The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-28
PUTNAM COURT
WON'T FIX RATE
Thirty-five Of the Thirty-six
S55uires Oppose Roberts
Desire.
II. n. HANNAH EvADES QUIZ

Cookeville, July 2S.-(Special.) 1.-THE
Roberts administration and Its support
ers received a thorough drubbing here
yesterday In Putnam county when the
county court was convened in extra ses-
sion by the county judge for the pT-
pose o. levylng the county tax rate for
1920.
or the thirty-six members OF the
court present, thirty-five were opposed
TO The fixing Of the rate, because OF the
fact that II was in violation OF tax law,
IN the opinion Of the magistrates Tor
tire reason that the tax commission nau
not certified to the value OF the property
IN the county as required by law.
d. X. Halliday, a strong supporter or
Gov. Roberts, attempted to address the
court in favor OF fixing the tax rate:
The court declined TO hear him., ana
over the protest OF the county judge
ana one member, the magistrates ad-
3purned IT was apparent to every one
that the court was Overwhelmingly OPP
pcsed TO Gov. Roberts.
After dinner. Harvey II. Hannah. OF
the state railroad commission. and Prof.
Thomas A. Early were advertised 70
sneak at the courthouse sAs a matter
al courtesy to Mr.. Hannah, who was a
visitor, II was agreed by Prof. Early
ana his friends that Mr.. Hannah should
Hreak first leaving one hour and hfteen
sssinuies. that Prof. Early should speak
after him and have one hour and a
hrN. and that Mr.. Hannah should have
ffteen minutes In rejoinder. The court
ho,Ise was packed, the crowd being es-
tifnated at nearly 1000
Hannah Asked Questions.
AL tho conclusion Of the time allotted
Rim. Mr.. Hannah asked that ms time
be extended. which was granted. Al AZ
liz smoke more than two hours. AZ
snouah he had been presented with the
foluiwing set OF questions before, he be-
mi, MS speech, he failed to answer any
I'D them. The questions were
aFirst--Just what is being done with
the $500 900 emergency funn crealeu ny
the present administration
sgecond--Is 1t lawful to TX the TAX
rata IN any county OF the state before
,ircperty In all counties has been equal
wed by the state board OF equaiiza-
.Th.rd--wili the state board OF equal
ixation allow the sSs,oo00oo reduction
made by the assessor OF Han'iton
county to stand? II so, win you not
slsn reduce all the property OF the
smaller counties in the state IN pro-
.Fourth-How can the county court
nv the rate In Putnam before the raiia
roads and telephone lines are assessed
ssIFifth---Teli us about the Slz,ole:so
attorney feeS palu Out W Wis
tfation. Just who got this money!
.Sixth--Does not the state have an
attorney general and assistants en-.
p,oyed to look after the legal business 81
the state?
s.Seyenth-what about the expense OF
tho governor in enforcing. the prohipi-
fion laws So. 336.53g To whom was TINS
money paid?
.Eirhth-Please discuss fully the state
police fund, S56,504.79. Tell us TO whom
this fund was paid. Who are the STATE
police In Putnam county! Name als-
tricts they serve.
.'Ninth--Do you not consider the ap-
pcintment OF seventeen members OF the
legislature to lucrative positions to DO
IN direct conflict with the constitution
OF Tennessee? -,
..Tenth--Can you not see where such
d practice may lead to corruption OF
the worst sort?
Observation-Disclosures what authority
were fire marshah In excess OF those
authorized by law appointed by the
present administration
"Twelfth--TeIl us why the children OF
the rural schools coud not secure text
books last summer, and OF the confu-
sion and REORGANIZATION that resulted
from this delay" An
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Hannan's
address, he declared II was time for
him 10 catch his train. When he with
drew from the room about nfty OF the