Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-11-22
COMMUNICATED
THE REAL ISSUE
BEFORE THE PEOPLE
Business Men and Property
Owners Should Consider.
Times-Recorder, City.

Times-Recorder, City.
Dear Sirs: | see in your columns
the statement that the issue of the
municipal primary is that
of municipal ownership, which means,
of course, the question of the city
government erecting a municipal cleo
trio lighting plant The water works
are owned and controlled by the city
and do not enter into the matter al,
though the present condition of the
waterworks and the quality Of the
water is open to criticism as an evil
dence of political administration.
However, confirming ourselves to
the issue of a municipal electric light
ing plant, how are we to get such a
plant, even though the candidates
committed to that issue secure an
election? The bond issue proposition
was effectually disposed of at the re-
cent election, an Overwhelming vote
being cast against it. 1t is clearly
recognized, even by the most ardent
advocates of municipal ownership
that it is not possible to secure
vote sufficient to legalize the issue o
bonds for this purpose. Is it, then
proposed to build the plant out of the
ordinary income of the city govern
ment No other recourse would seen
to be open. If such is the intention
pray will not the advocates of the
plan tell the public how it is to be
done? The city government now ha!
an outstanding floating Indebtedness
probably exceeding $4,000. Instead
of paying notes issued by it the pro
gram appears to be to add the inter
est on and reissue the notes ever.
six months or every year, Quite {
number of large bills which have
been passed by the council and fo1
which vouchers are outstanding have
not been paid They are being car
ried by the city's creditors in tn,
banks, it is understood, as collatera
security for the money they have
borrowed on them. Is it proposed :,
continue to issue notes and to ALLOW
unpaid bills to be used as collateral il
this way to the extent sufficient t
pay for installing a plant? And if so
when and how will the city ever pay
for them, straighten out its finances
and present a clean balance sheet tt
| the taxpayers and citizens generally
The tax rate has been reduced. 1
is claimed that this was done for po-
litical effect, and that it would have
been better for the city to have re
tanned the rate where it was and util-
| lied the funds for the payment of its
| debts. In previous years it has beer
| the custom for the municipal govern.
ment to utilize several thousand dol
| lars every year of the school funds
| to help it out That will be impos
sible hereafter, as the Board of EdI
cation has put the council on notice
that it requires and must have the flu
amount of taxes collected for public
schools How is this deficiency TO h
made up in the revenues available fol
the city's expenses, especially in view
of the increasing operating expense!
of the municipality?
There are only two ways open fel
the incoming council to secure money
by increasing the assessments on rea
estate and by increasing the burdens
on the merchants and other bushes:
men of the community by increasing
the specific license taxes. 1t is no
possible to increase the assessment
for next year, the assessors have com
pleted their work The council there
fore will be forced to meet it's nee
essities, and especially if it under
takes any electric light plant construc
ton, by leyying heavier burdens OF
the business men of the community
There is no other way open. To builC
an electric light plant it must hav,
money. Common sense tells us that
Common sense tells us also that Their,
is but one way of raising money mex
year unless it is proposed to issu,
more notes or issue vouchers and al
low them to be discounted at tn,
banks.
Business men must carefully con
slider this phase of the situation. d.
they wish their license taxes doubled
Property owners mus remember tina
next year assessors will be at worl
re-assessing their property. Do the,
want heavier assessments than the.
now stagger under?
The public knows, or should know
by this time, the city's financial con
dition. 1t is true that it can issu
bonds, but the people refuse to vot
it that privilege If it emlbarks il
the erection of a municipal lighting
plant the taxpayers must foot thN
bills. Are they ready and willing t,
do this? Are the business men will
ing to have their license taxes doa
bled Are the property owners will
ing to have their assessments in
i creased?
This is reality the issue of the cleo
ton. MERCHANT