The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1917-10-13
DO YOU PAY ENOUGH
TAXES ALREADY?

Mr.. Editor;
DisclaimiDg any desire to rusl
into pubic print for other pu:
pose than for what considered
might be public veal, and solely
to give expression of my view, a,
a tax payer, of the bond Issue ant
SPECIAL tax proposition to be vOtec
on at the election to be held OF
the 10th. inst, | would very much
appreciate your giving space in the
valuable columns of the "Iberlan'
to this communication.
1 At this hour it ia too late TO,
extended discussion of this mat
ter. Unfortunately 1t has not
been alluded to, but by notice, in
the press, nor has the attention. of
the people been brought to it.
consideration by public meeting
Something's might be said in favor
of incurring the obligation, the
proceeds Of which are designed fol
the paving and Improvement OF
our public streets and highways
but many things can certainly be
said against the ACCESSIBILITY OF
taking this step at this particular
time. One very forcefnl reason
against doing 80 is the fact that
the proposed work would cost now
neatly fifty per cent more at pres
ent prices of material than il,
would have cost two years since,
or than it likely would two years
hence. AS an instance of this,
the constr uctl6n of sewerage
system is now costing the tax pay
ers Of this community about lhir
ty thousand dollars more than for.
which the same work could have
been accomplished, only few
months earlier. Another reason
against the proposition is that it
is intended to expend thirty five
thousand dollars, out Of the seven
ty five thousand voted for. on the
country roads leading into New
Iberia, the remaining forty thou
sand TO be expended on the public
streets as far as 1t will 60, and
the abntting tax payers on the
streets paved be required to pay
their prO-rata of the cost Of paw
lug In addition 10 the tax; thus
placing the town tax payer ~ the
position Of paying for country
roads aud doing his own paving
besides.
Again it can be said that We
have a canal at our door, intended
primarily for commercial purposes,
on which the tax layers have ex
pended sixty thousand dollars
which is now useless except for
drainage PURPOSES The expendi
ture Of thirty FIVE thousand dol
lars on this canal would bring
deep water to the city limits and
give employment to as many as
cared to go 10 the fishing grounds
beyond. Other methods of laying
out the proceeds Of a bond Issue
that would add largely to the
prosperity and welfare Of our peo
pie might also be- mentioned.
But, MI. Editor, aside from all
Of this, the one great, serious fac
tor that has determined me ~ my
opposition to the contemplated
expense at this time, is the condi
ton now existing as q result of
the war in Ahich our country 10
engaged. Tine taxes which our
COVE. nment has already been
forced 10 place upon us, and upon
almost every thing We consume
are now reaching enormous pro
portions and the end IL not yet in
sight. All of our public men aud
those upon whom we are relying
for guidance, are advising, aud
daily seeking to Impress upon US
the necessity for conservation and
ffugality, aud q circular letter
now being sent out by Secretary
Baker sets forth very clearly that
no indebl edness should be incur
red by municipalities for other
than actual necessities. 1t would
not, therefore be the part OF Wis
| dom to totally disregard these ap
peals and expend sums to the OK
tent proposed for the sole purpose
Of beaurlfyiDg our streets and pro
viding more improved roadways
These are to day 10 much better
condition than formerly, owing 10
the enlightened action of our Pc
lice JuIles, and further improve
ment 10 not q matter OF necessity.
Ali would take pleasure, no doubt.
10 driving on a smoother graveled
surface, but when We are told and
made to believe that every dollar
spent for this pleasure il needed
by our government in the prOsecu
ton Of the war and that every
stroke OF labor put forth in its
construction should be exerted in
the production Of some needful ne
cessity Of human life, that pleas
| ure should be foregone until the
crisis through which we are now
passinQ reaches Q termination.