The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-02-03
BRANCH COURTS

- y - - - ~ " - ~ ~ v
true representative he could no
and should not ignore petition o
three thousand or more names
He had to introduce the bill in TIN
House and let that body pass or re
lject it. My friend continued b,
saying, i have been informed tina
over half the petitioners ware led Il
believe that Obion would furnish
f the courthouse or room free ant
pay all the costs and expenses o
he court. Now, the bill introduc
I'd in the Legislature states plainly
that the county shall paw all ex
4 penses of the special court, there
sore think every taxpayer shoulc
fconsider the matter in time anc
vote against the measure
The expense of three terms
year Of the special court is estimat
ed by parties in position to know,
kfrom 81. 500 to $1,000 Now, tax
payer. can you afford to vote such
a tax on yourself and friends? Our
taxes are too high now in Tenues-
see. Not living far from the state
line, am prepared to state that
the farmers in Kentucky pay but
little over half the taxes on land
of the same price as that which we
have in Tennessee, In Missouri,
on land of equal value, the taxes
are about one third as much as we
have to pay in Obion. dy letter
is getting too long, but ! hope you
Will have patience with me- One
point want to make here. Have
you thought Of it? Why did the
Legislature refer this bill back to
the citizens of Obion county TO be
adopted or rejected as they see fit
and to be voted on by the white
sutfragists only? Think little
while. Think who are our repre-
sentatiyes and where do we and
where should we get them They
should be selected from the best
families in the State; they should
have more than average education;
they should be men OF good records
and morals; they should be liberal
and broad minded; they should be
men full Of energy and justice; tn y
should not indulge in any extrava-
gance; they should be good finan-
ciers and pass no laws to increase
our taxes, unless where it is neces-
sary to benefit the majority of the
people. | think we have the right
kind of material in the Legislature.
If we have not it is the voters
fault and not the representatives,
We have sent them there. / say
again, our Legislature is all right.
Why do they want us to vote on
the special court bill?
They have passed laws after laws
without asking us to ratity them.
Why did they not pass this law
like others? ! shall give you my
opinion about this: think the
Legislators are not willing to estab
lish custom of hay6ng two courts
in one county. N6 State in the
Union has two capitals and the
United States has one capital only.
The Legislature is not willing TO
establish more courts just for con.
yenence. Our national capital IS
Washington. No one wishes to
establish national capital or part
Of it in Kansas, or somewhere else
near the center of the United
States for convenience. Now,
farmers and other Taxpayers, can
you afford to vote another heavy
tax on yourselves and friends?
This is matter where we are
to be united. There are no poll
tics, no religion, no prohibition
and no bootlegging to divide us.
Let rs all turn out on Feb. 18th
and vote against this special
circuit and chancery court.
A TAXPAYER.