Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-09-05
Statement by Thomas Lee.
I Taxpayer, Know the Truth"

following remarks should be inter-
preted as defence of my past of
fetal activities, for they require no
defence; nor as reply to the recent
remarks in these columns in justif-
cation of the present high taxes, by
"a citizen" who conceals his identity;
for his efforts we've as pitfully weak
as they were futile. There is no
such justification.
Neither are they to be taken as
a personal attack on any one of the
present city officials. Rather, they
are intended as a STATEMENT OF
FACTS for the information of those
of our citizens who are UNINFORM-
ED OR MISINFORMED, and not
for that small group of hecklers
and malcontents who do not wish to
be informed, or who are glad to
be misinformed. These progress
killers" known better by the COM
mon term of "moss-backs or sour
balls" are present in every commun-
ity and although their malicious mis-
statements are source of annoy
ance, they nevertheless frequently
serve the purpose, as at present, of
stimulating man to strive the hard
er to accomplish things that count
About three years have passed
since our present City Government
came upon us by reason of the ma
jority vote of about thirty-five per
cent poll. Now, truthfully, how do
you like it? Can any man recall
such an inane and purposeless per-
iod in the history of our town? We
suffer under high taxes with hope
of the improvements we are in such
crying need of; but all we get is.
plenty of the former and none of
the latter.
Our reverted Government" has
never functioned on civic improve
ment or advancement, but it has
functioned right heavily on the tax
payers pocketbook. Moreover, next
s year, it will function still more heav-
lily unless you wish to stop it with
your vote. Your tax rate for next
year is likely to be $500 unless you
elect COMPETENT men to represent
you; men who know how to run the
.City's business economically and AT
THE SAME TIME give you the civic
Improvements so badly needed.
How many of us have been affect
ed by the "dose of poison gas"
which some of our "city fathers and
mothers" have been trying to give
us, about the retirement of the City
Commissioners from Office three
years ago, leaving the City with
Thousands of Dollars in unpaid bills?
1T is UNTRUE. 1t is spread like a
s'smoke screen" to cover up their
weakness; their unbelievable ignor-
ance and their GROSS INCOM-
PETENCE to run the City Govern
ment.
Here is a comparison of the tax
rates for the past six years. How
do you like it?
Under Commissioners Under Council
1919 $3.37 1922 S5.19
1920 1886 1923-$4.5e
192l-$3.51 1924-S4.72 (S4.0O)
Not only has your tax rate been
increased, but your assessed valua-
ton has also been increased over
quarter of a million dollars. This
should have automatically reduced
your tax rate below that which the
Commissioners last gave you,. in
stead of raising it to the present
6pure which is almost confiscatory.
Our poison gas squad" will tell
YOU the tax rate for the present
wear is only $500 and not S4-72.
But will they tell you that the re-
duction was not of their doing and
only because of the timely inter-
ference of the writer who was COM
PEELED to go before the supreme
Court of the State to stop them N
their mad orgy of illegal spendings
The proverbial drunken sailor was
miser in comparison. What was
the result? They were preven'e =
from spending nearly Slo'ooVoO
which they were compelled 70 re-
appropriate in this years ouase''
thus reducing the rate from $4.1S 70
s4.oO. But how about next year
when they will not have the Slo'VoO.-
90? Watch the tax rate jump II YOU