The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1921-04-29
EDITORIAL
CONCERNING THE ISSUANCE
OF BONDS FOR THE
CITY OF PARIS.

/ lneFe ID HluCil ulSCuSSlOn All Tic
| city this week, and since the recent
municipal election. concerning the
voting OF bonds for public improve
ment.
| This is a matter which has not
yet come before the city council, and
| at this time there is no definite
| basis to work on. However, from
casual analysis, it is matter of
| either bonds or an abnormal tax
rate.
| The people of Paris did not vote
| iii a new administration with any
view of letting them sit down and
| do nothing, and bond issue for the
purpose of public rehabilitation and
public Improvement was campaign
| tissue and a part of the progressive
| ticket platform. The people over
whelmingly sustained the ideas of
the progressive Jacket and voted
them into office three to one.
They expect them to accomplish
things. To rebuild the streets,
, create court park, renew the electric
lisht poles, extend the lines, enlarge
the wires for better lights, install
more street lights, do certain work
on school buildings, and make other
needed and essential Improvements.
This cannot be accomplished with
cut the issuance Of bonds. 1t
would not be fair to the property
owners to raise their rates, and the
renters to have to suffer some of
the consequences, should it be under
taken under an increased tax rate. |
1t is estimated that it will take
this fall and next year a minimum
OF $4,000 to do the needed recon !
siruction work above outlined.
Heaping this upon some $4,000 that.
ia all now being secured from taxes, |
would require $172,0O0 to be raised |
from direct taxation. This would
make the rate close on to IS on
the hundred, while now it is only 60
cents and, this does not cover the
permanent improvement desired. No
body could stand this. The small
home owners would be forced into
ruin, and those renting property
would have to give up and leave the
city, because their rents would have
to so abnormally increase.
The only solution, therefore, is the
issuance of bonds and extending the
Payments over period of 20 to 80
years, which would make the effect
very little on the tax rate, compare
lively.
The work has got to be done-the
streets cannot suffer further; the
people are not satisfied with they
.l,a fe, i., H.
school buildings have got to be
made adequate, or literary training
will stagnate; the electric light poles
must be renewed, or there will be
darkness; new homes on street ex-
tensions must be reached with the
wires or they will not get their
proportionate returns from the taxes
they pay; the streets must be better /
lighted, or the increased automotive |
operations will play havoc. Above |
all, Paris must go forward, and first |
be pulled out of the existing 'rut''
or the city in it's entirety including |
the valuation of property, and the |
lucrativeness of business, will go to
rack and ruin.
The principal bond issue talk is
flowing from the members and fol- |
lowing of the "old city gang" which
was overwhelmingly defeated recent
" in double-barreled affair; having |
lost in the charter fight and in the |
city election fight. These and non-pro-
gressives are against the bond issue. |
Not that the city doesn't need these
improvements and maintenances pro-
pcsed, but just to be against any
thing the new administration pro-
poses and block them if possible,
Just as they attempted to block the |
now charter-and, which is fine |
instrument and good for anybody to
live under; there being nothing OBJ
jectionable about it.
This newspaper presumes, when |
the proper time comes, there will be |
full statement issued from the city |
hall covering any proposed bond is |
sue In the meantime there is no |
concerted action of the city council |
prevailing, and nothing really tan
gible upon which to base discussion |
The object of this editorial is to |
c8ution those who are approached |
by opponents of the bond issue to
j
see if you cannot identify each and |
every one of them as recent oppon-
epts of progressive city admins |
tration and likewise as non-progres-
sive citizens, who have gotten all |
they want at the hands of city inn |
provement and enhanced property |
valuations, etc, and are satisfied to
let things "rock-along", and let the
city sink down in the mud and fall
out of the running with progressive
cities of similar size--just as Dyers
burg has already laid us in the
shade" and as Mckenzie with now
total bond issue of S160,000 Cor
only $4,000 less than Paris has),
is now attempting to do
Study the individual opponent
see it, by Analysing all his connec-
tons, his business, his general flow
OF ideas, etc. you can figure him
out other than a mon progressive"