, 1935-06-24

sell mat every n else mas, lnclud-
ing real estate. and had to take
little or nothing for them. would 1t
not be in the same position as
MARI others?
One Of the above farmers said
that when the newspapers turned
against al Of them, then II was
time for him TO throw up his hands
and get out and that he was going
to do so. AS you know. there has
always been a feeling that Browns
vile Is against those who do not live
down here and while that Is utterly
unjust. yet II persists and The
Herald articles certainly do not
help the situation q particle.
M { Of the delinquents would
gladly sell some OF their property
at one half price in order to pay
up and the fact Of the matter is
that they are living chiefly on hope
spending what little money they
get on necessities such as clothing.
food. etc. But II their morale Is
further ruined by what some OF
them consider insinuations Of dis
honesty and intimidation, then all
business is going TO suffer and that
will be another slap In the face for
the merchants who are today adj
vertiSing in The Herald. II The
Herald's apparent advice is accept
ed and drastic steps be instituted
against the unfortunate delinquent
who cannot pay, I can see very
clearly where some OF these over
tapping taxing bodies would own
most Of the vacant lands. lots. Gull
tivated farms. and many homes,
while the unfortunate. but honest,
people would be forced TO leave the
country.
Possibly. The Herald could stand
a catastrophe like this. but the
wholesalers and retailers could not
and I would suggest that The
Herald join with the rest Of us in
the following campaign:
]. To reduce the 81 taxing bodies
to. say. eight or ten. thus removing
the man who Is riding on the back
Of each OF us tax payers, because
OF this atrocious taxing system.
2. To have a countrywide system
Of valuation so as TO do away with
excessive and confiScatory valua-
tons that are still placed on the
real estate by various taxing bodies.
3 To remove a goodly portion Of
the taxes from real estate and OBJ
tail the necessary revenue by other
means. You and ] both know that
real estate in this county cannot
possibly pay off the enormous debts
against IL.
4. To ask for greater aid from
bond holders. most OF whom pur-
chased their bonds at huge dis
counts. Why should they be the
only ones TO collect 1000 on the
dollar with INTEREST,"
5. To find some method of han
ding the honest delinquentS so
that properties will not be confis-
Gated and property owners driven
70 relief.
You understand that mere Is
nothing personal In this letter, but
just some facts and suggestions that
will meet with the approval OF all
tax payers. / am willing to assist In
any way possible in a campaign
such as this and al get you plenty
Of assistance from others whenever
needed.
Geo. F. Walker.
EDITORIAL NOTE: The two
paragraphs referred TO N the sec
ond paragraph OF Mr.. Walkers
communication read as follows:
THE YEARS FROM 1880 ON
are the years Of the moratorium"
bills, and Just one look ut the
above table, showing how delin-
quencies began jumping over pre-
yious years
Serves to explain why the legis-
lature is set against any further
kill OF that kind.
Delinquencies dropped for the
year 1888. due to operations Of the
Home owners Loan corporation.
THERE IS BUT ONE CONCLU-
SION to be drawn from figures such
as these-Something must be done
about taxes.
and it Is high time that the
machinery was being put in opera
ton to do that something"
It will be noted that In Our
Valley" stated that something must
be done about taxes"-not that
something must be done about the
collection Of delinquent taxes. q
conclusion with which Mr.. Walker
seems TO agree.
The Brownsville Herald agrees
with Mr.. Walkers five point plat
form for a tax program and a care
ful peruSal OF the files Of The
Brownsville Herald for the past two
years will show that every one Of
the five points brought out by him
has received comment and discus
sion during that time either in the
In Our Valley" column or on the
editorial page Of The Herald.
The very self evident fact that
TIE greater part Of u delinquent
taxpayers are unable TO meet the
tax load that has accumulated
against them Is what has lead The
Herald TO discuss the tax situation
from time TO time. The fact that
the great part OF this load has been
placed against real estate has made
the problem more acute In the
Valley than in other sections of the
state. more particularly than In the
industrial sections.
Let II be understood that when
The Herald discusses taxes the only
purpose in mind is TO arouse In
citizens and public officials the
same sort OF interest displayed by
Mr.. walker TO the end that the
situation. more particularly as 1t
affects the Valley. may be ironed out
ard the Valley put in position TO
continue its progressive develop
ment.