Nogales international., 1931-04-22
Answering
Mud. Singing

a single newspaper IN Nogales with enough con
fidence in him to support his candidacy, then
states that City employees have been taxed for
q contribution to get votes for Mayor Karns.
This is false statement. A feW,-very few, of
the City Employees have contributed small
amounts wholly voluntary, and without solici-
tation from AIRY City Officer or Department
When this mud singing circular was called
to the attention of Rev. O. A. Smith, he stated:
"My attention has just been called to an un-
signed circular which has evidently been put out
for campaign propaganda, reporting me as hav-
ing said that the Associated Charities has plenty
of money and We are going to spend it to win the
election for Karns. This statement is an absolute
falsehood. as | have never even thought Of
charities money being used in that Or any other
connection except the purpose for which it was
intended.
Further do not pay out the monies of the
Associated Charities; this is done by the proper
officers of the Associated Charities, and all ex-
penditures are passed upon by the Board of
Directors. The books of the Charities are always
open for Inspection
'1Ir. Bettwy's statements to the effect that
have been circulating reports that if he is elect
ed Nogales will have wide open saloons and
gambling is equally false
Of course NogaIes cannot have saloons or
gambling even if Bettwy is Mayor because even
a Mayor cannot legaliZe law violations Even
Mayor BettWy cannot do that. The widespread
reports that have come from some of Bettwys
supporters strongly indicate, however, that such
promises have been made to many people.
And then comes the rotten part Of Bettwy's
circular when he apparently quotes from the City
Minute Book and accuses one of the citizens of
NOgaleS OF having been granted 'fayOr" by the
present city administration by charging off as
sessments against him as worthless and uncOllect
able. The Promising Bunch desiring to hide
the truth as usual, does not quote the full minute
entry but deliberately cOnceals the fact that other
people are likewise included in the assessments
charged off. EVERY REMAINING ASSESS
MENT FOR THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS
CHARGED OFF.
These assessments We're for Hudgin Street
Improvement in 1919, eight years before the pre-
sent administration took office. The assessments
We're illegal and umcollectibe from the beginning.
Every City Attorney since 1919 has tried to col
lect them, but failed because they were illegal
They Were carried as assessments receivable" on
the city books during the time Mr.. Duane Bird
was Mayor ALL OF THESE ASSESSMENTS
HAVE BEEN "OUTLAWED' SINCE 1921. The
city carried these assessments as "assets' and it
was at the suggestion of the City Auditor, an
outsider not connected with any city adninistra-
ton. that they We're charged off.
Bettwy's circular then states:
'.WE WONDER IF THERE ARE ANY
OF THE OTHER TAXPAYERS OF NO
GALES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR TAX
ES CANCELLED"
There's the falsehood for you. Tracy Bird, who
procured the data for Bettwy's circular we'll
knows that the assessments Of eight other
people,-that ALL ASSESSMENTS FOR THIS
IMPROVEMENT,-wer charged off as worth
less and uncollectible. Yet any reference to this
fact is purposely and cautiously avoided
The meeting at which these minute entrys
We're made was held ON July 8th 1927. Mayor
Karns was not present, but was ON leave from the
City. The following members Of the administra-
ton were present when the motion was passed:
Acting Mayor H r. RenshaW; Aldermen C. c.
CrenshaW, O. A. Smith, W. j. Phillips J. N
Karam and J. E. Wise The following is full
list Of all Of these assessments charged off:
Tidwell & Campbell, $4,000; Fred Hannah, $25.O0;
Fred Hannah, $4,000; S. & Harry Case $500;
Maria de Soto. $500; L. L. Woodhouse $25.O0;
l. Barron 5000; J. Yanez, S20.00 Fred Hannah
S162.5O Dora Hannah. $16250; Steve Merino
S136.5O; S. & H. Case, $5000
The Bettwy circular further fails to mention the
following other uncolectible accounts receivable