The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-02-05
WILL ASSEMBLE IN JACK
SON TO DISCUSS HIGH
LEVY.
JOHN F. FRIERSON
And Others Issue Call For Pur-
pose OF lDevising Ways Ard
Means For Lessening
Tax Burden.

In the Dispatch of January 18th,
there was published call for meet
ing of taxpayers at Jackson, Miss,
on next Tuesday, February 7th. Yhe
call was signed by six of the leading
men of our state, and one If whom
was our highly-esteemed fellow
townsman, Hon. John F. Frierson.
In the call the statement was made
that the people of Mississippi were
staggering beneath load of taxation,
which, instead of manifesting any sign
of decrease, was steadily growing
heavier
The gentlemen who prepared the
call believe that the best way to get
at this growing evil is to apply the
axe of public sentiment to its very
roots. With this thought in mind,
they have asked taxpayers from all
parts of the state to meet at Jackson
next Tuesday in order that the matter
may be taken up with the source of
all our laws, the State Legislature.
1t is earnestly hoped that Columbus
will send a number of her most in
fuential citizens to aid and assist in
the matter of securing lower taxes.
There are many citizens of Colum
bus and Lowndes county who will bear
testimony to the fact that this years
taxes were well nigh confiscatory. In
other words, that it almost required
the taxed property to pay the taxes.
Hundreds of property owners were
compelled to borrow the money with
which to purchase their tax receipts.
OF course the public expenses must
be met. Government administration
by men has to be paid for, because the
men in charge of the offices must re-
ceive remuneration for their time, tai
ent and business ability. But the busi-
ness Of the state should be conducted
on sound business principles, and not
in a slip-shod, hap-hazard way. Funds
from the public treasury should not
be appropriated with the hand of
prodigality, just because the people
foot the bill Those in control of the
public funds should exercise the same
care in their distribution as they
would in the distribution of their own
money. Graft should be eliminated,
and consolidated assaults upon the
public treasury should be met by the
iron hand Of restraint.
There should be no parslmonious
ness in the expenditure of the peoples
money. Neither should there be ex-
travagance and wastefulness.
Toward the schools of the state; to-
ward the care of the unfortunate blind
and the unfortunate insane and in
dgent, there should be no stint. The
public highways should never be neg
lected. But there are many lanes and
avenues in the process of government
where economy might be practiced
with advantage to ALL The task be-
fore the taxpayers meeting next
Tuesday is to formulate plans and
devise ways and means whereby the
business of the state may be efficient
ly carried on without waste and with
out extravaganza. The leaks must be
stopped. The principle of sound bust
ness must be applied. The men in
authority must be impIbsscd with /
the fact that the people of Mississippi
are dissatisfied with the present high
rate of taxation and that they are
determined to bring about a reduction,
even if there is to be a cleaning out of
office-holders from the garret to the
cellar.