Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-26
The Taxpayers Forum

The taxpayers forum Tuesday night, the first
meeting Of the kind in several years, proved a revela-
ton to the taxpayers Of Brownsville.
The majority came to the meeting with the firm
conviction there would be only thirty or forty Of the
old -wheelhorses" of the city present, and were agree
ably surprised to find the federal court room filled
to capacity with about 800 taxpayers intensely inter-
ested in the proceedings.
Heretofore it has been customary to delegate the
general program of the city progress to a few Of the
most progressive citizens. A few years ago efforts
to hold forums in connection with civic improvement
programs proved unproductive of results. Progressive
leaders sought to interest the taxpayers. to create a
cohesive movement which would include all interests.
However, the spirit Of "let George do it," prevailed,
and the heavy work fell upon the shoulders OF q mere
handful of the most progressive.
Brownsville has reached a crucial point. and it is
not fair to those progressive citizens who heretofore
have borne the hrunt Of the work to expect them TO
carry on without the moral support and full coopera-
tion Of every individual who is interested in Browns
v.lle's development. Decisions Of great importance to
the future of the city must be handed down within the
next year, and it is the duty of the taxpayers as a
whole to formulate such decisions, not to impose the
entire burden upon the few who have been largely re-
s~ponsible for Brownsville's progress in the past.
The forum left no doubt in the minds of the city
commission as to the attitude Of the taxpayers re-
garding the proposed municipal airport. The recon-
mendations of the forum were that the airport bond is
sue be submitted at the earliest possible date, and that
the election call include the site selected by the COM
mission. Practically very phase of the airport pro-
ject wa. discussed and before the forum adjourned
the taxpayers had received . clear exposition Of the
benefits which would accrue, the cost, and also various
technical features.
The city of Brownsville has other problems and
propositions which should receive the same frank dis
cussien as did the airport project. These are mat
tiers in which the taxpayers Of the city are vitality in
$4,000 Tkou Mill haya considerable hearing upon
the future development Of the city, and the on way to
thresh out these problems, to weigh the relative merits
of various propositions, is through the public forum.
The chamber of commerce has announced the
forum will be held monthly, and the suspicious start
made Tuesday night indicates they will lack neither
attendance nor interest. This is a healthy sign, an in
dication that the taxpayers Of Brownsville are inter
ested in their city that they desire to cooperate for
fu.ure advancement and prosperity; and that they can
cooperate where ell details are threshed out and the
harizon cleared of the rumors and misunderstanding
which always arise when the public has not fully in
formed itself.
The forum Tuesday night did more TO create civic
eooperation than any meeting ever held in Brownsville.
r. has laid the foundation for future growth and
greater prosperity through unificstion Of all elements
ana the inauguration Of a cooperative effort 70 secure
for Brownsville those things which are Brownsville's
due.
Having inaugursted the forum as a civic institu-
tion brownsville taxpayers should insist that the idea
=. carried on. and that through the medium Of such
meetings all problems Of the city be met and solved as
they may arise.