Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-02-18
Public Opinion
I;Npen.lyr Lusuries.

ENpehsite LuAuttes.
II is not the desire " the writer 10
/ rush into print 90 assume the position
81 one attempting 10 enter a discussion
/ IN the press on questions of public poll.
/ cy. Believing. however. that the city
| IN which live In about TO make mis-.
take, which viii affect the growth and
development of that city. I feel II In a
privilege to enter n protest against the
reckless expenditure of public funds nt
this time.
There can be- no doubt that We very
iadly need q public meeting place OF
sufficient size 20 accommodate the nu.
mcfOuS conventions and local gather
ings which ARE held In Amarillo all
through the year. We need an audito.
rum, and OF this there can be little
doubt and II was largely with this idea
IN view that the bond issue Tor $780,.
no was no Overwhelmingly voted by
he people 81 Amarillo. Our construe.
ton and Interpretation OF this action
by the people IN that 4, In not made
mandatory upon the City Commission
10 cxpcnd this large amount Of money
! In the construction u building. but
that the limit OF expenditure was placed
40 sS000OO and those Ia authority are
expected to use their good Judgment as
| 20 whether or not the fuii amount
should be- expended.
a dollar now will buy nearly twice
what II would year ago when the
bonds were voted. and commodities are
still declining The writer In Of the
| opinion that an auditorium can be
erected for 100000. which will be OF
| sufficient size To accommodate any
| crowd that may gather In Amarillo for
the next ten years, for convention pur.
poses. and with this auditorium con.
structed We will get all OF the benefit
that would accrue 10 us from convep.
tiohs, social gatherings and the like.
that We would II the building were ito
cost half million dollars and be built
Il pure marble. We are yet small
city and u IL necessary that We crawl
before We walk.
The tax rate and the tax valuation
n Amarillo without any ADDITIONAL az.
sessmcnt. account a the various bond
issues recently voted. are very high.
There can be no cheap rent with high
taxes. The landlord does not pay the
taxes. he makes the tenan, dig up ana
the tenant. IL he runs u business.
passes II on 10 the public In Increased
charges for his goods There will be no
incentive 10 anyone To build a large Of.
flee building In Amarillo. or TO build
houses for rent or nice home la
which t. live " the taxes increase more
than they are at this time. II will cost
over $50 per day. $1,000 per month or
$4,000 per year 20 maintain the pro-
posed auditorium, coliseum, library.
cattle show ring. city offices. swimming
pool and the like, By the time the
bonds maturcd Il will have cost the tar
payers II Amarillo 5000. IN interest
alone. and. adding this 10 the original
cost. will make this coliseum cost In
actual principal and interest 5000. 900.
to say nothing Of the up.keep. and this
IL most expensive luxury and one
that we can illafiord at this time when
We are In such dire need Of a. water
supply and the establishment, ~ la.
dusirics Ut Amarillo.
II goes without saying tina, tho mem.
hers e the American Legion nerd quar-.
tiers and the public needs permanent
quarters. hut IL II practical Co attempt
10 build a building to suit all needs and
find upon completion we have suited
no one? Let's build the audi. riun IN
a sensible way 10 be u~.d an an audi.
torium. then let's go after n good wa.
ter supply. When We have solved our
water problem We will then have cheap
fuel and cheap water 20 offer TO Ia.
dustries. and Industries make city.
You nigh, have all the conventions
that are held In this part of the coun.
Try; YOU might have hcal meetings
every night In the week. hut II IN the
people who como here 10 stay and not
to visit. who build the city. We need
wholesale houses. factories and indus.
tries. which give employment 10 men.
There are three essentials 10 the estsb.
lishment ~ industries: namely. cheap
water cheap fuel and reasonable taxes.
The saving 81 $1,000 nj this time In
worth while and We do not believe that
the attempt 10 house the different In.
stitutions proposed In one building, In
feasible or practical. and can only re.
suit In discOrd and disappointed pub.
lie J. y. BEASLEY.