Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-09-19
Taxpayer, Know the Truth
Remarks by Mr.. Lee

same problem, or | might rather
say "predicament" for it has become
: more than problem under the
present administration.
No doubt you have observed that
my previous letter concerned only
the discussion of local political
affairs as related to the PRESENT
HIGH TAXES and that any per-
sonal criticism INDUCED in was
directed only against the public
actions of the few so called and
self appointed leaders of Council
two of whom are now seeking your
votes for reelection. As in the first
statement, my remarks here are con-
fined to the same problem, or ]
might rather say "predicament" for
it has become more than a problem
under the present administration.
Every person in our City is vi
tally interested in the Tax question.
1t affects not only the taxpayers but
renters as we'll and every business
man in town knows there is nothing
that our local government can do to
hinder the development of the city
more than to keep us under the bur-
den of EXORBITANT TAXES. We
might for a short time endure this
condition if such high taxes were es-
sential in order to have worth while
civic improvements but the money
we pay in taxes is too hard TO earn
to permit it to be idly "frittered"
away by men grossly incompetent to
conduct the city's business; men
who assume the leadership of
Council without possessing any of
the. qualifications of such a position
of authority.
We are all partly to blame for
placing such men in office but now
WE MUST MAKE A CHANGE. Not
many years ago our City began
period of resu. rection. DON'T
LET 1T DIE AGAIN, even though it
is pretty sick at present.
In my previous statement as well
as the present my remarks have
been limited to the question of high
taxes.
They have no doubt hurt those who
have been guilty of creating our
high tax rates but they have not
been denied for itsis impossible to
deny these plain facts. The public
as whole has mot known these
for they have been blin91d by the
cloud of poison gas" which ] des-
cribed in my previous article. 1t
is for the information of the public
that / present these facts so that
they may be the better able to make
an intelligent choice at the coming
election.
We demand LOWER TAXES and
if this cannot be obtained then we
demand SOMETHING TO SHOW
FOR OUR MONEY. If we listen
to the champions of the High Tax
Rate to those few who are en-
deavoring to control Council, they
will try to convince us that an
EXORBITANT TAX RATE is abb
solutely necessary in order to con-
duct the business of the City, with
out any improvements or progress.
What would our tax rate be to-
day if they had possessed any de-
sire to give US improvements. The
sky is the limit with them. But ]
can assure you that there is no mys-
terry or magic connected with rea-
sonable tax rate. neither is their any
sleight of hand necessary to conduct
the affairs of the City in sane
and business-like manner. Just apply
ordinary common sense business me-
thods and practice of every day life
to the public business. Try to re-
member that you are spending the
other fellows money; which should
make you more careful of wasting it
were your own money. Conduct the
r;tv bus;ness as though it were a
corporation trying to make profit
and with you engaged by the stock
holders to run the business because
of your ability to do, that kind OF
work. The profit you are expected
to show is progress, by the further
meDt of every activity, thing or en-
terprise that benefits the city's busi-
ness and by thousand and one
other things trained and capable