The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1922-05-05
CITIZENS PROPOSE
DRASTIC REFORMS.
Resolutions Adopted by Mass Meet
ing at Courthouse.

/ "A
ers, especially interested and con-
cerned about the extravaganza OF
State government and the tax sys-
TEN, met last Monday at the court
house. AS far as party is concerned
most, or practically all, Of those pres
ent were Democrats. T. G. Callicott,
chairman of the county Democratic
executive committee, was called to
the chair, and E. H. Marshall and e.
P. Waddell, of the press, were elected
secretaries.
Senator D. P. Caldwell was present
and requested TO make an address.
Mr.. Caldwell opend Up by calling at
tention to the fact that generalities
have some time ago lost their force
in dealing with political questions.
What the people now demand is facts
and figures. In the first place our
are bearing from time to time more
heavily on the agricultural classes
and gradually lighter upon industrial
and financial corporations and inter-
ests. There need to be some specific
measures to force every class of tax
payers to bear It's proportionate part
OF State and county taxes.
Mr.. Caldwell read list of the
State departments and officers and
the increase in salaries and appropri-
ations for same from 1917 to 1921,
with total increase for the period
of $545,000. To this was added the
establishment of tax department and
department Of entomology, $101,000,
making altogether $646,000 Now
to this again was added an increase
of $525, 900 for the University of Ten
nessee; also the three per cent extra
tax for elementary schools to be dis
tributed to counties increasing their
own elementary school tax, $517, 900.
These totals are all increases from
1917 to 1921, and make a grand to-
tai of $1,688,000, which Mr.. Cald-
we'll intimates could be saved to the
people of Tennessee with a return
to the old regime.
DR.. White, of Rives, then proposed
some resolutions incorporating the
demands of the taxpayers and citi-
zens present and asking that these
resolutions be submitted to the can
didates for Governor and the General
Assembly for their approval and
guidance in the coming State Assem-
bly, and administration.
The resolutions as follows werey
unanimously:
Union City, Tenn, May /, 1922.
Realizing the fact that State
government in Tennessee has fallen
into the hands of legislative and ex-
ecutive administrators and represen-
tatives who are no longer guided by
lnseltish and patriotic motives;
hat special interests and class in
,erests are dominant and active in
he shaping of legislation and in |
he administration of State govern
nent; that representatives have been
ound guilty Of violating the oath of
,ffice; that the plain citizen and the
ak payer of Tennessee is not count
ID as an equation in the public af-
airs of the State of Tennessee.
Therefore we, as citizens of Obion
Iounty, do this day offer and insist
Ipon the following resolutions and
SIX our candidates for Governor
nd the General Assembly to give
hem their fair and honest judg-
lent:
Resolved, That taxation is the
lost important function of govern
lent and that the most urgent de-
land is tax reform; that the system E
1 Tennessee has been revised with
ut relief; that revision has been so .
lcomplete that instead of balancing ,
he burdens of taxation, the burden ,
pom the agricultural classes has 9
cen increased, while upon the cor
orations and financial interests it 4
as been reduced. We therefore
ereby declare and affirm that the
stem is constitutional deformity
I'D should be entrusted to the hands C
honest men in the Legislature, a
no will make it their solemn duty b
see that taxation in Tennessee i
Iall be made to bear equally and d
ike upon all specifically a
at corporations and moneyed in
rests shall pay their just portion k
the taxes.
Resolved, That the institution in N
ennessee known as the back tax 7
ganization be forever abolished o
Id that the county trustees of the
ate, or the counties themselves, 8
ave entire Jurisdiction as 20 the A