The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1918-11-14

A Communication to the Citizens Of
Hot Springs by Commissioner
Frank G. StearnS.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE OCCUPATION rAr"-wHAr s-rHe
arAaoNs soR IT AND WY YOU sHoLo SUPPORT IT.

= Iif.N2a II rs not 10 ne cApecteu ina
| you 90; as the average citizen does
not take the time or trouble to &c
such information. You should know
however that the elimination OF thu
liquor traffic, the abolshing of tn
houses oil ill-repu1e, and the un-
doubted consequent reduction IN 20
lice court fines ON account Of these
bonditons-all have contributed 80
put the revenue deriving agencies Of
the city on @ basis where the depend
uey Is mainly on our percentage o!
General taxes" For the last two
years the kity's proportion Of the
general tax was increased some fifty
per cent by reason of the Court house
Judgment" with which most If You
are familiar During this period, tho
additional money derived by the city
from this fouree, has helped vastly to
tide il over any crisis. Next year
this source of increased revenue wit
not be available. on account of the
Satisfaction Of this jud Hment. and the
consequent elimination OF AN inoreas
ed valuation Thus instead OF receiv
ing some fifty five thousand dollar
as IT'S proportion OF general taxes, tho
city. next wear. viii receive less thar
for y thousand Adj tn this a reYennr
Of probably twenty thousand derivef
from other sources. mainly from 10
lice court and from snecial lieenS-
fees on vehicles. itinerants. etc. AM
YOU see al once how much CAPITA
the city will have at its dispoeal for
1919.
For tho year 1917. the total revenue
derived by the city was about eight
seven thousand dollars and eXpenl-
lures were in round numbers Que
hunred thotaalid dollars, not talSinF
into account the $4,000 90 paid GU
for new Central avenue pavement am
the s6T5000 paid out as interest OF
the funded indebtedness of the city
This expenditure consisted mainly o
the following items, viz: Fire de.
martment S2i 000h0; health dspart
ment $l5o0 90. police ann munir
| lpal court department $iS,0000O: al
ministratlOn department $5,e00 90
street department SIP 10000; gprin =
. ling department $4,000, and genera
contingency department $SS,00000. o
which latter amount approximatel'
BPS 10000 was for light and water ser
vice Expenditures for 1918 will b'
as much or more, and likewise, rev.
enue derived from all sources will b.
about the same as for 1877. Thos'
retrenehmcnts IN operating expense
which have been made. have beer
practically offset by increases in sal
aries and cost Of supplies for The dif
'erent departments. in harmony Wit
'he trend Of the times What on
neuditmos will he for the year lot'
depend entirely uaon the outcome o
events and what revenue is forth
coming. as che citv executives have
7ceormined 80 cut all departments
'9o the quick" continuing disburse-
menfs absolutely to income unlcas re-
1fOs &c granted hv tho citizenship.
In view of the fact that amendment
No. IS, which would have affordel
some relief, has probably failed tt
carry, and further In vleT of the fact
that the proposed new constitution
does not provide any definitc or prac-
ticaa le method bv which cities may
increase their revenue. to Dc applied
against current operating expenses
mo can readily see that something
must be done.
The remedy lin part" may De mad
btaiBs0le 10y you, Mr. CRizen, Il sou
do your duty The amount derived
from this occupation tax viii not ac-
complish everything. but Il WIN GER
ainly help a great deal. Il is not for
us 10 figure Just ho0v many dollars
and cents we are. going to donate
but how much prosperity we are go
ug to father" by our inycstrucn. in
'iyic pride and patriotism.
The issue is sQuarely aud fairly be
fore Won What arc you going To DO
about it,
You have stood by your country
aul seen the fruits OF your patriotism
devlop into Peace"
Stand by your ty--and place it in a
position to reap its share Of victory
and future prosperity and help main
tain IL on a respectable basis.
Go to your voting precinct on the
10th next and vote for the occupa-
ton license ordnance. thereby reg
istering a bid for municipal progress
and a blow 10 civic degeneration.