The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-04

when a bond Issue ia proposed or any
raise OF taxes Is suggested. But We
have never yet seen any town bank
rupted by high taxes or bond issues
for public improvements. 1t is not
bond issues or high taxes that hurt
a town or bear heavily upon a people.
1t is the misappropriation of the mon
ely after It Is paid into the treasury.
Sometimes corrupt, designing men
get hold Of the public funds and loot
the treasury. but more often ignorant
and incompetent men waste the peo-
pies money, because of lack OF ex-
perience, because they are incapable
to intelligently handle large business
affairs.
II would be absurd, IL It were not
so serious, the calibre of men usually
found in legislative halls and on munic-
ipal boards. The people are more
easily aroused and will become moro
excited over proposed COW law,
than they will over a million dollar
bond issue.
A municipal corporation should be
looked upon and governed as n cor
poration: as unit. Every law can
not be made to suit everybody. Every
step forward cannot be made to keep
time with every laggard. Every
public expenditure cannot wait upon
the convenience Of every individual.
The way to build n city Is to do
what ought to be done, The first
thing TO be done is to place the man.
agement of the affairs of the city in
capable hands. And II mans capacity
should not be governed entirely by
his aptitude for moneymaklng. He
as business capacity; he should have
enterprise as well as energy: he
should be prudent. at the same time
progressive. He should be broad
minded and far-sighted, he should
never forget that he is one of the
trustees of very large and constant
~ growing estate; that his duty Is not
merely to keep the estate up. but to
enlarge 1t and improve 1t. year after
year. lie ought to be afraid to waste
one single dollar of the trust fund
committed to his keeping, but he
ought not to be afraid to spend mil
lion dollars for the greatest good to
the greatest number"
The News may say of Hattiesburg
rs the Georgian does of Atlanta: 49,
"On the eve OF an unprecedented |
wave Of prosperity we can not afford |
to vote against any sum that is
needed to do anything that is needed |
to promote the general good.
There is streak of stinglness in
mankind generally. If II were not |
so the people of Hattiesburg would
paint their houses. II II were not so,
the average individual would not want
more the more he gets. The only way |
is to tax them. There would never
have been a city built on earth II the
work had been left for the laggards to
catch step and the tight wads to turn
loose.
Hattlesburg. Atlanta. the South, is
ION the eve of an unprecedented
wave of prosperity" There is every
reason why Hattiesburg should ride
on the crest of that wave. II has the /
location, II has the resources. il has
The spirit. II needs Just one thing
more:--a larger number of doors.
This town has live. active, up-to.
late Commercial Club, The Presi.
lent Of that club is the right man in
he right place, The Secretary is pc
'uliarly adapted for the work: his
optimism Is contagious. his energy
inspiring. he wears n smile that
Won't come off aud he never quits
working and-he has faith in Hattes-
burg. The directors meet when they
IRE called and do the work they are
assigned to do. and the membership
is far ms IL goes is good enough. But
very man, young and old. in Hatties-
'urg, ought to be member of that
Tub, and they ought all to pull to-
either.
In union there is strength" Not
My that, but in union there is in
piration. and in crowds there is en-
husiasm. and from enthusiasm there
ONES effort, and out of all this
here grows the Spirit" that builds
tiles
Join the Commercial Club and get
he Spirit.
-
PosTHEMous CLAIMS.