The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1922-03-16
TAX RATE IS NOW
TOO HIGH SAYS
SENATOR CLAY
Address Open Letter to Marietta
Citizens in Response to
Statement of Northcutt

The following open letter to the
citizens of Marietta and Cobb county
IS given to the Journal by Senator
Herbert Clay.
TO THE CITIZENS OF MARIETTA
AND COBB COUNTY:
My attention has been called to
the statement of my good friend,
Mr.. Guy H. Northcutt, Chairman of
the Finanee Committee, of the City
of Marietta, in reference to the fl
nancial condition of the city.
For several months | have heard
a great deal of discussion in refer
ence to the tax rate of Cobb county,
and proposed increase in the City
tax rate. In view of the fact that
the finance committee of the city of
Marietta recommendS certain legi-
slative action regarding the increase
of the tax rate in the city of Mariet-
to, in view of the City's finances
and as one of the Representatives of
the City and county in the State Leg
islature, | want to call the public's
attention to my attitude on these mat
tiers.
As citizen and as representative
of our people, / want to serve ma
jority of the people, and | feel in
view of the present financial condi-
tion of our people that an increase in
the tax rate of the city of Mariet-
ia at the present time would not
only be against the wishes of a vast
majority of the people in the city but
would almost be a calamity. The
people are paying everything they
can pay and unless | am satisfied that
a. majority of our people want an in
crease in the tax rate of our city,
canot see how | can allow this mea-
sure to, pass the State Senate.
/ am glad that business men have
control of our city affairs. Our new
Mayor is good business man, and the
Chairman of the Finance Committee
is also one of the best business men
an the City, and ! believe they can
get together and work out a policy
of economy and retrenchment that
will not make it necessary to have
any increase in city taxes, especially
at the present time.
By this time the City's electric
light and water plant ought to be a
paying proposition, and / have no OBJ
jections, if any legislation is neces-
sary, in helping pass same, providing
that any profits derived from the
City's. electric light and water plant
be diverted from that fund for the
purpose of being applied on the city's
indebtedness.
Now in regard to County affairs,
in no critical manner, realize that
practically all parties have spent too
much money in the days of prosperi-
ty, at the same time the present tax
rate of our county is hurting our
people, and hundreds of people were
not able, and had to do without al
most the necessities of life to meet
this tax rate.
/ am in favor of a constitutional
amendment to the Constitution of our
State that will limit the power of
counties to levy a tax for county in
debtedness. Unless that is done, we
have no check on the financial affairs
of our county.
Personally, / am willing to go a
step further, and | believe that it
would be to the best interest of the
people of Georgia and Cobb county,
and especially to farmers and land
owners who have suffered most, that
the present state equalization tax
law be abolished, and that it be done
at once.
In reference to the Income Tax, l
am against a gross income tax, but
see no objection to a small net in
come tai. with a Constitutional linn
itation that will hold it so that it will
not iniure the business interests of
our City, County and State.
Respectfully.
HERBERT CLAY.