Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1913-06-26
MORE BONDS;
MORE TAXES
Editor News:


to raise money TO be used for schOo
purposes, and I fully appreciate thu
tact that many of those who favor
this bond issue will say that anyone
who opposes it is opposing the ad.
vancement of our public schools, but
l do not believe this is a correct posi-
tion to take. l, myself. am in favor
of anything that will advance or pro-
mote our public schools. If had NO
other reason for it, my own expert
ence would force me to feel kindly to-
wards this system because l think it
highly probable that had it not been
for the public school system, 1 would
have no education whatever myself,
having been reared far back in the ru-
raj districts where the majority of the
people were unable to maintain a
school of any other kind.
Aside from this, know many good
people in this County at the present
time, who would be- unable to educate
their children were it not for the pub
lie schools, but because thing is
good, is no reason why it cannot be
ovetdone. 1t is a mighty good thing
for as to support the ministry liberal
ly, and thus advance the cause of
christianity, but nobody would insist,
that under ordinary circumstances, a
man should mortgage his home or sell
out everything he has in order to raise
funds to go to the church. There
might be some extreme cases where it
would be right to do this, but such
emergencies seldom arise. It is good
for person to eat plenty of good,
wholesome food; such aids in the de-
velopment of the muscles and the act
ivity of the mind and prolongs our
lives, but that would be no justifica-
tion for people making gluttons of
themselves. What mean is this: Be
cause the public school system is ben
efcial to almost every body, is no
reason why we should carry it to the
extent that we cucumber ourselves
with unnecessary indebtedness which
will not only burden the present gen
GRAFTON, but the next generation.
In the final analysis. a bond issue is
more than mortgage on the
homes and property of the people live.
ing in the county, and becomes liza
bility for Il ose who avn property to
l never had much patience
with man, who, everytime he felt
that he needed little money, would
rush ont and mortgage his home.
know 1t is sometimes necessary to do
this, but mortgage on top of mortgage
always seemed veiy foolish to me.
Neither have l much patience with
the modern idea that when funds are
needed for public use, to issue bonds
to raise them The only difference in
The two, is that one is an individual
and the other collective
There are few people in
Marion County who are sufficiently in
teiested in the education of their own
Families t6 mortgage their homes and
farms to raise money to send their
,hildren awav to school. When you
haye a bond issue for this purpose,
you mortgage EVERYBODY'S home
for that purpose, and do not believe
that it is right. think it would be
much more consistent for man to en-
lumber his own home for the benefit
If his own family than it would be
20 force an circumference on all our
for the benefit of only part
# the people.
Personally, perhaps / would get
greater benefits from the bond issue
han my share of the burden would
,e, but some of my neghbors have no
and the burden must rest
ust as heavily on them as on me.
Furthermore, if we issue the bonds
md spend the money, we leave part of
he indebtedness for others to pay,
Who will never receive any benefit |
herefrom. That is, we hand down
N Indebtedness to a people that have
10 voice in fixing the same and re-
,eiye no benefit whatever therefrom,
nd this does not appeal to me as be-
ng right.
Our county is now heavily indebted
n account of bond issue for pike
oads Our tax rate is now almost un-
and with another bond is
ne, the taxes will be increased be-
ause the bonds must be taken care of. I
/ think we should deal with public
matters in the same way that we hand
lie our private affairs. If am cor
ect in this, do not believe the peo-
lie of the county will ever stand for
his bond issue. IL were as heavily
Indebted, in proportion to what have,
s Marion County is, certainy would
OF remortgage my property unless
'ere compelled to do SO, and believe
hat most of our citizens would feel
he same way about it.
These are my individual views ex-
ressed without any desire to dictate
} anybody, but thinking that some
nggest;on matte might be of value to
Dme one.
Respectfully,
JOHN T. RAULSTON.