The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-07-10

Matters Of more vital Importance ia
the citizenry of Upton county were
transacted in the sitting of the quar-
terly county court which was held
here Monday than probably has
ever been transacted by any one
court in many years. The authorize
ton of an issue of $155,000 for the
hard-surfacing of the Jefferson Da-
Wis and Memphis Bristol highways
through the county was the most inn
portant transaction of the session.
C. N. Volz, who has been acting shef-
iff since the death Of the late Sheriff.
]. M. Beaver some weeks ago, was
elected to fill the uneXpired term,
The fixing Of the tax rate for the
year 1919 and the election of the
members Of the county high school
board were other matters passed
upon by the court.
A motion by ESQ. Geo. R. Ellis, Jr,
made at the opening of the morning
session. to postpone the election of
a sheriff until the afternoon session,
as all magistrates were not present,
was defeated, and the election was
held forthwith. The candidates for
the office, Messrs. c. N. Volz, L. H.
Rogers and N. V. Lanier, were invited
to address the court, stating their
qualifications and intended policies if
elected. At the close of the addresses
the election vas ordered held, and
three ballots were required by the
magistrates before the successful
candidate was determined The first
ballot resulted in a vote of Is for
Volz, Is for Lanier and II for Rog-
ers. The second gave Volz 16, La
nier Is and Rogers 8. On the third
ballot Volz was declared elected, re-
ceiving a majority vote of 90 On
this ballot Lanier received II votes
and Rogers 2. The new sheriff. has
already entered upon the discharge
of his duties.
Judge John Y. Peete, chairman Of
the court appointed a committee of
three, composed Of J. G. Owen, chair
man, with R. L. Smith and T. j.
Lawrence as associate members, to
recommend the rate Of taxation for
the present year. This committee re-
ported at the afternoon session, rec
ommending that the tax rate for.
school, purposes for the present year
be increased rs cents per 500 Of tax
able property, which includes the
school tax levied by the state. The
resolution, passed later, which au-
thorized the issuance of $155,000 in
bonds for the construction of hard
surfaced roads, also levied tax Of
% cents per 500 assessed valuation,
making the total tax rate for the
county $3.15, which includes the
state tax This is an increase Of
Soc over last year, the rate last year
being $2.65. The elementary school
tax, both state and county, was raised
from rs cents to 95 cents. The
county high school tax was made 20
cents, instead Of Is cents as hereto
fore.
Hon. " Kimbrough, of the 7th dis
trict, introduced the resolution au-
the issuance of $155,000 in
bonds for the hard-surfacing of rs
miles of the Jefferson Davis highway
through the county. The issue will
also cover the hard-surfacing of five
miles of the Memphis-to-Bristo high
way across the southeastern corner of
the county. The maximum rate of
on the bonds, which were au-
to be issued for 80 years,
was fixed at per cent. The resolu-
ton also provided for the appoint
ment of finance committee by the
court to sell the bonds for the best |
possible price.
A marked difference of opinion
among the magistrates, as well as
some of the leading attorneys of the
county, was displayed over the matter
Of submitting the question to a direct
vote of the people of the county. /
Hon. L. E. Gwinn, Judge r. B. Bap-
list, Hon. R. W. Sanford, Hon. v.
Kimbrough, Esqs. T. j. Lawrence and I
G. G. Bentley addressed the court in
favor Of the proposed bond issue.
Esqs. Beasley, Overall, Deverell and
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