Henderson gold leaf., 1911-08-24
More About Our City Government.

To the Editor of the Gold Leaf.
Allow me space in your paper to
say that ] have read the Two articles
OF Commissioner Peace and heartily
endorse all he says.
That Henderson has been badly
managed for the last ten years isnot
denied. Henderson is the largest
corporation in the county. Its tax
able property is valued at two and
quarter million dollars. The mayor
is supposed to be the president, and
the commissioners the board Of di-
rectOrs, and the tax payers are the
stockholders. In all corporations it
is the duty of the directors to direct
the affairs OF the corporation SO as
to make it a success. 1t is the duty
OF the president to see that the in
structiOns of the board Of directors
are carried out and that. the bust
ness OF the corporation is run in a
businees-like manner, and if the stock
holders are alive to their interests
they will see that the board of di-
reCtOrs are men OF business expert
ence and ability.
In all corporations in which | am
interested or have any knowledge,
the officers and directors are selected
on account of their ability and suit
ableness for the place. How can you
expect Henderson to have progress
sive, business-like administration
when the majority OF your board are
elected not on account OF their buSl-
ness experience, or their fitness Tor
the place, but on personalities, or be-
cause he is ''agin pig law" or will
vote for somebody's friend to fill an
office he is not suited for, or is will
ing to follow some person or interest
regardless of right or wrong. | am
sorry this is true, but it is an un-
disputed fact. And what are the
natural results? An administration
not up to what is expected of Il live
town; main street in gulleys and
grass growing on the side streets;
police inefficient, lettering around
drug stores, cafes and moving pic
ture shows, while burglars are break
ing in stores and dwellings, almost
nightly.
Mr.. Taxpayer, do you know that
the town of Henderson last year col
lected in taxes in round numbers
1913, 900, that we have spent that
and borrowed $4,000, and spent
that, and will have to borrow more
before this years taxes come i'll?
This makes Il total OF $31 900 Of
your money expended by the town,
which is about 800 for every work
ing day Now, Mr.. Taxpayer, if
you think your town is getting its
moneys worth, all we'll and good; if
not, it's your duty to investigate
and see what your board has done
with the money. for one am not
satisfied. do not believe you are
getting your moneys worth, and ii
the Gold Leaf will permit, willpOint
out in next issue some money that
think has been wasted, or unwisely
expended.
Is the board aggressive? Some
few weeks ago a live Chamber OF
Commerce was organized to help
huNtIIISe IlellueISOil. w lluU pau
has the town administration in that
organization? If any commissioner
or officer, except Mr.. Peace and the
writer, has taken any active part in
the organization the minutes fail to
show it. Less than half the commits
sioners contributed anything at all,
and one of my friends who holds one
of the best paying places in the town
and receives nearly $500 per day
for every working day in the year
for about three days work was pub
lie spirited enough to contribute 2!
cents month for the running and
maintenance of chamber of com
merce. If this represents theinterest
of the board and their aggressive
ness, | think it i true that Hender
son is Gods town and he takes care
Of it, for it seems to me the commits
sioners have fhiled to represent the
town and give it the administra tiOr
it deserves. X. S. McGOIN.