Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-02-04

MUS ~ IiONlhN UNIV " pay III Ii(NINNt
upon the city's bonded Indebtedness of
$4,000 and these bonds as they become
due; but we must ask YOU to continue
your present refusal 10 vote any tax
lcvieS upon the city until the majority
of the city council have agreed to the
following conditions:
FirSt-An auditing committee salts
factory to the tax payers Of the city Of
Brownsville shall be appointed to make
a thorough investigation of the books
Of the city for the past three years. and
by their report show the city's present
financial condition.
Second-Thc city shall, by ordinance,
provide for 4 fiscal wear which shall be
the same for collections and cXpendi-
lures, in order that the responsibility
for the cXtravagant expenditures of
money by the city may be definitely
fixed.
Third-S0mc satisfactory means shall
be devised to take care of the present
floating Indebtedness Of the city without
casting too great 4 burden upon the tax
payers for any one year.
F0urth-Mcans must be devised to
keep each fund of the city upon a cash
basis, $" that city warrants shall, at all
times, BE worth dollar for dollar. and
the burdens viii not be cast upon the
tax payers Of paying a heavy discount
upon city warrants iii the form Of in
creased values for city purchases and
EN-. I,hn,. ,,nrfn,,oal Fn, tIn .it,-
Fifth-The city fire department must
be put on such a basis that the tax
payers Of the city Of Brownsville may
obtain some returns from the amounts
expended by them i'll taxes in the FORM
Of lower rates for fire insurance.
SiXth-A street paving ordinance sat
iSfactory to the citizens shall be passed,
which shall permit property owners of
the districts affected 10 have a voice in
the selection of street paving material
and in the manner and form in which
such paving shall be paid for IN the city
and the citizens interested.
Scvcnth-The auditing of the city'S
books should extend to the water and
light department. and every means used
to enable that department to put itself
OF Il paving basis and to give the prop
crty owners of the city Of Brownsville
some return for money expended in tax
alton to take care of that department,
either in lowering the rates for light
and water, or by substantial c0ntribu-
tons to the general revenue.
I'm conclusion, We BEG to SAY that We
DO not object to the payment Of taxes.
We are prepared at al times to pay such
sums in taxes as the best interests of the
city Of Brownsville may demand. We
are more than anxious to maintain the
credit Of the city of Brownsville, ana ii
is to our financial interest that bonds
M warrants OF the city Of BrOWnSyillce
shall rot be hawkcd about the streets al
i discount, but we DO insist that The
payment Of Ike must be looked upon
entirely as 4 business transaction, and
we are determined to get full value re-
ccived in benefits to the city. i'll protcc-
ton of life and property for every dol
lar which we eXpcnd Tor taxes in the
future.
We are not unmindful Of the congti
t|utiOnal inhibition against the taking Of
private property by taxation or other
wise without compensation, and we de
sire the city to grant rs compensation
for sums expended i'll taxes.
We fail to see such improvements in
the city government as would Justify the
doubling of the rate Of taxation and Of
the values upon which such taxation is
based within four years without any
corresponding increase in population
and property.
For the present we must depend upon
'ou 10 protect our rights. We commend
you for having done 50 in the past. ami
trust that you will continue to do 80 I'M
til your respective terms Of Office expire.
f. c. F0RTO,
WILLIAM KELLY.
A. A. BROWNE.
Committee of Taxpayers.