Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-09-07
PINE BLUFF MAY.
 HAVE TO DOUBLE
 TAXATION IN 1922
City Council Authorizes At. torney to Consent to Judg-
 ment for $135,O
JUDGE GOULD ASKS
 FOR DUPLICATE SCRIPT
Refer Request to Finance Com. mittee to Make RecOmmenda- ti0ns at Special Meeting;
 Affects City Only

Taxation of Pine Bluff property probably will be doubled in 1922, as the results of suits in the United States court against the city by cred itors-holders of past due warrants.
 This became evident at the meeting of the city council last night when a resolution was adopted authorizing City Attorney A. R. Cooper to con- sent to judgment against the city in suits filed in the United States court at Little Rock by Otis and com pany for $135,OOO and interest, and by the Farmers Loan and Trust com pany, for $5O,O00 and interest.
 Judge James Gould, who placed the loan with Otis and company, re- quested the council to issue script for the amount due, less $3,500 that the creditors might use this dupli- cate script as collateral for loans, while the original script is in the hands of the United States court. He explained he asked for $3,500 less than the $142,00O due as principal and interest, because issuance of warrants for the full amount could be construed as enactment of the debt. In requesting this scrip, Judge Gould referred to the tightness of the money market, the leniency of the creditors, and told of the pro- gress of arrangements with the city officials for litigation to effect set clement.
 On motion of Alderman McGehee, the council referred the matter to the finance committee, the mayor and the city attorney, requesting the mayor to call special meeting of the council to authorize issuance of the script if this is found advisable. Mayor Hollis indicated appreciation of the creditors needs, and of len iency extended.
 May Request Writ.
 With judgment against the city for the amounts due them, the next step of the creditors will be to ask the United States court for writ of mandamus, to compel officials of the county to assess property in Pine Bluff at it's full valuation and collect taxes on this basis until the judgments have been satisfied. As property is supposed to be assessed at 50 per cent of it's value, this will mean doubling taxation in Pine Bluff. The increase in assessments will not affect county property out side the city.
 The higher taxation will hardly be. come effective before 1922. A sim liar case from Van Buren county has been appealed by the county to the United States supreme court, ano Judge Gould stated at the council meeting that Judge Jacob Trieber United States judge for this dis trict, has declared he will not issue mandamus in similar suit until the supreme court has upheld the de cision in the Van Buren suit.
 Strange as it may seem, there arc property owners who favor this plar for liquidating the debts of the city and county, and placing these govern. ments on cash basis. One of these is Jesse R. Core, one of the larges property owners in the city ant county. MT. Core said relative to the doubling of taxation to pay the debts of the city and county: "That's what we should do. Pay up and get rid of the debts. It will hit me hard but Pm willing to pay my part"
 The approximate assessed valua tion of Pine Bluff is Ten million dollars.