Mexico weekly ledger., 1915-06-03
MASS MEETING fAVORs
DIRECT TAX OVER BONDS
Septic Tanks Win Be First Question
Submitted-SpeciaI Sewer Tax
Can Be Levied.

Septic tanks, at once. by direct
tax and making Mexico the best light
ed town in the state by direct tax was
the unanimous opinion Of the mass
meeting called by the Mayor and
City Council at the Court House,
Monday night. Mayor J. w. Dry said
II these two issues were carried by
the people the city could pay its debt
of $4,000 from tho general revenue.
The sense Of the meeting. the result
laf vote, was for the septic tank
question to be put TO an immediate
vote and then the new lighting prop
osition TO be voted on at another cleo
ton soon. The plans for the direct
taxation to get these two improve
ments have been explained in detail
through the Ledger by City Attorney
D. H. Robertson.
Mayor Dry was chosen chairman
of the meeting and Mitchell White,
junior editor Of the Ledger, secretary
Mayor Dry, in short address ex-
planned the purpose Of the meeting to
discuss the best plan for securing
funds to build septic tanks, thing
we must have, the best method of
paying for new lighting system and
how to dispose of the $4,000 debt
which the present city administration
inherited from its predecessor as well
as the $4,000 they had borrowed.
Proposed Plans Explained.
D. H. Robertson, city attorney, was
introduced, and detailed the plans
whereby sufficient funds could be
raised to install the septic tanks and
pay for the new lighting system. The
proposed tanks, one in south and the
other in northeast Mexico would cost
$4,000. If bonds were issued for
thcm the interest and principal would
by the time the bonds were liquidated
amount to $4,000. His other plan
was that the law permitted by wo-
thirds vote, the sewer system to be
changed so that public sewers and
septic tanks as well as district sewers
could be paid for by special assess
ment. He said this had been figured
out and would cost about SO or less
for every 60 by 100 foot lot in the city
limits which drains into these dis
tricts. Mr.. Robertson said the latter
plan was, SO he thought, by far the
best as it eliminated the interest on
the money. paid for the tanks at one
time and was not excessive on any
one.
In speaking of the lghtng Of the
city he said either bonds could be is
sued or;
| think that the simplest and least
costly method of providing street
lights would be the following:
If the city will enter into con-
tract for ten years, with the Mexico
Power Company, and submit such
contract to a vote Of the people, and
provide that an annual tax above the
fifty cent limit be levied to pay for
such contract, then if such contract and
annual tax be approved by a two
thirds vote, it will be unnecessary te
borrow any money, but the tax to pay
for the lights will be annually levied
and collected and paid over to the
Power Company. The advantage OF
this is that we would not only have
the fifty cent levy for> general revenue
purposes, but we would be allowed ID
levy above fifty cents to pay for the
lights, and would not have to borrow
any money and lose the interest
thereon.
Mr.. Robertson suggested before the
light contract was made with the
Power Company preparatory to sub
hitting to the people, an electrical en-
gineer be employed by the City Il
investigate local conditions and make
suggestions regarding the best sys
tenn to use here. Mr.. Robertson an
swered number of questions touching
on the various phrases of both mat
ters.
Vote For Special Assessment.
]. F. Llewellyn made the motion
that the septic tanks be built by spe
cial sewer tax, as suggested by Mr.
Robertson and e. A. Shannon second
ed the motion. II was unanimousl.
carried after some discussion. 1t wat
the concensus of opinion Of everyonl
present that these tanks should b,
erected at once. The Rev. ]. D. Gree
said he wanted the proposition tina
was sure to carry to be put up as W
must have the tanks but that he fel
the bond proposition was the mos
equitable. A. X. LuclSie agreed witt
. him even though the bond issue wer
the more expensive.
Mr.. Llewellyn said the bond issue
were always wasteful and in thi
!, sense he referred to the matter 0
commissions, expenses, interest, Get
That an individual pays as much o.
bond issue if not more than wher
the money is raised by direct tax
alton. He said he had discussed bot
: propositions with many citizens an
!, practically all were opposed to tn
bond issue but favored direct tax
alton, and if the bond issue were sub
mitted it would not carry. He sal
the public was against the bond idea
that other towns have tried it an
they always became overloaded wit
bonds and il caused much controy
ersy. That direct taxation was th
frN