The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-07-25

committee Of the whole on Tuesday
night for the purpose Of discussing
its duties in the impending Paiatka
Heights annexation election.
Alderman w. A. Hicks was chosen
chairman of the committee and Alder
man Merriam, secretary.
The discussion was wholly informal
was participated in by Mayor Usina
and nearly all the members, and
showed absolute unity Of feeling as
tc duty and purpose in the matter un-
der discussion. The meeting resulted
N decision to appoint committee
10 conduct the campaign, together
with subcommittee of the number
to prepare a statement of the City
Councils reasons for the action and
the necessity of such action being vat
flied at the polls on August 9TH.
1t was the sense of the meeting that
no attention should be paid to the
personal abuse of members and 9th
ars who had taken part in bringing
about the submission to the people
of his important matter. To enter
INTO a denial of these scurrilous and
wholly irrelevant charges would de-
tract from the real issue invloved in
the election and would be unbecoming
The dignity of men sworn to conduct
the business affairs of the city in ac
.ordance with law and reason.
The falsity of the charges that the
representatives of the city were OPP
posed to the referendum, or that
clause in the proposed law submit
ting the matter to the electors of the
two municipalities involved, it was
simply decided to assert. The refer.
endum was suggested to Senator Wall
ny the representatives Of the city at
Tallahassee after the original bill
had passed the House of Representa-
tives; was prepared by these city
representatives as an amendment and
as such was passed by the Senate and
concurred in by the House on motion
of Representative Russell, who also
concurred in the second amendment
exemptig the proposed territory from
any future taxes levied by the ,clty to
meet interest on its bonded inGeJt-
edness, or the funds to be provided
for their redemption.
In accordance with the above action
of the City Council sitting as a conf
mittee of the whole, the members ap-
pointed to lay the facts before the
electors, therefore respectfully repre-
sent.
For some years the rightfulness Of
the City of Palatka, through its legal
ly elected representatives, taking
some action looking to the annexation
of at least portion of the Town OF
Palatka Heights, has been a subject
upon which citizens generally have
been united.
That the matter has been from time
to time deferred is due simply to
hesitancy to undertake a work upon
which it was known the citizens .!
the territory sought to be annexed
would interpose bitter though unsat
isfying objection. The duty of the
Palatka Council was unquestioned
Individuals and corporations in the
Heights were enjoying the privileges
and benefits of the city without bear
ing their just proportion of the bur
den Taxation to be just should be
equably bourn by all who share in the
benefits or privileges for which the
tax is levied.
The City of Palatka needs more
territory. 1t cannot grow to the east
because of the river; its growth in
any other direction is stopped by the
municipality of Palatka Heights.
There is no present reason for the
existence of the town of Palatku
Heights, except that it affords ref
uge for its citizens to escape city tax
alton. Its citizens with but few cX.
ceptious do business in the City OF
Pa)atka, and even these exceptions de-
rive their living from the markets af
forded by this city for the disposal
of the products of their farms and
gardens.
The Town of Palatka Heights was
incorporated in 1886, and never since
1888 has it performed any of the func-
yions of a municipality.
II has not levied a tax for munici-
pal purposes since that year.
1t has built no roads or streets 0!
sidewalks except two road$ which
were built by private subscriptions
made almost wholly by citizens of the
City of Palatka.
1t Is impossible for This city to inn
prove streets or roads through the
municipality of Palatka Heights for
the reason that this city is forbidden
by its charter, and rightfulIy so, from
improving streets outside the city.
Putnam county cannot improve
roads or streets through the Heights
for the reason that the County Com
missioners are properly forbidden t.
improve roads within the incorpor
ated limits Of a municipality.
The municipality of Palatka Height
will not make these roads or street
improvements, and could not if it
would for the reason that it collects
no taxes.
1t is not fair that the citizens Of
Falatka Heights should enjoy all the
privileges of business and the de
lights and comforts which attach to a
home in close touch with a modern
city without bearing at least a small
portion of the city's burdens, as ref-
resented i'm taxation.
For nearly thirty years the people
Of the city of Palatka have been op.
pressed by the old water company 10y
the imposition of what all will agree
are excessive rates for water. The
Gter company has even defeated tn,
city in its efforts to secure lower
lates through the court.
No one will question the fact that
the authority of this city should he