The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-03-04
HOWARD WILSON
Continued From Paoe One

y
to install what is known as the adj
dressograph system which was done
as soon as possible. This change in
system involved year of hard
work on both the part of my office
and the Assessors office as approx
imately $4,000 plates had to be cut
and verified for accuracy. This sys-
tenn also has other advantages
such as in case of a fire in the
court house and the records are
destroyed these plates will not
burn. You can imagine what would
happen if all of your real estate
records were to be destroyed by
fire there would be chaos for years
To come.
! would also like TO point out
that when | took office it was the
custom of my predecessor to close
this office from 1900 noon until
1870 p. m, which I Immediately
discontinued and have been keep
ing this office open from 800 a. m.
until 500 p. m. This means to-
tai OF 800 more hours year for
taxpayers to transact business
with this office.
| do not believe that many peo-
pie know that all county officers
are paid by fee system out OF
which they must pay all office ex-
penses like salaries and miscella-
neous expenses. This is his money
to operate the office on. However,
if he uses economy in his operation
some OF these fees viii not be used
and then must be turned back TO
the county. wish IT, point out that
for the last three years have turn
ed back excess fees to the county
officials TO help them operate your
government. This returning Of ex-
cess fees was unheard OF until l
took office and assure you that
as long as ! am your tax collector
this office viii be operated as eco
nomical as good business practices
viii allow. a. !
Iwould also like TO point out that
believe that / am the first tax
collector in this county that has
ever collected 100Fo on your tax
collections. have accomplished
this for the past three years in a
row and / expect TO do the same
this year. This is important to the
taxpayers for il all of your assess
ed taxes are not collected your tax
rate will have 10 increase consider
able in order TO make up any def
cheney for the past year. ! do not
take all the credit for this as wish
to commend my splendid office
staff for their assistance. ] make
| ii practice TO hire people for their
ability and not for their political
affiliations and the results is that l
think that | have as fine a staff as
any office in the state.
In closing ! viii take this OPP
portunity TO give those Of you who
de not know me an outline OF my
qualifications for this most impor-
tant office OF tax collector. am a
former deputy collector OF inter
nal reyenue having been IN charge
of the Key West Office for ten years.
The training that | received there
has proven invaluable in the opera
ton Of this office.
l hope that you realize that this
office has developed into big bust
ness and before one should aspire
for this position he should have the
experience and qualifications 10
perform the duties and not just a
| political desire to be an Office
holder and draw a salary. He
should also have the trust OF the
people 10 handle their money IN
an honest manner. | have been
handling your money which has
run into millions Of dollars over a
| period Of eighteen years and | am
proud 10 state that their has never
been . discrepancy in my accounts