The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-25
We'll Known Citizen Gives His Views
As to Why Increase Should Not
Be Voted.

hattlesburg, Miss, Oct %, 1909.
Editor News:
| have read with considerable in
terest your interview along with your
private opinion on the subject of vo-
ting for the increase of . mills in onr
tax levy which is to be voted on by
the people on November ith. ap.
preciate all that has been said on the
subject by yourself, and those who
are willing TO pose as great public
spirited citizens, who are so anxious
to see the city grow, that 1t matters
not with them at whose expense it
grows | yield to no man in my de
sire to see Hattiesburg grow. so long
rs she does so legitimately. but [ am
unwilling to see he rgrow at the en-
pense of the toiling masses. There
is no denying the fact that our taxes.
as they are today, are a great burden
TO many of our poorer class of peopl,,
many Of whom have to borrow the
money each year with which to pay
their tax, and work hard the remain
ing portion of the year to repay the
money thus borrowed, and can only
do so when In driblets.
| ask the question. why should these
people be nude to pay an increus, 4
tax in order that the richer class o..
our citizenship might have nice re
sort to spend their idle moments?
Echo answers why.
The laboring man after having
worked six days in the week. in or
der 20 provide the common necessa-
ries of life for himself. wife aud chill
dren, will not be in position to resort
to this place of amusement on sun
day TO have good time. hence it
will be patronized largely by the more
wealthy class of our citizens, althoueh
the poor man was forced to contribute
of his means to help create this place
of amusement which poverty denies
to him the enjoyment.
There are many of our lahorins class
who find it hard to make tongue ans
buckle meet, there is no wonder that
this is true. when We consider the
increased cost Of living. and no in
crease of wages. yet it seems that
our tax must of necessity grow heavier
and heavier each year
Had You stopped to considtv that
everyone who pays any tax must con
tribute TO the park taxi and in many
instances get no benefit from Il lie.
the Weather class Of our citizens pay
for the beautlfying Of this pax. rs
they are the ones who will eet the
most out Of It, except the Traction
Company who OF course. will he very
greatly benefited as their stree. car
line runs to the park. ard most PEG
pie who 50 there will ride on the ears.
can understand why The Tractioa
Company advocates this measure. and
| can understand why the stockholders
in the Traction Company are such
strong advocates Of the measure, il
is manirestly TO their interest to 90
so, but l cannot see how the poor
class OF our citizens san he TIM 10
their loved ones. and support this
measure. l 10 not believe that yvv
can hoodwfuk them with the idea
that our public schools are 30 surely
in need Of the IL min additional levy
until the people win gladly swallow
the whole pin In order to relieve the
schools OF any embarrassment " the
schools should be embarrassed to the
extent OF reducing their term from
nine 10 eight months. this would no,
be anything amiss. as l honestly be
iieve that rine months in the year Is
entirely too long to keep our small
children in school. especially In this
hot climate. The children beeom, ti-ed
and worn cut with these long terms
hence the hast month usually hecnmes
a drag to them. believe that orr
schools should be maintained at the
very highest standard Of efficiency.
and I know of no rood reason that
any enc could advance to prove that
the shortening Of the term one month
would materially impair their useful
ness. am sure that those who teach
the schools would like TO have them
run as Tong as possible. l do not
blame them for this. as they win get
more money the longer the term. We