The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-06-13
A SPLENDID RECORD.

n OF III
This newspaper has long commended
that it would be better for the taxpayers
of Henderson county if all the Offices
were held by democrats, but we have so
far been unable to bring a sufficient
number of the voters around to our
way OF thinking to accomplish The end
desired in this regard. There is abun-
dant proof to s~ubstantiate the justice OF
our contention for every democrat who
has had the opportunity of holding =
position of trust and ~honor"made good"
When the financial affairs of the county
we're under the management OF demo-
cratic commissioners the "a rate was
not only lower than it is at present, thu
obligations outstanding were compare
lively nothing. County script was
worth one hundred cents on the dollar
and no appeals had to be made to the
General Assembly for authority to levy
special taxes to liquidate the floating
indebtedness. Since the democratic
commissioners retired in 1896, conditions
have grown worse every year and taxes
have grown higher all the time. The
people often complained, but many OF
them have, gone on blindly voting the
republican ticket, rather than give up
''the habit" During all these ten years,
since Messrs. Cannon, Morris and Jus
tice went out of Office, we have had the
service of only n democratic official
land that one for less than two years.,
and he, too, is making an enviable re-
cord. We refer to Mr.. G. E. Brooks
the efficient and deservedly popular tax
collector, who carefully guards the in
terests of the county in every transac-
ton. This is further evidence that all
the offices should be filled by democrats,
as Mr.. Brooks saved to the county q
considerable sum during the first year
of his administration.
Speaking of the record made by Mr..
Brooks the first year he performed the
duties of tax collector. q few cOmpar-
isons with the settlements recorded for
previous years, when a republican held
the list, may not be embarrassing. The
records in the Office of the Register of
Deeds shows a net loss to the county for
the year 1902, in land sales and insol-
vents (less discoveries, $40. 9D $176I. 81;
or a clear loss of 81, 24O.O7. In 1903 the
county lost, in like manner; S979.42; in
1904, $1,378. IS; while for the year 1906
with the list in the hands of Mr., Brooks
tho present incumbent, land a demo-
craft, the exceedingly small sum Of
$206. SO is all that he failed to report as
being unable 20 collect. The discover
les for 1902 amounted to S54I. 90;for 1903.
S417 80; for 1904, S324.5O, reported by
the republican tax collectors, yet MIR.
Brooks turned in at the close of his first
years work the sum of S11O3.87 So it
will readily be seen that it pays to put
democrats in Office here as well as else
where, especially if they are competent
and reliable, as our present tax collec-
tor has shown himself to be. Even re-
publicans acknowledge that he is cap
able and painstaking and are rapidly be-
coming reconciled "to the situation"
They protested vigorously against the
enactment of the law creating the Office
o. tax collector and tried hard to have
the same repealed before it became
effective, but failing in every instance,
and ascertaining that it is proving to be
a paying '~'insCitution" for the citizens
of the county, the better element of
that party are content with letting
well-enough alone"
1t is a pleasure to say for MI. Brooks,
that he has come fully up to the expec-
tations of his democratic friends land
the people generally in the discharge Of
the arduous duties incumbent upon him
as guardian of the people, in the Of
fee of tax collector. This is a very inn
portant position and demands extreme
oare and attention at all times. But
there has been.no want of attention dur
ing the past two years. Let US hope
that the Office may continue to grow in
the favor of the citizens of Henderson
county and in saving money to the tax
payers