The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-09-30
A.0rsn Ia..s.
HM0P~M ASsSA
Boil Weevil Station,

High Tax Tennessee,
Dear Brother:-
received your letter few DAYS age
and would have answered sooner but
have been very busy trying TO figure
how many different kind of taxes
will have to pay and how | am going
to get the money TO LAY them. besides
you know as we grow older we do not
seat ourselves and flake our pen in hand
quite as often as we did when writing
or quoting poetry to youth and beauty.
Perhaps you have heard Of the death
of old Uncle Billy Wheel Tax: be past
quitely away a short time ago and it is
said he was quite wealthy as he touch
ed nearly every man in the county for
few dollars. He must have died with
out q will as people are asking how and
where he spent his money as he wss
known to be very economical. Such
inquiries are referred to the courthouse
as he was often seen ,going that way.
We have grand and glorious tax
system here and sll we have 10 do is to
work aud gay taxes. We have been
taxed to work the roads, then taxed If
we used them either with wagon, buggy
or auto and on some of them we already
need flying machine, but when We get
one we will be taxed If we own one and
taxed again il we use it.
We have paid enough taxes since this
county was organized to build a macad-
amized road twenty feet wide through
every district andIa boulevard ar un !
the county as fine as the Memphis speed
way. still our county court meets. res.
o.utes, spends all our tax money and
more too, and leaves Us 10 the mud.
1t all reminds us of friend who
went to Bolivar, not as patient but
on business. He had never been there
and stopped to inquire the way. He
met man and ask him if that was the
road to Bolivar en- d was told il was and
that it was only three miles. and after
travelling about six miles be met
another man and ask him If that was
the road to Bolivar and was told that it
was, and was told it was nine mills
The man ask him II he wanted to go to
Bolivar and he said yes, well you are on
the right road but going in the wrong
direction.
This seems to be the trouble with our
county officials, they may be on the
right road but judging from the bene.
fits received from our ever increasing
taxes they are gong in the wrong d.
rection.
We are taxedto payfses in some cases
amounting TO from $4,000 to S. 600 or
81. 900 a year when these same Offices
can be filled by men or women just rs
comps tent for $4,000 or less year, In
fact the most of the work In some Of
these Offices is being done by clerks for
less than 81. 900 a year. IL it fair to
the tax payers TO pay Soloman's lillies
who toll but little and spin less. so
much of the peoples money,
Most of our present system of tax
alton was created when our state was
young. and everv attempt that has
been made tg put our country on
BUSH ess or salsried basis is met by the
influence Of nearly every feegrabber in
the state.
Nearly every amendment to our tax
ing system has benefited the office hold
ar more than the taxpayer.
We have ninety five tax assessors in
the state, besides their assistants, 475
equalizers and approximately 4.275
people summoned from the various dis
tricts 10 tell the equalizers what their
neighbors property is worth and al of
this can be and often is set aside by
the state equalization board.
We have approximately S400 magis-
trstes In the state, 80 SHERIFF., 50 cir.
cult court clerks, 95 county court clerks
and IS chancery court clerks, 95 regis.
ters, 95 school superintendent 95 coun-
ty attorneys. IS county physicians. A
vast number of ststs officials too uum.
arous TO try TO mention in this brief let
ter.
We are taxed TO pay either in salary
or fees to this great number Of office hold
ers, and Ii is remarkable how well they
like not only TO hold Office but keep on
holding Office. They like it rs child
likes candy or negro q wstermeion.
IL 10 exceeding strange that no eoun-
Is official ever expresses any desire
that the number of offices be reduced
and few candidates for the Leeislasure
ever preach economy except before
they are elected.
They run off to Alabama to keep
from violating their oath to support the
constitution when woman suffrage Is be-
fore the Legislature but are not afraid
of violating the constitution when IL
comes to voting themselves an extra
$3.50 in violation Of the same constitution.
Now that women can vote we expect
them to array themselves on the side OF
economy. fsir play and justice to the