Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-03-13

Si'J, " use the TAXING power Oh the |
city, to drive out OF business, if posi- |
Bile, a private concern which repre- |
sents a large investment of private |
capital.
This private concern is a taxpayer
Its property is assessable and subject
to the same taxation that your house
or stock of goods is assessable and
taxable.
1t is subject to a business tax, jusl
as you, as a merchant, are subject to
a license.
1t enjoys no privilege over you or
any other individual in these respects.
The proposed city plant will not be
subject to tax on its value or to a
license tax. City revenues would be
curtailed by the destruction of the
private investment, as proposed.
If the city completes with a private
concern thus, why not in other lines
as well? Why not in the ice business"
Why not in the coal and wood bust
ness? Why not in the grocery bust
ness?
Why not have bonds issued for city
stores to supply them?
They are as necessary as gas and
electricity. More so, in fact
And you are paying higher prices
than ever known for these necessities
of life, whereas you are getting gas
and electricity cheaper than ever be.
| fore.
Why attack one form of private bus
mess and not another?
Consider this other point, too.
The private gas and electric light
ing plants are subject to governmental
supervision, to regulation of rates by
the Georgia State Railroad commits
il, sion.
| That is an unbiased body, elected
by the people of the entire state, NOT
one member of which lives in or near
Americas, or has any business inter-
est here.
The State Railroad Commission
stands empowered, after a full inves-
| tigation, to decide whether rates are
too high, whether they are unjust,
whether they are oppressive. 1t can
! order them reduced and down they
must come.
The owners of such a private plant
have no alternative but to obey.
But how about municipal lighting
plant?
| Suppose it is found-as it is very
apt to be-that the results are not
profitable, that the glowing promises
to the taxpayers and voters are no,
borne out by the results, that higher
rates must be secured, after private
competition is destroyed, as is intend
ed, then up go rates and there is nc
appeal to the Railroad Commission.
Under municipality owned and DO.
litically managed lighting plant th,
citizen has no redress. He cannot ap
peal to the Railroad Commission. L
has no voice, no authority, over muni
!; cipal plants. The citizen must take
whatever service it sees fit to give
must pay whatever rate it sees fit tt
: exact.
Do you want plant directed anC
controlled by politicians, used for DO
litical purposes-as they always ar,
: eventually-with absolutely no protec
ton against poor service, against higf
) rates, against a plant permitted to rur
down in efficiency in order to make {
= showing to the public?
1t is for you to decide
II you vote for bonds for this pur-
pose you do these four things
First-You vote to strain the city's
= borrowing capacity to the last penny
Second-You vote to engage in al
experiment the results of which ar,
a matter of gravest doubt.
Third-You vote against any posi-
bic school improvements, against any
possible water Improvements, against
any POSSIBLE street improvements,
against any possible expansion of the
departments, for years to come.
Fourth-You vote to destroy private
investments. to destroy the finest
plant in city of this size in the
South, to place yourself at the mercy
of politically managed plant, with =
out redress against excessive rates or
poor service.
The question before you now real
| ly is
DO you want to pay the price that a
few enthusiasts may experiment at
| your expense! .... .AMERICUS..
(Advt.) @#w