The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-06-05
BAD FINAN CIERING.


Under the Cameron board, saloons
we're taxed 500 per annum privilege
license. That was about as high as the
city charter then in existence would
allow. There we're eighteen saloons in
Columbia then, and the total license
was $1,000.
One of the first acts Of the Yoest
board. when they came into Office a
year and half ago, was to reduce the
saloon license to 500, thereby reducing
the city's income from that one source,
Sl,8QO. 1t was currently reported and
generally believed at the time, that that
action was taken by the Board to redeem
campaign pledge. That the liquor
dealers put up the campaign Doodle
with the understanding that they would
get their money back by getting their
licenses reduced. the burden at last
falling upon the tax payers at large.
How literally true that is, we do not
know, and will not stop now to discuss.
The point is, that it was bad financier-
ing, and the people of Columbia ought
to elect better fnanciers to attend to
their business. The license as it was
was not burdensome. The saloons in
Mt, Pleasant pay license of $500 per
year, and do not complain at it. Under
Il - oh
tically no limit to the license that may be
imposed upon liquor dealers, and as as
VIC will hereafter shoW-taxes will have
TO be raised. there is where the raise
should commence and be the greatest.
instead of 800 the saloon license next
year should not be less than thousand.
The Herald thinks it ought to be at
least two thousand. But the Herald is
considered extreme sometimes; so to be
ultra conservative we. say it should not
be less than thousand. Some of the
saloons would not stand the raise,
What n pity it would be if they should
all shake the dust of the city from their
feet. But they wouldn't. Enough OF
them would stay to yield the city an IN
come Of ten thousand dollars from their
nefarious business. In order to carry
out that financial reform 1t will be nee
tssary to have a change of administra-
ton. 1t is simply matter of business,
We say the tax rate will have to be
raised. Why? First, because at the
nresent rate we are running behind.
That is shown by our outstanding war
rant account, by the amount we owe Mr.
Bigelow and others. Second, the &C
ton of the present Board in cutting
down the liquor license, creates a fur
ther deficit of about 81, 800. Third
this same Board has added the depot
debt of $4,000, the interest on which,
5000, must be provided for. Fourth, this
same Board has added the Athen@um
school property debt of $4,000, the in
terest on which, 5000, must be provided
for; to say nothing of twelve or fifteen
hundred dollars spent for repairs on this
Athenaeum school property.
None of these alleged improvements
by this Board, have created any tax
able material. The reduction OF the
saloon license didn't create anything
except votes for the Board and deficit
in the revenue. The purchase of the
Athenaeum property stopped the rent
and created better school facilities, but
the interest and repairs will more than
double the rent, and the school facilities
are not taxable. 1t was argued at the
time that the new depot would enhance
the value of property; and in a few IN
stances it has; but on the whole it has
decreased the taxable value OF South
Columbia property, which will more
than offset the increase in the property
this side the depot. We have it from
good authority that South Columbia
property holders, almost to man. Will
refuse to list their property at former
prices, claiming a depreciation in values
because of the closing of two streets and
the tunpelling of another. And any
Jury on earth would recognize the JUS
tice OF their claim. So with these de-
preciated values and increased expendi
tues, more revenue must come from
soue source, and it behooves the people
to be very careful whom they elect mex
fall.