Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-30
TAXES KEPT LOW
BY FIT TIL, SAYS
COLONEL HALL
Militia Commander Urges En-
pIoyers to Allow Men to Join.
Tells Benefits.

Should the attitude of employers IN
Atlanta remain antagonistic and the
Fifth Regiment be forced to disband,
taxes in Atlanta would be materially
raised. according to Colonel Orville
II. Hall
The very fact that a regiment OF
the National Guard is stationed here
keeps down tho taxes he said Sat
urday Fire insurance rates are also
lowered. At present the Atlanta po-
lice force is far too small. Efforts
are being made for the addition Of 40
more men. II the force is inadequate
under normal conditions, it is far too
small in times of stress. when riots
break out.
Forty additional policemen would
cost the city approximately $4,000.
At present only $1,000 is given to the
regiment by the city. The balance is
obtained from the Federal Govern
ment and the State The State pays
$25, 900 for the maintenance of the
Fifth and the Government about
$4,000.
Insurance Rates Affected.
Besides this the insurance rates
are affected. Suppose a fire should
break out on Whitehall street and
should become uncomfortable. The
police force would be inadequate to
patrol properly the entire district and
/ plunderers would raid the burned
/ houses.
with regiment Of militia subject
/ to call the insurance companies real
| ize the protection from this source
/ and insurance rates are somewhat
/ lower.
The Fifth Regiment is a potential
/ factor in the welfare of Atlanta. We
have the only full regiment Of any
city south of Baltimore Other cities
| twice as large are forced to split with
smaller towns, which divides the
corps of officers.
AT present the Fifth is far below
| the minimum set by law. We are
required to have Sc men besides the
| officers in each company
Must Be Recruited.
In some instances we are down to
49, This can not last long, and soon
| the Federal inspectors will recon-
mend that drastic measures be taken
for the remedy of the deficiencies.
In cases of riots the people have
| been more than glad to see us turn
out During the riots of 1895, sol
| dier was looked upon as a godsend.
The National Guard is given no small
| credit in stopping those troubles, yet
! -,
The militia was called out one
night during the Frank trial. AL
though we were not on the streets,
every officer was at the Armory pre-
pared to call the other members.
! However, when the mobs became
uuieLSr we were dismissed. At first
| the officials denied this. because it
was said that the good name of At
/ lanta would be injured, but 1t Is true
nevertheless.
at is not a matter Of money. The
regiment is well fortified in a finan-
| cial way from the support received
/ from the Government and State All
We ask is that employers allow their
1 employees to join the National Guard
end to attend all drills, inspections,
/ cucampments and parades. Surely
/ that is not unreasonable when one
! CONSIDERS lIlt great btHtHlS ufii NEA'
Remedy To Be Formulated.
| II was stated at a joint meeting OF
special committee of the regiment
and the military committee Of the
| Chamber of Commerce, held in the
chambers new quarters Friday after
noon. that the hostile attitude that
prevails widely among Atanta's bust
ness men threatens to disrupt the reg
iment.
i was said that a large number OF
employers resent the activity OF their
employees In the regiment, and that
many of the troopers are hindered Sc
riouslv in their connection with the
organization
4 plan to remedy this condition will
te presented to the board of directors
Of the Chamber Of Commerce at a
meeting Monday. when the views OF
Atlanta business men will abe ascer-
talned as to the membership os their
employees in the National Guard.