El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-30


~ connection with the three pro-
posed bond issues. which viii be
4 voted on Wednesday. October 81,
I { viii present. In behalf Of the Tax
PAYERS association, certain consIdera-
lions which might not have occurred
10 all up 70 this time. These con-
Z sIderation are presented not with
[ the view OF influencing votes either
[ for or against the various bond is
I sues. but with a view OF pointing out
/ additional elements which voters
might wish 10 know IN determining
I for themselves the advisability. at
l this time. Of mourning further IN
Z debtedness-
/ The first point which voters should
: consider Is whether or not the city Is
! iu a financial condition at this time
Ito issue 100000 i'm bonds. The issu-
/ Ing Of these bonds, I understand viii
/ necessitate an increased tax levy for
I sinking fund and interest purposes
I or about four cents The law limits
[ taxation in FL Paso TO 81 on each
I 500 valuation. The association az
( an earlier date, pointed out that this
I years tax levy would be dangerously
close 20 the s. limit and the mayor
and council now are faithfully labor
ing for a lower taxation rate which
/
perilouslv close 70 the s. limit" It
thus seems that even without the IN
creased tax levy for bond purposes
the tax rate this year viii be higher
than during any one OF the past seven
years and VIII be close 10 the s. limit
says Rate Seems Unfortunate
The highest tax rate IN years IN
this war time. with increased federal
taxes and additional demands for JUST
charitable and Red Cross purposes,
-
10 hamper Us In aiding patriotic en-
terprises. which it.seems TO me should
be the first charge on our resources.
To strikes me that the question OF
increasing this already high tax rate
by bond issues for contemplated i'm
provements should be decided on a
basis or absolute necessity, and that
every effort should be made az this
time 10 conserve funds for war pur~
poses
Appraising the three proposed bond
issues by the above considerations ]
eestiOns IN regard 10 each OF the
100000 issues for school. water and
street purposes
Find school Buildings Inadequate.
In connection with the school bond
issues I will state that we have made
an investigation Of this matter and
find that the school building facili-
ties o. FL Paso are Inadequate 20
handle the present school census. and
that something must be done immedi-
ately, not only TO relieve the present
congestion. but also 20 provide addi-
tionai building facilities for contem-
plated increased census in years 20
come The 500 900 bond issue for
schools. 7 understand. viii be used 70
relieve the congestion IN several OF
the crowded schools. 20 provide addi-
tiOn7l Fairgrounds, 20 roof two school
buildings. etc II is planned by the
school board that this 100000 viii
enable them 20 only take care Of the
most urgent present needs" and that
it viii only give them temporary re-
lief. Under the present plan OF edu-
cation 10 looks as if FL PasO in future
years viii have 10 vote many addi-
tconal hundred thousand for sites and
school buildings
should Provide For Future.
Obviously money FOR relief Is need I
ed but 7 believe it should be spent 10 z
the end OF providing for FL Pas1's /
future school needs. Since under the .
present plan OF education 10 appears /
that many times the 100000 will be Z
needed % handle the future school /
census. and due to the fact that Fl I
Paso seems 10 he near a financial
crisis, 7 should like 70 see the board 1
reorEanize the school schedule so as
to utilize the present buildings 20 a
I0axim-m capacity. This plan. 7 m
ierstand. has been used by other
cities I'm order 20 solve a school build 4
ing problem almost identical with
that in FL Paso. Under this plan the
buildings are used more hours in the