Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-08-04
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF NORTH
WILDWOOD

Why the result of the investigation
of the affairs of the City of North
Wildwood was to some of the petition
ers a bitter disappointment seems hard
to understand, unless their motive
was in itself, not honest, but intended
as a political trick whereby the affairs
of the City would be turned over to the
two halfwits who, combined, lack
brains enough to make one good
lunatic.
Their honesty of purpose is quest
Toned for the reason that the average
man or woman who wrongfully ac-
cuse others of ~wrongdoing, especially
those who shout the gospel of Love
Ye One Another" usually try to atone
for the injury done. I believe their
atonement so far has been limited to
%grieying over the fact that we are not
crooks.
A certified copy of the petition as
presented to the Court praying for the
investigation is in my possession and
in glancing over the list of thirty-four
names thereto affixed l realize that
some good people were misled by the
false statements circulated, and hon
estly believed their City was being TX
plotted by a set of political grafters.
My accounts have recently been
audited by an auditor from the State
Department of Municipal Accounts
and a summary of this audit will be
found in this issue of the Journal.
AS it is current rumor that North
Wildwood is financially ION the rocks"
l would therefore call your attention
to the fact that, exclusive of the sur
plus in the capital account, the city
has a surplus of $104, 134.70 and I be-
lieve, with the exception of Wildwood
Crest, is in better financial condition
than any other resort along the New
Jersey coast.
The publishing of the audit is not
expected to wither the tongue of the
gossiper, nor is it expected to convince
a thief that some men are honest;
rather it is intended that you who de-
sire to do so may truly acquaint your
selves with the city's affairs.
Ere the passing of another year you
will begin to realize that those en-
trusted with the city's affairs have
been striving to serve you with an
honesty of purpose, hampered in many
ways. In by-gone days it was custo-
mary, in order to keep the tax rate
low and kicks down, to raise by tax
alton only a part of the money actually
required, borrow the balance on notes
and pass the debt thus acquired on to
future generations. This debt was
graciously bestowed upon the present
administration by the change in law
governing municipal finance, requiring
provisions for the liquidation of
debts of this character" and also pro-
viding a system of "pay as you go" re-
curing that for each dollar expended
IN equal amount must be raised by
taxation, hampered also by inadequate
laws governing the enforcement of tax
liens, except on improved property,
with the result that this class of prop
erty owners were compelled to carry
the large delinquent list, consisting of
unimproved property.
IL PlOOOhb Ao" oPPOoAo wv
all requirements and liens are being
enforced as speedily as possible. This
will be noticeable on your tax bill for
1928.
AS you realize the true condition of
affairs l feel that you will also realize
our desire to serve you faithfully and
that we are worthy of your confidence
and support. I would therefore ask
that when the season closes and other
sports are over you join us in an Old
Fashioned Prairie Round Up, that we
; may exterminate and rid this COM
munity of those strange and loathsome
freaks of nature, the Scandal Skunks,
whose love for their W odor impels
, them to ~saturate others, dwellers in
the shadow of religious tombstone,
! who stink forth to prey IN the char
acters of men. P. L. PETERSON.