The Forrest City times., 1911-12-22
FROM BILL WILLIAMS.
MT Editor

cipleS of retrenchment, and believing that Thomas Jefferson was right when ne said, the greatest good to the greatest number,s l would like to state through the medium of your valuable paper, what l would do if l were member of the Legislature. and the platform that l would stand on, provided l was running for that office.
 First, l would introduce a bill put ting all county officers on a salary. I would pay the county judge s60o. I would pay the circuit court clerk 5000, l would pay the county court clerk 5000, l would pay the county treasurer sl200, l would pay the county assessor $500, I would pay the tax collector $500, would pay the Sheritf and taller the fees as now laid down in the Statute. and also the coroner and surveyor, This means, of course. that the sheriff's office and the collector $ office would be severed creating two separate and distinct of. lIces. Ii whoever wants 10 represent this county will get on this platform and stay there, he will be elected. be- cause the people know that this bill will save to the taxpayers of thls county enough money in ten years to put nice iron bridge over every creek slough and lagoon in the county. and at the same time all our officers will be well paid. Under our present | law, for instance, the treasurer of the county has only the name of being treasurer, because the bank which gives the greatest rate of interest on daily balances handles all the money.
 Then, for instance, We will take the assessor. He only works four months Ill the year, and according to the clerks statement he got for assessing the taxes this year something over Sl500, with eight months to do some thing else in. Take the county judge. His time for holding court will not exceed ten or fifteen days in the year, and It seems to me that S600 a year would be ample pay. Next, take the collector. He will work from January lst to June 10th, and it does look like Sl9o0 is nice sum of money to be paid to any man for six months work: and l Dqnh of lo ota OF I.f county ought 10 be satisfied with 5000 year each, as this is what is paid in White and other counties with similar work
 All fees, Mr. Editor. under a bill after this fashion would have to be paid into the county treasurer, and at the end of each month l would re- qaire the county court clerk to draw his warrant on the county treasurer to pay each officer, he first to sign it, and then have that warrant counter signed by the county judge. In round numbers bill like this will save to the taxpayers not less than 8, GOO each year; and as have just stated above, within ten years enough money can be accumulated to build nice blidge at every place where one is needed in this county.
 l know it will be said, Mr Editor, that Bill Williams is mighty late in talking about retrenchment. It is late, but l have practiced retrench- ment and division of the sheriff and collectors office for years. And if any body is so silly as todispute thisstat ment, cite them to me, and l can show them where 1 have done it. Under the present system of high taxes, l claim that something has to be done or there will be more assign ments made in this county than one. In other words, if the high tax rate keeps up under the low price of farm products, especially cotton, which is our money crop, it will bankrupt every man, merchant, farmer and all in the State of Arkansas.
 In giving my views on what ought to be done, it is not my intention to hurt anybody. l am only actuated by the great principle of Hive and let live" The fees as laid down herein are great deal more than the highest priced bookkeeper or clerk in any town in Eastern Arkansas gets, and it does look like to me that no objection should be raised to what 1 have had 10 say.
 Knowing, MT Editor that this plat. form will fully reach the appreciation of the good sensible men of this coun- ty, beg to remain