The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-08-20
The New Charter

for the city, and comparison of it's provisions with
those Of the present charter The Journal convinced
that 1t is Its duty to oppose the change We do not
mean to say that the present charter is perfect or
all that it should be- do take the position that
the proposed charter is all bad Such is not the case
Many improvements could and probably should be
made in our present form of city government. Some
of the changes and provisions of the proposed char
ter are unquestionably good and if adopted would
be of benefit to the municipality and it's citizens.
There are, on the other hand, interviewer with the
beneficial portions of the new charter certain changes
and provisions which are so radical extreme and I'M
precedented in their substance and effect that they
make the proposed charter as a whole and the form
of government provided Hereunder, in the opinion
of The Journal entirely and absolutely unaccepta-
bic to the people of the city 1t must be borne in
mind that the proposed charter will have to be ac-
copied or rejected in it's entirety We haven't the
opportunity to accept the good and reject the bad
We must either reject ALL or submit to all it contains
both good and bad.
Just what the Objectionable changes and provis-
ions in the charter are, The Journal proposes
through it's columns to show the people clearly and
specifically, and also to point out why they con-
sdered Objectionable and against the interests of the
city On the front page of this issue quote liter
ally the provisions of both the present and the pro-
posed charter two Subjects namely, taxation for
general purposes and the terms of office of the mayor
and council and these wish to here discuss brief
ly.
Taxation For General Purposes.
1t will be noted that under present law, the
mayor and council are limited to the sum Of forty
cents the hundred dollars of property in levy
ing tax for general purposes. BY the term "gener
al purposes is meant simply the ordinary expense:
of maintaining the city government such as salaries
of the mayor and council, city officers policemen
firemen, upkeep of the streets, etc Taxes for the
schools for the sinking fund to pay interest on and
retire outstanding city bonds are not included in the
term general purpose" Under the proposed char
ter for these general purposes the mayor and
ell are given the absolute power and authority to IN
crease the tax levy per cent each year To Illus
trae the present tax rate for general purposes can
not exceed $4O0 on the one thousand dollars of prop
erty; under the change proposed, one council
during its term of Office alone, could increase this
rate from $500 to S7.07, or an increase of u pei
cent No other construction can be placed upon the
language used in the new charter. 1t is an clear as
the MONDAY sun that without consulting anybody
and without any limitation restriction Of any kline
or character, the mayor and council, if they see fl
to do so, can require Of each taxpayer in Marietta
am increase of ten per cent in his her taxes not fol
one year, or two years FIVE years, bat for eacf
wear and every year until the end of time or just Sc
long as this provision might remain in effect Ane
in addition to this ten per cent increase which they
are authorized to pile up from year to year upon
their own motion and without check or limit, 1t
further provided That they can increase the tax b!
more than this ten per cent and submit such eNtri
;,,-a,,e., 70 Al, yotnr. THIN TEN DAN ).