Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-07
PEOPLES PULPIT
Do not submit manuscripts
with requests that they be re.
turned If not used. The Courier
will not return them.
MORE ABOUT THE CARLOAD OF
POTATOES.

MORE ABOUT THE CARLOAD Or
POTATOES.
Editor The Courier Referring to
the article published in the local
papers in reference to the potatoes
sold from a car on the G. B. & @.
tracks, want to add my version OF
this matter and as I am the man who
owned and sold these potatoes l think
! l am in better position to state the
actual facts in the case than anyone.
My name is H. l. Brown. My resi-
dence, 433 North Market street, Ottum-
wa, Iowa. l am citizen and tax
payer in this city and am as such In
the, welfare of our citizens and the
shipped in and delivered from the car,
two carloads of potatoes and in so do
! ing ] have compiled with all the re-
j Guirements of the city ordinances in so
! far as they refer to such sale. have
not been interfered with in any man
ner by the city officials. In fact, did
, not give them any cause for interfer-
ence. because knew what was requir-
ed and voluntarily complied there
with.
The only objection that was made to
! me was by the railroad company, who,
! through its agent notified me, just be-
fore had finished disposing of the
last of my potatoes, that .the inter
state copmerce tariff absolutely pro
hibited the selling OF merchandise OF
any kind or description from railroad
cars because of the fact that on &C
count of the danger to teams and foot
passengers who would necessarily con-
gregate in the railroad yards and be
compelled to cross the tracks. / i'm
mediately complied with their request
and stopped selling directly from the
car.
In conclusion I want to say that
was particularly well pleased with the
stand that our mayor and commission
ers made in entering a stiff denial of
the statements that were being made
and circulated throughout the city,
evidently, by persons who knew moth
ing whatever as to the actual facts in
the case. am, and always have been
law abiding citizen and expect to
continue as such and am heartily in
accord with our city administration in
their efforts to enforce the ordinances
of the city and while I expect to con-
tinue selling potatoes | can assure the
people that I will not violate any or
dinances in so doing.
H. I. Brown.
To The Editor
AS read the many promises of low
er taxes in case some particular candi-
date is put in Office, l find myself
much interested to know just how it
will be done.
When the Thirty-fourth general as.
sembly passed the new moneys and |
credits law reducing the tax rate to
one-half of one per cent, it caused !
more of shortage in taxes than most !
people imagine.
have a letter from a man who has |
served eight years as cashier in a |
bank. who has given me some interest
ing information. He says he knows a
man who owned six hundred thou
sand dollars ($600,0 in moneys and
credits but gave in only one hundred
thousand ($100,00O) to the assessor.
Upon visiting the court house one day
to find what he could in the way of
tax receipts he found only one person
out of eighty customers of the bank
had paid single cent on moneys and
credits.
2 Those who have only their homes
are paying more than their share for
it is not as easy to hide away their
house as it is for the man with mon
eys and credits.
II the laborer Is renter he Is pay
ing more rent because the landlord
must meet the increased taxes.
Now Mr.. Candidate. can you have
the new moneys and credits law re-
pealed and compel the owners Of such
to give that in for taxation?
What can you do for the poor who
are always the ones to make up all de-
ficiencies?
Shall we continue to tax the renter
and small property owner and at the
same time allow the rich to be ex-
cused?
Nellie V. Richards.
702 Glenwood Ave.