Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-02-19
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP.
Some Facts and Figures in Reference
to Municipal Ownership In
Macon, Missouri.

macon, MlSd0ufl.
The following which appeared In
the Macon tMo) 7Emes-D Democrat Of
last week as a double-column editorial,
should be closely read by all who de-
sire to be informed upon the question
Of municipal ownership:
Our friend, the enemy, the City
Council OF Macon, shot a blank cart
ridge across the'bow Of the taxpayers
OF this city last week In the publica-
tion Of three ordinances in which they
propose to Increase the taxes to pay
off the bonded Indebtedness Of the
city. The posthumous babe was pre-
dlcted by the Times Democrat last
spring when we told the citizens Of
Macon that they were being badly
gouged by the City Council. OF
course, there is no name signed to the
ordinances, and we presume there will
be no father to claim the child. We
all know that the city OF Macon is in
debt about $4,000 for the electric
light plant, the water works, the
sewer, emergency bonds, overdrafts
and other incidentals. We also know
that these bonds have to be paid. The
Times Democrat said last spring that
the way to pay them was for the peo-
Pile TO 70 down in their pocket and dig
up the cash. Many will object to this
method, but remember, dear tax
payer, you have been voting for ten
years to keep these fellows In Office
and the old proverbial saying, "that
those who dance must pay the fiddler"
is now fully demonstrated. The only
business way you can meet these obli-
cations and pay for your music" Is to
cough up the cash. But we are un-
able to discover by what method the
Macon Republican makes out that these
are worth twice what
they cost the taxpayer, when it be-
comes absolutely necessary to run a
levy OF nearly so cents on the hundred
dollars valuation to pay for the main
tenance of these institutions. II the
Macon Republican was a corporation
and at the end of a year would call its
stockholders together and would lay
before them the proposition OF issuing
emergency bonds to pay the running
expenses, but in his smooth manner
would explain to bis stockholders that
the Republican was worth twice as
much as they gave for 1t, we all know
what would become of that editor
instanter.
We have always figured that any.
thing was worth about what 1t would
earn. There has been an effort on the
part Of the gang who have m'sman-
aged the electric light and water
plants for ten years to hoodwink the
people and make them believe they
had a bonanza, that these institutions
were a financial success and the peo-
Pile ought TO be proud Of them. Now,
IL this was true, why is it that the
taxpayers are asked to go down in
their pockets and pay 20 cents on the
hundred dollars valuation on one part
of the debt and IL cents on the hum
dred on another part of the debt and
IS cents on another part of the debt in
order to wipe the whole thing out.
If the electric light and water works
have been a profitable institution and
are worth twice an much as they cost,
as the Macon Republican says they are,
why does it become necessary for the
Taxpayers to go down In their pockets
and pay an increased tax of nearly 30
cents on the hundred to pay off these
bonds.
The fact OF the business is and it be-
comes plainly evident that If the cleo
trio light and waterworks plants are
such valuable property in earning ca
pacity and earn more than they
cost, the mismanagement OF the city
is doubly revealed because a business
man would figure that the earnings Of
these two plants would soon liquidate
the cost OF production and and most
assuredly he would not draw upon his
private account to pay the debt. And
another proposition the city might al
low the citizens to pass on before they
ravish them In the way of taxes, and
that is this, II brother Gansz wants
to give sl00,0OO for the electric light
and waterworks systems, or knows Of
anyone who wants to give that amount
let US vote on proposition to sell
them or increase the taxes and pay of
the debt just as our citizens wish. T"
The taxpayer should have something
to say about how he should pay out
his money. II majority Of the tax
payers would rather pay levy of 90
cents more ON the hundred dollars aud
keep the electric light and water
works plant, all we'll and good. II
they wish to unload them on brother
Gansz for twice meteorological cost, all
well and good, but give the taxpayer a
chance to say which he had rather do.
There aresome things the Taxpayers
ought to know before they completely
throw up their hands and surrender to
the council who have mismanaged
this business for ten years. The one
fact that they should know above all
will the tax they pay from this extra
levy go into fund TO not be molested
in any way only for the express pur
pose OF paying of these bonds. The
law provides In the first place rem
edy for for the payment of this deb
and IL the ordnance had been compli
ed with over one-half of the bondl
would have been cancelled and this un
nessary levy would not have beer
made upon the people. There are tw,
ways to pay debt. One is by econ
omy, which all public officials shoult
practice. The other way, by going ou
and holding up somebody and taking
the bard earned cash and applying up
on the debts. The Republican council