The Harrison times., 1916-02-19
The Water System.


herein, which should also be OF in.
terest 10 our people.
Whatever the ticket upon which
the city administration was elected.
the fact remains that the city needs
and must have an adequate water
system and fire protection-this can
be accomplished in only one way,
by paying for it; either by erection
of a plant by the tax payers, or by
paying $4,000 per annum FIRE by
drant rental on a similar system to
a private corporation, either way
the tax payers foot the bill and
in about the same amount on an
average, only in the system adopted
the city owns the property and any
commercial profits arising from its
operation.
AS to differences in gross tax, the
Assessors found number of pieces
of real estate not on the tax books
at all, Others with improvements
made since listed for tax last June,
and in addition the amount a
school, church and public property
goes to make the difference, such
property pays no genr.ai tax and
does not appear on tie general tax
books, but it must g,ay its share of
local benefits.
The first eifortto create this water
district was got effective because of
legal error5, before attempting it the
second time a contract was made
with The Rose, Hemingway people,
of Little Rock, to furnish all papers
AID legal guidance necessary to put
the matter through in an absolutely
legal manner and this has been done.
The expense of this guidance has
been paid by the bond buyers, Han
chett Bond Co, of Chicago.
When the matter was taken up
the second time due notice was
given the public and they were offer
ed the privilege of withdrawing
their names from the petition if any
fraud or duress could be shown in
securing such signature. there was
not a single request for withdrawal.
At each stage Of the matter the pub.
lie has been duly and legally advised
when and where to make protest if
they have one and not single pro-
test has ever been legally made at
any time-and they are barred now
by law.
The only question raised at any
time was by DR.. Johnson in the
matter of the assessment on his new
FIRE proof building, and the Doctor
was advised by myself to file his
objection in writing or in person be-
fore the Council on the day set for
such hearings, he did neither and
consequently my statement that
not q single legal protest was ever
made is fact.
The whole matter is now entirely
out of the hands the city council,
and with the aid of the Rose, Heming-
way people it is believed to be alb
solutely legal, know it to be
aboveboard and straight in every
respect and that we have spared no
pains to make it law proof,
The whole matter now rests with
the Commissioners, Gordon, Gal
breath and Littleton, neither this
Council not it's successor can in
any way withdraw or add to any
part of the powers given these men
by law to proceed with the work,
This commission is backed by the
Rose, Hemingway firm, also by |
Pace & McMahan, and any litiga-
tion attempted can only result in
eventual loss to litigants and altho
it may delay the eimprovementfo for the
time being time will prove the for
nation of the district to be absolu-
tely legal. 1t was not supposed
that this Improvement could be
made without somebody objecting
and for that reason every facility
was given at each step Of the matter
for such objector to appear and
protest, failing to do so he has for
fcited his right to do so now and
the council is hardly to be censored
for making the matter lawproof
when no underhand means was used
in doing so and the public was in
vited at all times to file objection, if
they had any, at the legal times pro-
vided by the law.
From a financial, business and
personal stand point the gentlemen
forming the water commission
stand in no fear of the usual
method OF intimidation to prevent
them carrying out their sworn
duties. neither their business, hnan-