The Cochran journal. (Cochran, Bleckley County, Ga.) 19??-current, July 31, 1913, Image 1

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VOLUME FIVE NEW COURT HOUSE will be grand, and if you will come to our stores we will show you the nicest line of Beds, Dressers, Davenports, Rockers, Mosquito Nets, Trunks, Springs , Mattresses, Window Shades zind Curtains, Kitchen Cab inets, Sewing Machines, Graphophmes, Organs, Pianos, and many ||\ v other nice things for the home. We invite you to make our store your headquarters to do your writing, telephoning, etc. "**^4 Prices and quality always guaranteed at JACKSON FURNITURE COMPANY “Tax Dodgetis” Is New Disease In State Some Facts and Figures Arc Given On I lie Subject From Wilkes County: Can't The Legislature Provide a Cure? Washington, (la., July 27. — When Tax Receiver J. T. Harris, of Washington, completed last week the compilation of interesting fig ures embodied in the IS 13 tax di gest of Wilkes county, it was an nounced that Wilkes county would show a decrease in taxable values of approximately $50,000 over the figures of 11)12. This announcement in itself car ried little surprise when first made for it was reasoned that a slump in Wilkes county values was due for following good and sufficient causes: First, the past two years have be-n hard years with the farmers of this section, a small yield of farm pro ducts coming coincident with low prices; Second, tightness of money matters had so depressed the price of standard st> eks and bonds that citizens having surplus cash reserve in the hanks whicn had formerly been given in for taxation, had in vested this idie money in non-asses sifile stocks and holds: Third, Wilkts county has in the past twelve months suffered several large fires which would certainly have its effect upon the t.*x returns made to Mr. Harris. But it has developed that none of the above causes are sufficient to account for a decrease in a subtle malady which has spread rapidly over the grand old county of Wilkes and is known as “tax dodgetis.” This disease is said to he prevalent in Georgia to an alarming extent and is rapidly spreading, like the boll weevil and hookworm, creating conditions in this state which are accountable for half the ills that Georgia is heir to today. Going back of the lump sum showing a 848,(500 decrease in Wilkes county’s returns as reported to Comptroller Wright, tlie Wash ington Reporter this week prints some rather startling details in con nection with the 1913 tax digest, showing the sources of \\ iikes coun ty’s wealth and its distribution be tween the white and the negro citi zen as well as among the fifteen militia districts of the county. These figures are extremely inter esting. They show that in realty holdings white citizens return for taxation 264,291 acres of land with all buildings and improvement thereon at an average of 84.71 per acre, or a total aggregate value of 81,244,440. Negro tax payers re turn 22,568 acres of land with the improvements thereon at an average valuation of 81.88 per acre. A conservative estimate of the Stye (Unrbmt Journal. Bale Of New Cotton Ginned At Albany 410 Pounds of Good Middling Staple Bring Frank Thomas A Negro I7cts. A Pound Albany, July 28. —The first brie of new crop cotton was ginned here j today. The h;de was raised by Frank Thomas a negro farmer, on the James Callaway place in Dougherty county near the Mitchell line. It was purchased by the Brown Cramer Cotton Co., of this place, and will he shipped tonight. The hale weigl cd 119 pounds and | was graded good middling and brought 17 cts a pound. Also One At Shellman. Shellman, July 29. — I'he first I hale of new cotton to he received j here was brought in today. It was grown by Helm brothers: and brought a good premium. It | was delivered to the Farmers Warehouse company. This looks like the second hale ill the state, the other being grown in Doughterty county. Another At .Mcßae. Mcßae, July, 29—T. J. Smith, a Telfair farmer, brought to town and had ginned the first hale of new cotton to come to this place this season. He started the hale off for Savannah by express, hut the express men wouldn’t accept it as express. It will be shipped by freight later. The hale weighed 337 pounds. Mr. Smith ginned the first hale in the state last year. value of Wilkes county’s 300,000 acres of land is 820 per acre on an average. Including the improve ments on the farm lands of this section of the state, this price would he given on forced sale. If the condition existing in Wilkes county may he taken as indicative of the general condition throughout Geor gia—and this is not a violent as sumption —then the taxable values in Georgia today should show a sudden increase of between 400 and 500 per cent over the figures which Comptroller Wright has received from the various counties through out the state. The question is this: Facing a pitiful lack of funds for the pay ment of its worthy servants and for the support of its institutions, will the legislative physicians allow this terrible malady — ‘tax-dodgetis”— to continue to spread and sap the very life of the state? Or will ef fective legislation be put through which will heal the rotton condition? Thousands of Georgians pause for the reply. COCHRAN, BLECKLEY COUNTY GEORGIA. THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1913 Cochran Babv Wins Prize D. A. Kelly, Jr., 8 Months 01c’, Is the Winner in Class A Event —Pablo Child Best As to Development Atlantic Beach, Fla., July 28. — A baby show at the Atlantic Beach hotel on Saturday was a decided success from every s'andpomt. Every child that was entered was a beauty and the judges gave a great deal of time to deciding which was the winner. M's. T. W. Dunk of lacksonville was tne chairman of commilice on arrangements and a warded the prizes. The judges were Mrs. J. W. Roberts, Mrs. A. C. Warren and Mrs. A. A. Martinez, all of Tampa. The babies passed in review of the judges in front of the hotel and it was indeed an attractive -iglit to see the little ones in their “bib and tucker” and looking their [ prettiest. |>. A. Kelly Jr. 8 months old ol 329 Gilmore street, was the winner in class A, w hich was for the pretti est ha by between the age of 6 months and one year. Jacob Scho er Ostner of Pablo Beach was the winner in the same class fur the best d( velopcd baby. The w inner in class B, which was ilie prettiest baby between 1 and 3 j\e u>, was Mary Catlierine Sheffield 2 years of age, of 221 Fast Third St. In this same class Herbert Panken 2 years old of 717 West Adams street, won the ptize for the best developed baby. Some of the handsomest children in the show were entered in class C. The winner being Miss Delores Pea cock of Cochran Ga. three years old who won the prize for being the prettiest baby. For the best devel oped baby in the same class the prize was awarded to Sam Love Jr. three years old of 1510 Liberty St. In class D Malvern Finklestein, 4 years old was awarded the prize for being the prettiest baby. Each of the prizes were handsome silver spoons. Parent-Teacher Association Meeting An interesting, important, prompt and shirt meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association will lie held in the Ladies Rest Room at 4 o’clock, Tuesday afternoon, Aug. sth. The program will be stopped at 5 o’clock. All interested in the welfare of children urged to attend. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland Harrell arc visiting the formers parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Harrell. Horrible Death Of C. C. Horton Attempted To Release Floodgate And Terrible Pressure of Back Water Slowly Strangled Him To Death. News reached the city yesterday of the sad death of Mr. C. C. Hor ton, a prominent farmer living near Chappell’s Mill, just a few miles from Dublin. Mr. Horton and several friends who had been seining near by were asked fur as sistance in raising the flood gate to the mill. It seems that the gate which releases the pond water hid become hung in some manner by a pair of old overalls and it was im possible to raise it more than a few inches. Mr. Horton volunteered to dive down and untangle the ob struction. No one thought about the terrible suction underneath the gate, caused by the thousands of pounds pressure from hack water as the small stream forced its way im der the partially opened gate. When Mr. Horton dived down this suction forced his body up against the small opening and he was immediately beyond human aid. The gate was hung and for the present could he neither lowered nor raised. His body was pressed against the lower portion of the water gate by terrific suction and death by slow strangulation resulted before the gate could he moved. Eventually those tit the surface ol the water succeeded in raising the gate when the body of the dead man was shot out into the waste way of the mill. His death was a strange one and his friends were almost prostrated with grief and excitement. Mr. Horton was about fifty years of age and leaves a wife and six children. Appeal For Bookcases The Civic League has over three hundred hooks as a nucleus for a public library, such a good begin ning they hope will make a Carne gie Library-ending. The library will he installed in The Ladies Rest Room as soon as bookcases are obtained, for good keeping the books should he locked up. The League hopes there are some public-spirited citizens who have bookcases they will either give or lend. If none are given gratis, they would like to have prices given for second-hand bookcases. This library will he for the pleas ure and profit of the people and will he a valuable acquisition to our town. Those having bookcases please communicate with Mrs. J. H. Mul lis, Jr., or Mrs. D. E. Duggan, Library Committee. Lighter Burden If Tax Bill Is Passed Equalization is the Remedy, says Gov. Slaton. He is oPP ose< J To Extravagant Appropiia tions. Atlanta, July 27, —In a state ment given out today Gov. John M. Slaton at once sounds a solemn warning against cxtiavagant appro priations, and urges measures for immediate and permanent relief from the state’s financial stress. lie places especial emphasis on the necccssity for tax equalization, citing the fact that such a course will ultimately result in lightening the burdens of all. Inasmuch, as the Lipscomb lax equalization hill comes tip for action in the house tomorrow, Gov. Sla ton’s statement is of special signifi cance. He says: “Judge John G. Hart, former attorney general. was a member of the state hoard of education. When the choice of text books came before that body Judge Hart said that lie had only one suggestion to make as to the hooks, which was, that the children in the first should he taught ‘thou shalt not lie’; the children in the second year should lie taught ‘thou shalt not steal’; in 11 io third year they should tie re quired to review the lessons of tin* two preceding years,’ Literally interpreted this means that the character of the children was to lie put above the attainment of knowledge. “I agree with the spirit of this statement of the distinguished ex attorney general in that the prim ary responsibility is upon the state to set an example to its citizens of faithful fulfillment of obligations and compliance with its contracts. It would he better for the children of Georgia to learn this lesson and lie ignorant, rather than to learn all of the contents of the books without it. “It is increditable that the legis lature will instruct the governor to sign warrants for money which has not been provided. “W hen Georgia comes to sell her bonds she must, like every busi ness man, make a statement and it will not appear well if she admits that she has appropriated in excess of her revenue and is continuing to do so, and that she lias declined to make provsion for meeting tier ob ligations. “The appropriate legislative committee has favorably reported bills for air inheritance tax, for an increase occupation tax of corpora tions and for tnc equalization of taxes, both on visible property and jon invisible property, in the shape of bonds, notes and accounts. ‘ “Those who fear tax re- NUMBER 31 Dexter Man Kills Negro Stealing Mule Dublin, July, 19. —An unknown negro was killed at Dexter, this county, last night by a white farm er named Hobbs, who shot the ne gro while he was attempting to steal llobb’s mule from the stall. Hobbs was awakened during the night by a commotion among his stock at the lot, sonic distance from his house. He went to investigate, carrying his shotgun, and when lie reached the lot a negro ran from the stall. Hobbs called to him and whi n the negro did not answer, fired twice, the first time missing him, and the second time hitting the negro in the head, the load tearing off a large portion of the skull. No one knew the negro, and from all appearance he was attemp ting to steal the mule. A bridle was found in the mule’s stall, and the negro would have gotten off with the animal if the mule had not objected to being bridled and made considerable noise. No ar rest has been made so far. form win. a foment their tax IRRDENS, SHnELP 111 Alt IN MINI) THAT IT WII.I, M OMENT THOSE ONI.Y OE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REARIN'! . LESS THAN THEIR SHMtE, AND Win, I NEVITAIILY TREND TO I.IOIITEN THE P.I'HDEN OK THOSE — CONSTITETINO THE REEK OF OCR CITIZENSHIP WHO HAVE BEEN DMA I,IN* I FAIRLY WITH THE STATE. “The reform will aim first tit placing on the tax hooks the large amount of property not returned. The hulk of such property comes within tiic classification known as invisible. There may be some excuse for the citizen who pays taxes on his realty at a too low valuation; in his favor it can lie said that the property in question bears some of the burden. There is no excuse for the citizen who refuses to return property of an in visible nature, which enjoys, as much as does farm lands and city lots, the protection of government; in his case the property hears none of the burden. “The people of Georgia are essen tially a good people, who favor the limit of expenditures to income, and where they desire money to be expended they are willing to pay it —each citizen assuming his propor tionate burden. “The legislators are good men representing Georgia constituency and they will meet the responsibili ty in a way that will especially re new confidence : n the virtue and efficiency of representative govern ment . “They, I am sure, will set a standard of moral recititude for the state, and will be as liberal in mak ing appropriations as strict adher ence to that standard will permit.”