The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-28
Letter to TAs Edissr
4 NOTE or WARNING
10 Tke PespIe ef 1enieomery

To The People of Menieomery.
 Tn city already bond-ridden far be- yond necessity and demand. the patient, dened people are called on to authorize an additional fssuance Of s250,000 worth of bonds. ostensibly for school purposes Have not our schools been Must we increase school facilities and erect additional buildines at a time when the school census shows a de- crease in the number of children be- sensible merchant would add to his l stock of merchandise with a decreas- ing patronage. or enlarge his store. when he had as much space as he need- less couple add a nursery to their homer What folly! The people must thtuk.--must wake up--must act. Ad- ditfonal bonds--increased indebtedness dens, on backs already sorely over laden. Bond Issues are fine far the capitalist seeking non-taxable invest nnents. but not for the people who have on ebeis property fo sHt ssssr the interest on the bonds. but the bond holders do not pay taxes on the bonds. Had you ever thought of that. And then, after thirty years of exemption from taxa taxs- tion,r but the regular payment of inter, est. these mature, must be paid ana each individual taxpayer Is practically debtor of the bond -hoider.sas endor.. ser, or security for the redemption ot the people are stiii the payers. .
 How amazing fs the request for tns authority to increase our present m debtedness. when the city admits an m. approaching future. and the City Coun- cil is put to it's wits end to devise plans and means to secure. the. neces- sary funds. Today almost ,, every y,.,st pay for the privilege of engaging in honest labor, for the very right. as it were, to earn a livelihood for yourselI and family. Even now. an increase or thss plasion 1e'uRro ff yon work @ without license (when required). you are arrested TOT a violation of the revenue law, and IT you do not work. you are arrested TOT coSnciI. am informed. is considerins various ways to meet the exigencies of the expected situation. These are some few of the ways. You have been taxed for paving ths streets sss sna nr tssi. noT use You pay faxes on your buggies, carriages, horses and automobiles and now. you may be called upon to pay again for their en5oyment in the city the sidewalks. and now. you may be made to pay for the right to walk on them. You pay a license to engage in a certain vocaLtons Nradc. or pfotee-s sion and now, demand can and may be made on you for the privilege of living here and directly. or Indirectly. for us- ing the thoroughfares your money helped construct. in going to and from your stores and shops and offices. What . condition and all by reason of an excessive indebtedness and yet, you are urged to aasume more. to carry additional burdens You were taxed to pave the streets in proportion of an estimated increased value of your property by reason of such pavement and now, 1t Is suggested to raise the assessment of your property to such estimated increased value and collect additional taxes. How long, how long, oh patient, enduring citizens will you submit to such conditions? How far will you follow the soft, seductive voices of specuiators and their agents down this road of extravagant ruin2 They are placing yokes upon your necks and liens on your homes? Your salvation is within yourselves; your protection lies in your ballots
 Inviting emigration to q tax-ridden city is like asking sailors to enlist for a voyage on, sinking ship. Unless conditions change in many respects for the better, instead of an influx of new corners. we will see an exodus of old
 John ". A. Sanford. Jr.