The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-09-21

/ the construction, improvement and repair
of the county roads by specifications and
contracts to the lowest bidder, and taking
a bond for faithful performance of the
work, is much more businesslike and to be
in every way preferred to the present loose
and uncertain method of road building
Our courthouses, bridges, jails and other
county improvements and betterments are
all let by contract, and there should be no
reason why our public roads could not be
similarly let. This is only the expression
of an individual opinion, however, and the
subject ought to be considered, and the
opinion of those who have given road con-
struction careful study should be received
with view to the formation of some fixed
and definite plan.
The Importance of having we'll con-
structed and properly maintained highways
cannot be overstated, as they directly in
crease the convenience, the comfort and
wealth of the people.
TAX LAws-sAck ASSESSMENTS.
The Democratic party in its platform
stands committed on another subject of
vast Importance and a carefully considered
general tax law should be worked out with
burdens borne as nearly equal as it is pos
sible to impose them, and sufficient to meet
all the expenses of the State.
Such bill ought to be introduced early
in the session of the next General Assembly
and not delayed until the closing hours of
the session, as the practice has sometimes
been in the past.
1t would then have the advantage of
careful discussion, with opportunity for
amendment and the publicity which is SO
essential to the framing of a just and
equitable tax measure.
Special interests and privileges which may
have escaped in the past, or which have
failed to be charged with their just proper
tion of public burden will be compelled to
pay what others pay in proportion.
1t is a well-known fact that before the |
Legislature of Tennessee ndit is true of
all Legislatures throughout the country
the agents Of specials interests are gener-
ally present either to protest them against |.
exAssiye &kation Or to hala
should pay no.
PEELED f6Spay no less heir jllsf "a )!
portion Of the public burde
The farmers in the cou6try and small
lot owners in the towns and cities are never
specially represented in the enactment Of
revenue laws, and yet they have paid more
taxes, with less complaint, than all other
interests in. Tennessee combined 1t will |
follow that, once an equitable revenue bill
is framed and passed by the Legislature,
the result will be greater stability and GER
tainty in Our tax system, and to relieve the
people of the vexations, penalties and un
certainties of back assessments
Every taxpayer in the State should know
Or have the means of knowing when, where
and how to pay his taxes and the amount
for which he is liable, and when he has
once done so, without fraud or conceal
nent on his part, he should not be sub
ected to the annoyance and penalties of
back assessments.
The remedy is an equitable stable tax
aw, honestly enforced, and with the Sc
yerest penalties against officers who show
avoritism in assessments.
ELECTION LAWs-PARTY NOMINATIONS.
AS candidate for the nomination,
ook the position that the power lodged by :
aw in the Governor to arbitrarily appoint
of election was undemocrat-
c and too much power to intrust in the
lands of any one man.
Our experience has demonstrated that
his law has been the frequent cause of fac
ional disturbance in the counties, and has
involved the Governor in local rivalries :
With which he ought to have no concern
$ the representative Of all the people
In addition, there is the constant menace
nth this law unrepealed of a Republican
eng elected Governor of Tennessee. We s
re confronted with that danger now, and e
Mr. Evans should be elected the Demo- I