The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1921-03-10
TAXPAYERS ADOPT
LONG RESOLUTIONS
No Blame Placed on Board Of Super
yisors or Other County Officers, but
Upon General Extravaganza and
Small Population.

I The attendance at the taxpayer.
meeting Monday was smaller than wa.
expected, though those present seem.
ed eager to get results and to organ.
ize permanently.
The meeting was called 10 order by
President Humphreys, who stated that
the object Of the gathering was to
hear the report Of the committee ap.
/ pointed at a former meeting to look
into the general condition of the eoun-
tvs finances and give the people the
benefit of their investigation
After the report was read and a.
dopted unanimously, a permanent or
ganization was formed with B. G.
Humphreys as president He was
empowered to appoint a vice president
from each of the supervisors ristricts.
Several talks were made, among the
speakers being Messrs p. S. Byrnes,
5. r. Dudley, ] NJ Taylor and Mrs.
Berry, the only woman present.
The resolutions were as follows:
Port Gibson, Miss, Mar. z, 1921.
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF CLAI-
BORNE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI:
We the undersigned, your commit
tee, designated Feb z, last, to inquire
into the state of our County's finances
and as to ways and means whereby we
may reduce the burden of taxation,
beg leave to report that we held meet
ings on Saturdays Of each of three
weeks, from 10 A. M TO II Noon, at
the Court House The public was in
vited through our local paper and 9TH
erwise, to appear and advise or sug-
gest as to any or all matters that
might have a bearing on the work in
hand. Quite a number appeared, and
among them, the various County Of
tlclals and members Of the Board Of
Supervisors. We received hearty co.
operation on the part of all officials
We have made such investigation and
given such study to the subject as the
limited time at our disposal permitted.
In general way, we find that for a
number of years past we have been
gradually expending as County,
more than we have received from the
various sources Of income. We find
further, that in the year 1914, $40,-
10000 Of such accumulated deficit was
found as a part of our bonded indebt-
edness- and since that time we have
accumulated steadily from year to
.ear the present existing difcit, which
requires that our Board of Supervisors
- its expenditures must always an
ieipate the taxes of the current year.
This is poor financing at any time,
and under the present law requiring
that no warrant shall be issued unless
funds are in the treasury, is especial
ly unwise financing, leading US into
financial difficulties.
We would call to your attention that
tie general county levy of mills for
the year 1920, and the general road
fund levy Of mills and the tick erad-
ication fund of one mill, or total of 13
mills, make up the only funds from
which our Board Of Supervisors can
Therefore, OF the very
sums obtained from tax
alton yearly in our county, it is from
these levies only that the Board has
funds with which to forward the work
required Of them for benefit of tax
payers.
Attached hereto as a part Of this
report and marked Exhibit A, you will
find a report from the Auditor Of our
County, setting out the various items
in aggregate, under their respective
heads, of income and disbursement for
the year 1920. A careful study of this
report and Of the various separate =
TENS embraced under the different
heads, has been impossible for your
committee on account Of time in which |
10 do so. A determination Of the rea-
or un-reasonableness of |
.hecharge for any particular item Of
is therefore not part /
If this report, for the reason above
stated We have every confidence,
however, in the integrity and efficiency
# the various Officials and Boards Of 1
,ur County, and feel sure that they
ire doing the best they can under ex-
sting conditions.