The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1916-03-09
BONDS FAIL TO CARRY

The people have spoken and the
proposed issue of bonds for street.
10 the amount of $4,000 were vot.
ed down in Tuesdays election. Very
few times in the history of High
Point have improvement bonds
been defeated, in fact it seemed
that the people were bond hungry
at Ill times.
But in Tuesdays election it was
different. Several things contribut-
ed 10 the dsfeat of the bonds this
time but the most important (and
it's 10 use to deny IT'D was the temp
er of the voters who were disfran-
chised by an act of the legislature
last year in naming the city govern
ment without the endorsement of
the voters, and this was one way
they had of showing their disappro-
val
Another thing the voter analyzed
very carefully was the tax rate
higher than towns and cities all
around us who have so much better
streets and they wondered where
we had fell down On the proposition
and are not convinced that these
small issues every now and then
would greatly remedy matters.
These two things were the main
causes of the defeat of the bonds.
Of course there were those who did
not like this Or that man, are at all
times against improvements, etc.,
but these are in the minority. And
The re ere many who swallowed the
bitter pill of dislike in regard to dis
franchisement and voted for the
bouds or the majority against would
have been much larger.
There were not SO many voting
,ainst the bonds directly but of
course those registered and not vot-
ing were counted against them. On
the other hand those for bonds fail
ed to show enough votes to carry
the issue, the required number be-
ing 430 of which only 359 were Sc
cured which shows after all that
there was no great demand for bonds
at this particular time in this city
of $4,000 people. In fact there
should have been 500 more on the
registration books than there were
if any great amount of interest had
been shOWn-less than 9OO when
there should have been 1.40O easy
Finally let it be understood to the
outside world (if it is interested)
that High Point did not vote the
bonds down solely on account OF the
improvements they would bring but
from a principle through which it is
hoped a lesson has been learned
tnat will react to the best interests
of our city.
When the proper time comes no
doubt tie voters will agree to vote
money fer necessary improvements,
if they are given the consideration
they are entitled to as freemen-
the right of suffrage on all matters
affecting their interests, instead CT
a body of legislators from every part
of the state acting the billy goat"
fer us-by "having already voted
through an act Of theirs, denying
us this GOD given right as citizens
and tax payers and who are more
vitaiIy interested than the law
makers.
As the Review pointed out before
the election if bond issue large
enough to pave the streets was be-
fore the people they would probably
vote for it, with the understanding
however, that the property owners
would not be required to pay any
part of it, only their proportion of
the cost through taxes. An issue
Of S25O,OOO or $500, 900 would pro-
badly do the work and it may be a
blessing in disguise" that the bonds
were lost Tuesday, if this can be 'ac-
compIisht d.
The tabuIated vote is as follows:
For Against Reg.
Ward 1928. ........29............239
Ward 2. ..87. ..21.............148 48
Ward 8. .53.....53.......... ...192
I.7 30 on C7Q