The chronicle-star., 1921-01-21
tRS
ASSOCIATION
NJ \
viii Endeavor to EHecNg
W4Xof Relief From Present
Burden Of Taxation.
response to call about sevent,

response TO call about seventy
Q representative citizens met at tn
lks Home on Monday afternoon. th
result Of the meeting being the organic
alton of taxpayers association.
Mr.. e. J. Jane called the meetin,
to order, and Mr.. V. P. DeJean. actin,
as SECRETARY, read the following pre
,amble:
"The year 1920 saw the complete
loss to this community of all of the
large operating industries which had
for the several years before provided
the prosperity of our community.
January, 1921, found the city prac
tically without a single wage paying
plant employing men--this when the
government docks finally closed down
"At the time of the abnormal increase
in population, the greatest period of
business improvement in the history
of our city, conditions required that the
city administration be put into the
hands then of men who could devote
their entire time to city affairs and for
these reasons, under then existing con
ditions, we voted commission form of
government for our municipality. 1t
was understood as fully discussed at
several public meetings preceding this
change, that should the war work
plants with us be later closed or other
changes reduce our city income. we
would return promptly to more econ
omical form Of administration in order
to prevent catastrophe in our fin
ances, certain to follow unless some
sensible change, necessary to meet
! conditions, would be made.
} Though depression in business has
reduced revenue and the needs for the
then expensive undertaking of such
administration, our city expenditures
have continued enormous, we know as
general information, and it seems that
the necessity for more expenditures is
being constantly met. Just what these
disbursements have been we are not
fully informed for reason that state
ments have not been provided and
published to show the taxpayers the
financial condition of the city.
However the taxpayer has realized
that the depression in business is now
followed by oppression in his tax
burden and we must begin delayed |
descent in these expenses in some
Ps0und, economical way, climbing down |
from the heights of uncomfortable waste |
|Or costs in some manner to be provid-
led, without decentralization or loss Of
confidence but unfaillingly correcting
Existing conditions.
sour citizens have therefore become
duly restless and discouraged at this
\Ontinued hopeless state of affairs.
1TeN< anns,ant street talk of all
of plans for remedy, while i'm
ent sufferers have even discussed
. brel action in the hope of forcing
!, De adjustment for relief.
|, This demand of public need has
bwn our responsible citizens a seri-
Is condition an dangerous one,
making plain TIE necessity for the
organization of the Tax Payers AS
of the City of Pascagoula a
banding together of the people who
must meet these burdens and while
loing so, exercise the reason and |
,aution demsnded to now protect our {
property values, the fair name OF our
and prevent any summary
lction which would destroy the con- {
idence of the outside public and COM 9
'letely ruin our credit.
"An organization planned to function
With dignity and respect yet with I
ourage and the determination of Q
ensible men with the real manhood
o at once fully investigate all munich e
al ills and safeguard whatever we #
nay have remaining of value in our
roperty and our credit, preventing an
ctual state of bankruptcy of the en- L
ire City of Pascagoula. L
Whether the present administration u
as exercised wisdom or not in its
ublic business methods we do not at p
his time consider nor do we charge s.
nor specific mismanage-
tent here. We simply realize a con- u
ltion that will not be further borne 81
y the taxpayer and will demand p
.medy. IL
I'VE declare an existing disburse- ca
ent Of public funds which will event to
ally bankrupt the property owner and Oh
smand a change of the whole matter OF
administration that will result in al
ssened expense. an accounting as &C
divided by law. and are determined
exercise rights we have as tax pay 10
. to secure the Improvements and "a
event future burdensome expendi- IN
res :. NAV he possible to eliminate. 10
ne time, we have no use w
OF street talker who de- ca
vituperation ebroad and
gardless Of the truth or bn
his statements afd do in
as a member her&. We
,ce with the viii -lcal