The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-01-19
CITY REVENUES.

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NJ Columbia at the mass mee'ine
.s,led by the President OF the hoaiu
n Trade next Tuesday night Inc
...oo,s are the most important depart
~aant of the city government ms
rublic schools Of Columbia constitute
$40 most valuable asset of the COM
v,unitv They must not be crippled
ror their efficiency impaired through
rex of sufficient support. me CITY
and County High school has just
reached point where it measures up
IN the highest standard. IL mee'S
.varv, possible requirement, but II inc
faculty is reduced it cannot 40 so'
Rather than see this done The Heralu
.vould have the people OF Columola
"a as they do in many sections Oh inc
county, supplement the school fund oy
epopular subscription.
There is going to be decided oppoS'
Ason to an increased tax levy. Ihers
,aearly always is. Taxes are very SCI
dom popular. People do not ike "
sucrease their contributions to the
support of the government Inc ne
seessity therefor must be real as wen
s.s apparent before they will voluntar'
nv consent to an addition to the LAX
hurdens. And this is the correct a.'i-
a.da Government officials are ratner
~rone to exceed their budgets III eA-
syending the public funds. They must
IA kept within bounds by this sentl-
uent against excessive tax burdens
The Herald is unalterably opposed
10 any sort Of impairment OF the splen-
Ibid nublic school system of Columbia
~ the same time it frankly doubts
,vhether or not there is any real neces-
..;tv for an icnrease in the tax rate OF
.ahe city. 1t is rather OF the opinion
chat economies can be practiced IN
,.fher departments Of the government
changes made in the charter, that VIII
save a sum sufficient to meet the deh-
.xst in the school department.
Without in any way rejecting upon
ne present or any former city admin
s.tration. but expressly dlsclaiming
any intention to do SO, and discussing
Il. matter purely in an impersonal
vav and as disinterested taxpayer
The Herald submits these suggestions
n the consideration of the taxpayers
az Columbia at their coming mass
meeting:
This paper believes that the char
s.- ri the CITY should be so amended
= Mt the present session of the leglsla
ture that after the expiration or tRe
terms of the present officials, the
mayor and the members of the BOARD
nj aldermen should serve without
compensation. 1t believes that there
are enough patriotic and public spirit
ed citizens in the city who will every
two years assume the duties per
formed by the executive and leglsia
tive departments as a matter OF pun
Tic pride and without pay. The pres
,ent compensation is not sufficient 1ol
either the mayor or the members O
hoard to devote their whole time to cit!
affairs or to neglect their private al
fairs. 1t is simply bonus which NJ
doubt is earned, but one that coul'
be directed to the school fund wlthou
nny sort of impairment of the effcien
cy of the government. The Herald =
not Informed as to the exact compen
station received by the mayor ana a.
dermen, but altogether 1t probably az
rregates something like $1,000 per an
mum or half of the school deficit.
The plan of selecting business me
without compensation to manage an
direct the affairs of the city, appealln
simply to their sense of pride an
shirt of patriotism is said to hav
heen tried with remarkably successfl
results in st. Petersburg, Fla, an
other places Again. The Heral
would abolish the so-called board
fire and police commissioners. 1t is
difth-wheel that really serves no goo
purpose. It is directly contrary to tn
genius of modern government whfe
faxors the concentration of powers
the hands of few rather than the o.
idea of a wide distribution OF pow'
among number with resultant di
xicuity in fixing ultimate responsibilit
There is no reason why the Poop
should elect a board of aldermen
elect a fire commission, to elect
rpoliceman. This would probably SAL
the city taxpayers $3.50 per annum.
There is really no reason why the
should be six aldermen and mayo
rour aldermen, together with Il
mayor, would probably render bett
service and all should be elected fro
Iort m