The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1921-04-09

greater and heavier assessment.
What will be the result, asked the
speakers of the evening who had
brought out these facts? While we
are now burdened with an excess
valuation far in proportion TO the
rich delta counties in the state, the
State tax of mills would multiply
by the increased proportion and in
stead of the thirty-odd thousand dol
, lars sent to Jackson annually by the
local tax-collector we would send
possibly twenty thousand dollars ad
ditionally, thus impoverishing our
selves all the more. As it is, the
speakers pointed out, we are sending
now to the State annually more than
our share and at the expense of To-
cal public improvements. Mr.. Emile
]. Gex pointed out several instances
in regard to the high assessment pre-
vailing in the county. One instance
was to the effect that he purchased
some of the Johnson lands in the in
terror of the county for $4,000, and
| the assessment was $250.00. He
called attention to another erron-
eous impression, that Beat s., (Bay
st. Louis and vicinity paid the bulk
| of the taxes for the county. The
truth is that the municipal valuation
of the city was two million dollars,
while the county assessment for the
I city was about one million dollars.
This was stated in justice to the To-
cal supervisor, Hon. Jos. l.. Favre.
If the committee that has been
heretofore journeying to Jackson in
| C,sn ra
presented conditions as they are
charged land do not exist as such,)
our assessment would be raised and
taxes correspondingly higher Then
the thousands of dollars additionally
that should remain at home ought to
! 90 towards local improvement,
among which the necessity and the
benefits to follow of bridge across
the waters of Bay st. Louis was
| pointed out.
1t was shown by the speakers of
the evening where Hancock County
and the City of Bay St. Louis were
run along the most economical lines;
that the County had the best roads
| in the State and the the streets OF
Bay st. Louis were kept in shape by
most competent man at the paltry
wage of $4,000 per month, mere
pittance. In proportion all elements
| of public work was carried on at the
minimum of expense and maximum
| of results, that it was an occasion for
lf-congratulation.
These and other facts were
brought out during the evening by
! the different speakers who were
Messrs. w. J. Gex, r. L. Genin, 4.
}. Gex, Carl Marshall. The addresses
were we'll received and frequently
applauded. Others from the public
meeting were asked to speak but no
one volunteered, not even from the
! opposition.
Il was the sense of the meeting
| that a committee be appointed to go
to Jackson to counteract the reports
that had reached Jackson by placing
the facts before the commission In
order that the State of Mississippi
would not raise our assessments In
! excess of present figures, for heaven
knows the burden is heavy enough
as it is. The committee selected IS
composed of Jos. O. Mauffray, chair
man; A. J. Mcleod, Robt. c. Eng
man. George C. Firsching, Geo. K.
Rea with two more members to be
appointed by the chairman.
/ The executive committee OF the
organization is composed of w. };
! Gex, R. L. Genin, E. j. Gex, Carl
/ Marhall, C. l.. Waller, A. A. Kergo-
sien. secretary to the committee.
| Suitable resolutions were passed
and the meeting adjourned, not only
having been largely attended but
one of general satisfaction, and 1t Is
safe to say will bear fruit. 1
Following is a copy of the resolu-
ton adopted:
Resolved; that the proper commit
fee be authorized and directed to re-
commend and request that the asses
sed valuation of property in Hancock
county be lowered and equaiized IN
proportion to other counties, beiieV-
ing as we do, that our county Is bur-
dened with unjust taxation.