Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-12-15
PEOPLES FORUM.


Mr.. Editor: Several things were
accurately demonstrated at the Tax
payers gathering, that an individual
can talk all the time on the curb, and
then at the right time, say the cor
rect thing. Mr.. Baggett performed
nicely as Chairman and his views on
the severe tax conditions are sound
and non political.
MI. Baggett's. views are in accord
with that element Of our population,
who shave, shine their shoes, talk
little and think before they speak.
The uniformed person must have a
goat Cor his bad management, or, ne
must blame some one for his bad
luck.
Therefore, in periods of great dis
tress, when whine is heard above
the call of duty, this class OF indi-
viduals put in their time cussing the
Supervisors, the Legislature OF some
public officials.
individuals who take time to think,
look for real causes for unpopular
conditions, and if he has any regard
for his position in the community, he
will undertake the investigation
without prejudice, for thinking peo-
pie know, that we must have the
truth before we can suggest
remedy.
Present tax conditions have been
created by the public. The salaries
Of Road Draggers, Poor House keep
ers and other officials, do not form the
burden Of taxation, but road districts,
School Districts, Drainage Districts,
which the public have authorized and
created by their own actions, in fact,
Bond issues are the real causes that
produce SO much dissatisfaction with
the present tax schedule.
We have simply acted in public
capacity as we have individually,-we
bought all the good things we wanted
while money was cheap and now we
are called upon to pay while money
is dear. We instructed the Super
visors and other officials, to build
Brick school houses, Road Districts
and Drainage Districts when we were
receiving 40 cents per pound for cot
ton, 80 cents for Cream and 20 cents
for Hogs. We were rich and never
hesitated about the consequences.
Further, we bought high priced land,
a few motor Cars and some five
hundred dollar mules, and now we
face pay day, both publicly and in
dividually.
Individuals who try to be honest
with themselves, will assume their
portion of the responsibility for pres
ent tax conditions. A few well dir
ected words Of advice are welcomed
by all officials and officials are willing
to listen to persons who offer sugges-
lions without malice.
Some individuals at the meeting,
live in the hope that the County can
be made safe for honest people to
live in. Now fortunate the County,
to have few honest men. When l
witness SO much stress laid on per-
sonal honesty, recall the observations
of certain Carpenter who discovered
a large ranch owner in a public
meeting place, congratulating him
self and the deity that he was not like
other people.
Some other individuals wanted to
know, if the County gets its moneys
worth. 1t is usually this class of
inquirers who charge the County
more for a days work or a yard of
lumber when called on to render the
public service, and who generally
make the criticism when defeated on
some public contracts.
In our swild scramble for modern
conveniences, we must find something
else to tax We will hug our flesh
pots all the closer. We raise hell
with the Supervisors and the Leg
islature because of increased tax
levies, and forthwith buy a second
hand Ford and raise He'll with the
Supervisors if the Roads become
rough during the'Winter Season! :
We will hang on to the Brick
School house game to the end. We
want foot ball fields, racing tracks,
athletic parks and swimming pools,
Base Ball experts instead Of Bankers
and business men, Basket Ball
champions instead o. Cooks and
something must be. found to tax to
support the program. The log school
house, the curriculum of the "thre Rs"
that produced such men as Lamar,
Walthall, George, John NJ. Stone and