The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-25
Mr.. v. N. CONNER'S REASON
FOR OPPOSING new TAX LEVY


Our municipal affairs. Iif our rcvonut
is insufficient to maintain all the OBJ
lects of city care. reduce the sal ar.a :,
that are being paid, especially those
who are not giving their entire time
t. the citys business. / speak advised
~ when say that am thoroughly of
the opinion that this can be done. and
then pay sn,. iv coI the service rem
dered There are many ways to
kill cat without trying to choke him
to death on butter While butter
Is easily swallowed, | question wheth-
er the people viii allow the butter
offered to them in this instance. when
they ata Cl.'td on ~ vote t',s in.
crease of their taxes. For my part, my
~ nd Is thoroughly and irrovocablA
ma lie up to vote against the p!opCsi-
ton.
We paid IA mill park tax last year,
which resulted in a revenue aggrega-
rng nearly Two thousand doll,rs
suppose this money has been expend-
cd On improvement of the part, This
some IA me- Is carried in the oldgct
f1i this year. The proposed incredjc
of 81 of mill would make the park
tax / mill, which would produce
revenue of something like $4,000
which is possibly more money than
could be expended advantageously in
the course of one year.
Pardon me for suggesting that in
the event you decide to send your re-
porter out on an interviewing mission
on this subject again, that YOU in
struct him TO ask each one inter
viewed. if they are interested in the
Traction Company, either directly or
Indirectly, This viii make interesting
reading matter for the general public.
Let us analyze this two.mill tax that
"a of mill for the park. IL mill
for general fund. which means largely
officers salaries: 1-2 mill TO the
school. Ia mill for interest fund.
am sure will incur the displeasure
Of some Of the stockholders OF the
Traction Company. and possibly some
few private citizens who own large
landc1 interest in and near the park.
However. | feel that have a duty to
the scne al public that towers faI
above any corporate. or private inter
est that | may have in these parties.
Pardon me while | digress long
enough 10 say That do not b.Heve
that the slloet hands should be lsed
in the interest of any private citizen
or corporation. Nor do l believe that
the taX-laden citizens of our own
should be further burdened to create
a pleasure resort for those who con
stitute the leisure class OF our popu-
lation. | would not knowingly do any
OF" IA '.Itre have written thus
plainly because | believe that the eNi-
gercies of the case demand it.
The assessed valuation Of all the
city properly last year asgre ated
nearly eight million dollars. This
year We have something over seven
and hall million dollars. Il clear loss
Vi about five hundred thousand dol
lars. which grows out of the reduc-
ton in valuation of the property of
six corporations and individuals. This
shows clearly that the people have
given in their property At its value,
Board Of Mayor and Aldermen to its
true value. DO you think it fair nov
that these people should be called
upon to rote two mill additional ~
10 make good the deficit growing out
of these six corporations and indi-
yiduals failing TO give in their prop.
city at It's uat value? Had they -.
this there would not have teen an,
shortage.
let HE make myself clear Gu this
proposition from a f.nanc al s,and
point. Cur .tyy last Year was II
mills. II tie levy should remain as
last year we would be shy 100000.
II you increase the levy this year to
IA mills you win not only have made
good the 100000 short. but will have
wrung from the pockets of the tax
payers 100000 over and above the
shortage. which as above stated. grew
out OF these six corporations and in
dividuais failing to give in. their prop
erty at its tue value. | am infavms i