The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-03-07
HAS MADE GOOD RECORD.
As Assessor Freeman Johnson
stood by People and Did Work
WelI-Aslss support on Merit.

see all before March 81 thought
I would mention some things / have
accomplished since / have Deen
your assessor. and mention other
features 80 lhis campaign.
Since ! have been in oiilce' by
getting on The tax books the prop
erly of companies corporations ana
property that had never before
been listed, such as diamonds ana
several thousand dollars worth OF
county scrip. 7 have added nearly
One-ha9 million dollars to the as
sessed values of Polk county, all TO
help bear the burdens and keep
un expenses and make improve
menis Few counties the state as
sees diamonds and scrip, Two
years ae0 only three had assessed
these Items one of these three
being Polk 7 think they should pc
assessed the same as farmer s
lcalfle or horses. and as long as !
lam assessor ] will keep them on
lthe Tax books
Under the law anyone having
lanv amount Of personal property, no
matter how small or how poor, IS
lassessable. Where q widow had
lonly si5 or 500 in personal prop
ieriv 7 did not assess her. | thought
lthis was nothing but my duty as
leounty officer This not only saved
THE widow a small sum, but also
saved The county money. These
ismall assessments do not pay the
lcOst of The assessment and clerks
fees. believe every widow should
/ by law be exempted from as much
LAS 800 in personal property.
The tax commissioners called all
4 the assessors TO Little Rock about
year and half AGO Their bust
ness was to have all the assessors
promise 10 assess all property in
lhe state at full value and then
they would they said, have the
+ legislature lower the rate when it
met
Stood Against Dangerous Measure.
The assessors asked the commits
Isioners what this course would do
for US if the legislature failed to
leut the rate. They replied by say
ing that il would be double tax,
but it would not hurt the taxpayers
Of the state to pay double tax for
one year. They claimed that the
state needed the money, and il
would put us out Of debt and have
money left in the state treasury.
Most all the assessors agreed to
do this. 7 did not agree to it, but
told them Chat the people of my
county We're paying all the tax that
Ithey should pay
I Our county is paying between
/ $4,000 and $4,000 per year, and
was opposed 10 us paying double
lthat amount, ar $4,000 TO $4,000.
land run The risk Of the Legislature
| lowering the rate 10y half. You
KNOW how the legislature some.
times docs things.
For the reasons stated, w. +
Moore, assess n Of Pulaski county
INF Gillim Of Garland county, Oar
\ Jones Of Craghead and | refused L
accept the proposition of the tar
lcommission, saying that we would
return home and assess as we haC
been doing We told the commits
lsioners if they would have the rat'
lowered first we would be glad t.
4 assess the property at its full
value. Those who were taking thu
/ Arkansas Democrat at that tim,
know how I stood, and Of cours'
Ithis was nothing but my duty Z
look after your interests, but | fel
II had helped every taxpayer in M,
EceUniy J lefl my work. paid m,
lnwn expenses TO Little Rock jus
If Ibis Thing. ! mentioned this
lihnkine 9me of you did not know
what I had done since ] have beer
Tin Office could mention SOM
i0lher Things but most Of the peo
'pie Is ihe county know about HOY
have couduated the Office yol
Ihava given me-
Complimented for Good Work.
The tax commissioners compli
Imenied my work by saying / hal
lone of ihe best assessed countie
iin the state yas proud of thi
because the commissioners exam,
lined oil the tax books.
have served the people tire,
Years as county assessor, and if yol
think ! have made you a good Off
lcer I feel | am entitled to some
timing higher But if | have no
made "a good officer ] am not en-.
ltiiled TO your support, and do no
TASK It.
Ny opponent says on his card,
That he has never held an once
That's true Lots Of older mer
than he have not But it's not 4
fault of hts that he does not. He
bias been running for Office four OF
five years trying lo be elected as
lcircuit clerk and is still running
And when the GOOD voters Of Polk
4 county turn me down as many
times as they have MIR. Pirtle | GER
liainly viii moi ask them to vote
Tor noe again. / would not impose
Ion my friends This way.
Mr. pirtle says two terms Is
enough for any man to hold office.
He indicates That he thinks a man
should have an Office two terms. If
so, why did he run against Mr.
Green for ihe second term. Mr.
Green had only served one term
when he tried TO defeat him. And