Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-11-24
TAXPAYERS MUST
FOOT THE BILLS
They Should Study Situation
Before They Vote.
COMMUNICATED.

COMMUNICATED.
The Recorder, City.
Dear Sirs: Suppose a private citi-
zen, business man, should con
duct his business in this way:
knowing that no money was IN
hand, or in sight, with which he
could meet the expense, he would Of
gage in some enterprise that repre-
srnted a. considerable outlay.
Not having the money when the
work was done, he would issue a note
for year.
When it came due, not having the
money he would add the interest to Il,
and give a new note, and dismiss the
matter from his mind as worthy OF
no more anxiety on his part.
Indifferent as to how he stood with
regard to such notes he would then
proceed to incur new liabilities.
To meet these liabilities he would
issue certificates of indebtedness, Of
in other words would o. X. the bills
against him and let his creditors Dor
row money on them from the banks
Then, again, regardless of either the
outstanding notes or tie outstanding
unpaid bills, he would decide to EN-
bark in some enterprise requiring
further large expenditures, with nc
money in hand with which to meet
the new bills.
What would you think of such 3
man, of his business methods, and Of
the likelihood of his carrying his
plans through successfully?
You would say, of course that he was
absurdly foolish, and that he would
speedily be in bankruptcy, that his
creditors would come down on HIM
and that the end of tEis peculiar SORT
of financiering could easily be seen
But when you look at it, isn't the
city government engaging in just this
sort of business?
Has it not issued and re-issued
notes, instead of paying them. has il
not failed to pay bills and permitted
them to be placed in bank as collat-
eral for money borrowed on them, has
it not failed to meet it's obligations
has it not ignored the outstanding ac-
counts against it, and yet, in the face
of these debts, is it not proposed that
il shall so bindly ahead, contracting
heavy new Indebtedness, mourning
bills that will reach into many thous,
ands, reach to some unknown amount
without any money in hand, or in
sight, to pay for them?
if an individual did this, if an indi-
vidual conducted his business along
such lines, you would say he was a
fool and predict his speedy bank
ruptcy.
An individual differs from the muni-
cipal government, though, in this fact
The municipal government has the
taxing power in its hands and the
property of every individual in the
city is liable for its debts.
The city must some day pay its
debts. That means that the property
owners and the business men must
sooner or later pay the debts of the
city government. The bigger those
debts are, the larger they are permit
ted to become. the more the indif-
ference shown to them, the greater
the reckoning that will eventually
come upon the property owners and
the business men.
TIE election next Wednesday is a
direct personal matter to every man
in Americas who is in business, to
every man who owns a piece of prop
eerty here.
If the policy of ignoring obligations
and of mourning new obligations IS
continued the burden must come upon
the property owners and the business
men. They must foot the bills. That
is the fact they must not overlook.
Bills can be staved off for a time,
notes can be renewed for a time, new
obligations can be incurred for a time,
but not forever Some day they must
be met And to meet them there are
two ways only-heavier assessments
and increased taxes on property, heav-
Ter license taxes on business.
No one can deny these facts. Think
them over.
Let your Judgment govern you when
you vote on next Wednesday Cast
aside prejudices; face things as they
are; look the situation in the face
as it really is.
If you want heavier assessments,
if you want heavier burdens on prop
erty and on business, vote for a policy
that contemplates the mourning of
further great obligations by the city
government, obligations to meet which
it has not cent in it's treasury and
none in sight, except that which can
be raised out of the property owners
and out of the business men.
It is easy to stand around on street
corners and say, ooh, we'll find a
way but when the cold, hard cash
has to he raised there are two ways
only to raise it-by an issue of bonds
which is impossible, or by taxes.
Ii you pay taxes you know what is
coming to you.
adVa MINPCSLI ANTI