Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-10-13
WHERE 1T INTERESTS THE TAX
PAYERS.

To whom does tie commission syn
tenn appeal? To whom should it aD
peal?
To the property owners and tn.
Taxpayers, of course.
What are the results of the con-
mission system, as apparent from it:
operation in the various cities that
faVe adopted it?
Economy of administration, effl-
cheney of administration, dollars
worth of value for a dollar expended
assessments and taxes reduced, and
public improvements continued on a
liberia! sale.
Read the article by Editor Horna-
dy. of the Birmingham News, on tn S
page today, dealing with some of the
results achieved in Houston.
Mr.. Hornady went to Houston AMI
personally studied the system, lis
practical operation and the results
achieved. He tells of some of thanl
in this article. reproduced by cour-
tesy OF tEis Savannah Press, VIII CHI
with a wise appreciation of the pub
lie desire to be informed, is publisn>
ing series of articles on the com
mission system.
One of the immediate results in
Houston was TIE lowering of the as
sessments on property. The commits
sion put the city government on a
business basis, it eliminated dead
wood in the shape of employees not
doing their duty, not efficient, or no.
needed.
1t reduced the buying of city gooas
to a system. 1t did not give this or
that favored merchant orders and not
weigh or measure or test the goods
1t did like a private citizen would do
1t saw to it that the grain or other
goods delivered was of the qualify
paid for, that the weights were wha
was paid for, in other words that tho
city Aot full value for its taxpa jo.s
money.
These and other savings 500.
brought Houston TO the position
where it's revenues were sufficient t,
DO big things and it is oding thea
right sloAg.
Does Americas want a commission
system? It's people should think abo1
it Nearly every city in Alabama, i
is predicted, will lbie operated undo
the commission system inside of tn
next two or three years. The move
ment is on in Georgia. Such a chang
should be carefully considered Their
should be no hasty action. Ever,
phase of it should be deliberated.
But if the commissions in other eli:
les have done so much for them, Inv
done what is Gained, and what re
suits appear to prove, is there an
reason to believe that in a minor wa.
commission of five patriotic, exp:
rienced business men, or three 70
THAT matter, would not bring similar
results in Americas, or any 9TH
small or large city.
The question is one that the tax
payers must consider and decide, no
only the big property owner, but tl;'
small one. The man who owns tn
humble home is just as vitality int er
ested as tie man whose assessment.
reach up to the Hundred tousand do!
Lar mark. And not only the proper
owner, but the renter is also inter
estei, for taxes have their part i
fixing rentals, in fixing the cost o
goods, in making the expense of liz
ing.
Think over tile commission system
Read the articles as they appear from
time to time. Be informed at least
on the commission system that i;
making such rapid Roadway. Soone;
or later it will be up for decision ners
as elsewhere and then those whs
lave read and thought will be in Z
.posiilon to act intelllgently.