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A Southern
Newspaper for
Southern People
FORTY-FIRST YEAR.—NO. 44.
WILSON TO SPEND ONE WEEK AT CAPITAL
COUNCIL ASKS
SPECIAL LEVY
TO WIPE OUT
CITY'S DEBTS
Charter Amendment to Permit Addi
tional Tax of Half of One Per
Cent Proposed
A plan for paying off the accumu
lated floating debt of the city, amount
ing to about SIOO,OOO, has been reach
ed by the city administration, and the
plan, drawn by Mayor Sheppard and
the finance committee of the city coun
cil, was made public when it was
adopted by the council at its regular
meeting last night
In brief, the plan is to obtain ’an
amendment to the city charter at the
coming session of the Georgia legis
lature to pennit the city to levy a
special ad valorem tax of one-half of
one per cent, annually for a pejjod of
five years only, which shall be set
aside in a special fund and used only
for the payment of the outstanding
indebtedness of the city. At the
present assessed valuation in the city
of $4,500,000, the special tax would
raise in five years $112,500, which, it
is calculated, would be sufficient to
cancel the entire floating debt of the
city and interest.
A special act of the legislature is
required, because the city charter
sets a levy limit of 11-2 per cent,
which is the present tax rate.
The plan came before the council
in the form of a resolution, intro
duced by Aiderman Mashburn for the
firance committee, in the absence of
the chairman, J. E. Poole, and was
adopted after a brief statement by
Mayor Sheppard.
In making his statement concern
ing the plan, which he originated.
Mayor Sheppard called Mayor-Pro
ton Mashburn to the chair while he
took the floor.
“As you all know, the outstand
ing floating indebtedness of the city
is in the neighborhood of $100,000,”
said Mr. Sheppard.
“As we are now operating, the
revenue of th|e city is just about
meeting the running expenses of the
city, leaving nothing whatever with
which to pay these accumulated debts.
“Os course these debts must be
paid. They are legal obligations of
the city, and they will have to be
taken care of. I have cudgeled my
brain to find away to pay them.
“Among other things, I thought of
raising the water rates, but that
would put a burden on a class, and
was abandoned.
"If we raise the assessments on
property we are up against an almost
interminable task, with unending
bickerings, and the probability of do
ing individuals injustices.
“It is my opinion that the best way
to make the bu,rden equitable and
even is to raise the ad valorem tax
rate sufficiently to meet the require
ments.
"The property values as assessed in
the city now are $4,500,000. One-halt
of one per cent on this would give us
$22,500 per year or $122,500 in five
years, which, we believe, will be suf
ficient to pay off the principal and
interest of these accumulated city
debts. f
"The plan provides that the special
tax shall cover only a period of five
years, and shall automatically cease
at the expiration of that time. This
is a good provision, because the pub
lic is jealous of the taxing power,
and it will be a safeguard which will
guarantee to the public that the tax
will not be effective after that time.
“The plan also embodies the pro
vision that all funds so raised shall
be kept separate and distinct from
all other city funds and applies only
to outstanding debts: in other words,
the citizens will know that the special
levy is made and used for one specific
purpose alone.
“There is a further saving clause
which provides that if there is any
money left from the levy, after the
payment of the outstanding debt, it
(Continued on Page 4.)
THE TIMESS RECORDER
J PUBLISHED IN THE HEART OF DIXIFT~~ffwF?
American Generals Made Commanders of the Legion of Honor
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Ten generals just after they had received the decoration from Petain at American General Headquarters, Chaumont, France. Reading left to
right they are Lieut. Gen. Hunter Liggett, commanding First Army; Lieut. Gen. Robert L. Bullard, commanding Second Army; Major Gen. James W.
McAndrew, Chief of Staff, A. E. F.; Major Gen. James G. Harbord, Commanding General, S. 0. S.; Major Gen. Charles P. Summerall, commanding Fifth
Army Corps; Major Gen. John L. Hines, commanding Third Army Corps; Major Gen. Edward M. Lewis, commanding Thirtieth Division; Brig. Gen.
Michael J. Lenihan of the Seventy-seventh Division; Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, commanding Air Service, Army of Occupation in Germany; Brig.
Gen. Frank Parker of the First Division.
BOMBING PLANE
TO SOAR ABOVE
CITY SATURDAY
Owing to weather conditions contin
uing unfavorable, the giant Handley-
Page bombing plane, which is stopping
at Souther Field on its way to Texas,
remained at the post today. It was
stated this afternoon, however, that
there was likelihood that the ship
would continue its trip tomorrow, car
rying the 11 men who made the trip
here in it. It probably will leave Sou
ther Field about 9 a. m.
When the big plane leaves Souther
Field the people of Americus will be
notified by the ringing of the fire bell
so that all may have a chance to see
it as it passes over on its way toward
the southwest. A series of stunts for
the spectators is promised by Lieut.
Palmer, the pilot.
“It will give me a great deal of
pleasure to accept the Times-Record
er’s invitation and sail over Americus
on our western trip," said Pilot Laeut.
Palmer. “W’e may not conclude to
start until Saturday or Sunday how
ever, on account of the soft condition
of the fields at the landing places.
.“We are not certain as to the direc
tion we shall take, whether we shall
make Montgomery, Payne Field. Mis
sissippi, or Mobile. On account of los
ing time here, we would like to cross
the Mississippi river not later tha-
Monday evening and reach Houston
on Tuesday next.”
The seven mechanics were busy yes
terday and today polishing up the huge
monarch of the air and putting it in
condition to continue the journey.
The giant plane’s cost is estimated at
$62,000'. The tanks carry over 300
gallons of gasoline. The ship is of
the same general character as those
used in crossing the English channel
and carrying Premier Lloyd George
from London to Paris and return.
These planes, it is reported, are capa
ble of carrying thirty passengers.
The plane fa number 62449, and is
one of three in commission in this
country. It could only put its nose
into one of the hangers at Souther
Field.
Notwithstanding the heavy rain yes
terday a number of interested persons
inspected the monster of the air.
J WEATHER FORECAST. |
For Georgia—Fair tonight, colder in
southeast and extreme south portions;
Saturday fair.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA. FRIDAY AFTERNOON. FEBRUARY 21, 1919
Syrian Clears
$25,000 Here;
Is Going‘Home’
D. A. Saliba, a Syrian, who fcr
the last eight years has conducted
a small store and fruit stand at
the southeast corner of Lee and
Lamar streets, is planning to re
turn to his native land within the
next two months. And when he
does he will take with him a good
ly share of the $25,000 to $30,000
net profits he. has made at this
corner in the eight years.
Mr. Saliba is returning to Syria
with his wife and fouy children to
take charge of property left him
by his parents, who are dead The
property consists of a silk worm
farm, where raw silk is produced.
This is Mr. Saliba’s third ven
ture in America, all of which have
proven successful. Twenty years
ago he landed in America and
came to Savannah, where he con
ducted a small business for three
years. He then returned to Syria
to marry tMe girl he left behind.
Not long thereafter he returned to
Savannah with his bride and re
established himself in business, re
maining two and a half years,
when failing health resulted in
him seeking a doctor’s advice and
being told to go to a higher altl-,
tude. He decided to return again
to his native Syria and try to re
gain his health in the Lebanon
mountains, 10 miles from Beirut,
his home. The change resulted in
his health being restored, and he
again returned to America, and
this time came to Americus, whers
he has since been.
“I don’t know; may be I sell out
over there and come back,” said
Mr. Saliba today. “Maybe I stay
there; can’t tell. / Things been
pretty bad there under the Turks,
but now maybe be better.”
Mr. Saliba says that while his
profits here have been satisfactory,
he has had a considerable amount
of sickness in his family and has
had to part with much of what he
made in his little store However,
he likes Americus and America
better than Syria, and if he does
not find conditions to his liking
when he returns there he will
bundle «p his family and hike
back, he says.
SHERMAN TRIES
TO GAG WILSON;
BORAHSPOUTS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.—(8y Asso
ciated Press.) —A resolution designed
to prevent President Wilson from dis
cussing publicly the proposed League
of Nations until he has communicated
the details of the plan to the senate
foreign relations committee, intro
duced in the senate today by Senator
Sherman, republican of Illinois. Con
sideration went over under hte rules.
Senator Borah, of sdaho, republican
member of the foreign relations com
mittee, delivered in the senate today
his promised attack on the proposed
League of Nations, referring to it as
the “most eadical departure from our
policies we have ever considered.”
n"
Red Cross Workers
Off to Aid Poland
PARIS, Feb. 20.—(Thursday.)—(By
Associated Press.) —The first contin
gent of the American Red Cross com
mission for Poland left here for War
saw today. Another group will fol
low Friday.
The commission consists of fifty
members from all parts of the iTnited
States.
Typhus, cholera, smallpox and tra
choma are reported ravaging the
country.
Ukranians Fire on
Allied Commission
WARSAW, Feb. 20.—(Thursday.)—
(By Associated Press.) —Members of
the Inter-Allied commission to Poland
were fired upon by Ukrainian soldiers
while traveling from Cracow to Lem
berg on a Polish armored tram. The
delegation returned to Cracow.
Georgia Negro Held
As Ohio Murderer
PITTSBURG, Pa., Feb. 21.—(8y As
sociated Press.)—Sam Lang, a negro
aged 33. of Valdosta, Ga., was arrested
here last night. police say Lang
confessed to the murder of Mrs. Mary
Johnson, in Columbus, 0., January 9.
FARMERS MEET
OVER COUNTY TO
PLEDUEI9I9CUT
Farmers meetings are being held
this afternoon in all parts of Sumter
county for the purpose of perfecting
district organizations and starting the
work of pledging the farmers to the
reduction of their 1919 cotton acreage
one third, in line with the movement
inaugurated in every cotton growing
state as a measure to force the con
trol of the cotton market out of the
hands of the Wall street gamblers and
bring the price of the crop now on
hands and the crop to be raised next
fall back to the price that will pay the
grower a reasonable profit.
Committees of representative men
went out from Americus to assist in
these meetings and to carry pledge
cards for distribution among the com
mittees. Reports were to be at
the meetings on the farmers’ mass
meeting at the’ courthouse here last
Saturday at which they voted to re-;
duce the acreage one-third for the
county and to hold the present crop
foL 35 cents per pound.
Announcement was made today by
George O. Marshall, county farm dem
onstration agent, chairman of the mass
meeting last Saturday and of the.
county organization, that a second
mass meeting of farmers will be held
at the courthouse here Saturday,
March 1, for the purpose of receiving
reports of committees on the success
of the meetings today and the pro
gress being made in all sections of
the county in obtaining signatures of I
fanners to the p’edge cards. Mr. Mar
shall is negotiating to secure a speaker
of statewide note for the occasion, one
who will be able to bring a message of
value to the farmers. Further an
nouncements regarding the meeting
win be made as plans mature.
Big Georgia Colleges
To Receive Soldiers
*
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.—(8y Asso
ciated Press.) —Fourteen Southern col
leges have signified their willingness
to receive as “war specials” discharg
ed soldiers not prepared for college
who aspire to more advanced training.
These include the University of Ala
bama, University of Georgia, Georgia
Tech and Rollins College, Winter Park,
Fla.
7-
i rHOME
EDITION
v -- -. 7
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
TO SAIL AGAIN
MARCH 5 FOR
FRANCE AFTER
ACTIVE WEEK
To Land Monday at Boston Where
Speech is Planned for
j Same Afternoon
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21—(By Asso
ciated Press.) —President Wilson plans
to spend just one week in Washington
before again sailing for France. Wire
less dispatches from the transport
George Washington today said he
would re-embark March 5.
The President is expected to land at
Boston at Midday Monday, deliver an
extemporaneous address at 3 o’clock in
the afternoon and take the train that
night for Washington, where he will
arrive Tuesday. He is expected to put
in a busy week here.
The battleship North Carolina, re
turning from France with troops, has
joined the George Washington, and is
picceeding with her to Boston, replac
ing the battleship New Mexico, which
dropped behind with disabled ma
clnr.ery.
Retail Merchants to
Have ‘Stunt’ Dinner
Although a bit late in the year, be
cause previously projected gatherings
have been interfered with by the influ
enza epidemic,- the Retail Merchants’
1 association plan to have their annual
meeting to re-oragnize for the “new
year’’ next Wednesday night.
The meeting will take the form of
*a dinner at the Windsor hotel at 8
o’clock. Election of officers is on the
program as one of the important mat
ters of business. Among other things
will be discussion of plans for the as-,
sociation activities, proposed trade
excursions, the outlook for spring busi
ness and numerous other matters.
In addition, according to the secre
tary Joseph Perkins, there will be
several “short, snappy talks, stunts
and surprises."
A dinner Casting $1.50 per plate will
be served.
Rich Germans Heed
Erzberger’s Appeal
BASEL, Switzerland, Feb. 21.—(8y
Associated Press.) —As a result ot
Mathias Erzberger’s appeal in the
German national assembly Tuesday to
capitalists for money to pay for food
stuffs to be bought from Entente Pow
ers, a number of persons have placed
all their foreign securities at the dis
posal of the government, according to
a Weimar dispatch.
Lieutenant Slays
Bavarian Premier
LONDON, Feb. 21.—(8y Associated
Press.) —Kurt Eisner, premier of Ba
varia, was shot and killed this morn
ing by Lieut. Count Arcovalley, ac
cording to a Munich dispatch received
i in Amsterdam, which said the count
was severely wounded by a guard and
is dying.
(the cottonmarkeF J
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