built,
How much more gladly thea
should we pay the improvement
tax, II as is believed by the OBJ
structionists themselves, that these
new bniIdings. as fast as constructed