Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1907-11-09
The Macon Beacon.
D, C. FERRIS. Editor,
Saturday, November, 2, 1907.
Macon's Financial Condition.

evident disposition is manifested to cast
the blame upon the present city admin
istration. The BEACON is always ready
to give publication to proper criticism
of public officials and public matters
whether it deems such criticism merited
and Just or not. And it does not hest
tate to express its own opinion, ad-
verse or favorable, in its editorial col
umns.
In this matter Of Macon's municipal
government the BEACON does not be-
lieve the present administration is de-
serving of any criticism. 1t is not per-
feet nor infalhble, of course, To make
mistakes is human and inevitable But
the present city government is and has
been good and efficient and is handling
difficult situation about as well as
possible,
How much of the complaining and
critcizing done is done by non-tax pay
rs cannot be calculated, but it is a
great deal. A long and severe arraign
ment of the conduct of Macon's bust
ness is very often concluded by the
critic making a remark like this: "Well,
it makes no difference to me because |
don't pay any taxes anyhow" Another
large class of critics is made up of cit
liens who are themselves largely res
ponsible for the condition they COM
plain Of. 1t was brought about by
their votes and petitions.
The main object of attack is the in
creased rate of taxation, which is eigh-
teen mills. A few years ago it was
twelve and chose good old times" are
compared to the present to the great
disadvantage of the latter. On a com
parison between then and now the pre-
sent administration have nothing to
fear; all is in their favor. Then we
had old and dilapidated school houses
now we have two new school buildings
one of them an honor and ornament to
the town, and a thoroughly organ
lied High School, Then we had mud
sidewalks and muddy crossings; now we
have fine concrete walks. Then we had
street lamps that gave no light and no
water; fires were put out, if any ever
went out until they burned out, by the
use of buckets. Now we have electric
lights and water works, ntscombin-
ing the two, and a fine tank placed high
enough to throw water easily over the
highest building in town.
Surely all the added advantages are
we'll worth the six mills additional tax.
They are not only worth the money
they are absolutely necessary to Macon
at its present stage of progress, They
are necessary. in the present age, to
every town of Macon's Importance
Without them, Macon would steadily
decrease in size, business would go else
where ard property values shrink to
half of what they are now.
But commercially alone, they are
good investments. They are steadily
increasing in value No industry of
this sort pays profit at the very be-
ginning, but the initial cost and the ex-
pense of extensions, etc., have to be
borne but'once while the income is CON
slant and will, steadily increase. Every
year more people will buy water and
electricity and present users will use
more, The saving in street lightning
already amounts to something over fifty
dollars month, and the saving to indi-
viduals in reduced insurance rates will
pay to the public the cost of the III
crease Of taxation caused by the water
works plant. And who can say how
much has been and will be saved to tax
payers by the fire department of Ma
con? 1t seems beyond question that
these Improvements and the consequent
increase in taxation were not only nee
essary, but are an eminently wise and
profitable investment,
So much in justification of the present
condition of affairs. Now see who is re-
sponsible for the situation the present
administration Or the people of Macon.
One matter for which neither is to
blame is judgment for $250O against
the city which is in progress of being
paid off. This debt was incurred sew
eral years ago in the matter of the new
school building. The gradual paying off
this judgment is responsible for-part of
the increased taxation. The increase
of six mills is complained of, and of
this amonnt the voters of Macon are
responsible for all and even more. The
six and quarter mills tax for bonds
and interest was voted by the citizens
of Macon, and one and quarter of the
four and quarter mills tax for schools
was levied upon the petition of major
lty OF the taxpayers of Macon. Under
these circumstances who can justly at
tribute the blame of increased taxation
to the present administration. The
BEACON contends that no blame attaches
to any one on this account, but wher-
ever the blame lies it does not lie on
their shoulders.
Another ground of complaint is that
the salary Of the city clerk has been
doubled. This is true and yet it is not
true. The city clerk is actually paid
now nearly twice as much as formerly
but in addition to the duties of city
clerk he now is city auditor, city tax
assessor and also has the bookkeeping
and collecting Of the water works and
electric light plant to do, and for more
than doubling his work they have less
than doubled his pay. We doubt if
there is business of the size and i'm
portance of the Macon Electric Light
and Water Plant in the United States
that gets its Office work done for thirty
five dollars month. Few succeed in
having it done for twice that amount.