Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Georgia HomePLACE, a project of the Georgia Public Library Service.
About The Montgomery monitor. (Mt. Vernon, Montgomery County, Ga.) 1886-current | View Entire Issue (July 11, 1912)
THE PEOPLE DEMAND BETTER TAX SYSTEM A Cry For Reform That Will Not Cease Till the Evil is Corrected. The need of a tax system that will be just to the state and just to the people as a whole is forc ing itself more insistently upon the thinking citizens of Georgia. Reforms of this character have so little of the spectacular and so much of dry detail that they are seldom appreciated at their true value. In this particular instance however the public, and especial ly the business public, is mani festing keen interest and is de veloping a widespread demand for more adequate tax laws. The Journal has recently re ceived a number of communica t'ons from citizens in various parts of the state, pointing out specific defects in the existing system and urging the need of readjustments. One correspon dent, a representative merchant, writes that in his own county, one of the most prosperous in Georgia, there are between fifty and sixty thousand acres of land that do not appear on the tax digest, and that it is a common practice to return it at a uniform figure of five dollars per acre lands which could not be bought for two hundred dollars. This is but one example of hun dreds which show that the pres ent methods are, indeed, as one distinguished citizen in a position to know, has characterized them, “antiquated, inefficient, unequal and unjust.” The state should deal squarely and even liberally with property owners; and like wise, for their common interests, property owners should also deal squarely with the state. One man should not be made to bear a burden which another shirks; nor should the constructive work of the common wealth be stinted and hampered through the lack of fair and business methods. The importance of revising tax laws was I’ecognized by the Southern Commercial Congress at its recent annual meeting when it called for a conference of representatives from all the southern states to consider this vital matter and to devise need ful recommendations. This con ference will be held some time next autumn. Its results promise to be of far-reaching value. It will endeavor, for one thing, to point the way to more uniformity among the tax laws of the dif ferent Southern states; it will also make suggestions which the respective legislatures can con sider and act upon, At the prop er time the General Assembly of Georgia should apply itself to this problem with a view to giv ing the people a tax system that will be wiser and fairer than the one under which we now labor. —Atlanta Jouiffial. Worsting the Professor. Rev. Dr. Ritchie of Edinburgh, although a very clever man, once met his match, says the San Francisco Herald. When exam ining a student as to the classes he attended, he said: “I understand you attend the class for mathematics?” “Yes,” “How many sides has a circle?” “Two,” said the student, “Indeed! What are they?” What a laugh in the court the student’s answer produced when he promptly said: “An inside and an outside.” The doctor next asked: “And you attend the moral philosophy class also?” ' “Yes.” "Well, you doubtless heard lectures on various subjects. Did you ever hear one on cause and effect?” “Yes.” “Does an effect ever go before a cause?” ‘‘Yes.” “Give me an instance.” “A barrow wheeled by a man.” The doctor hastily sat down and proposed no more questions. fctfRYIAUiORE: CIVR £^s3 Impresario^ ® “You may say that he is the smart est man in the world, till you—till you're old and gray, Millie,” observed Judge Sparkless, "but your thinking so and saying so doesn’t endow Henry Tnlmore with any superhuman attrib utes, from my standpoint.” "But, papa,” Millicent replied, sor rowfully, “Henry really is a most clev er man, and—” “Man! Humph! Cast his first vote two years ago!” “Well, ho is, so there! And just because he is young you are against him, and think he ought to be as wise and solemn as some old graybeard. Besides, what chanee has he to demon strate how smart he is, in this little bit of a town? If Henry was In the city he would soon be very famous.” Millicent Sparkless asserted this hopeful belief in Henry Tnlmore w T ith all the enthusiasm Which is only pos sible to a young woman who knows she has met her fate and that her fate has met, her, “Os course Its a little town!” the judge agreed. “That’s just the place for him to show what’s in him. It’s easy enough for any man to become great, and to do great things in the city, where opportunities sit on all the doorsteps. But here, in this little village—the smallest in Hobson coun ty—here is where a man must show how he can rise over obstacles.” “Well, tell me one way, then, in which Henry can show his talent here. I’m sure he will convince you," The judge smiled slyly. For a mo ment he seemed to he thinking deep ly, and then he said: “Let Henry take charge of our Fourth of July celebration, and bring a big crowd here.” “Bring a erovvd to MJllrldge! Why, papa, you know every other place in the county is advertising a big eane Fourth celebration, with parades and bands and orators! Everybody in Millridge is going away from home that day.” “There you are. • You say Henry is the brightest man on earth, and yet a little thing like the wishes of a few hundred people becomes an obstacle he cannot overcome. Let him run the celebration here and make a showing, lie’ll not have any trouble taking charge of it. I’ll see that he Is made chairman of the committee —though no ono cares whether we have a com mittee or not.” And so the matter rested. That eve ning Millicent told Henry how mean and horrid her father had been, and how set he was against their ever get ting married, and how blind he was to Henry’s many good qualities and re markable talents. “So he wants mo to bring a big crowd here on the Fourth ?’’ Henry laughed. “I’d fool him a lot If I really did it, wouldn’t I?” ■’Why, Henry, you know nobody will even stay here for the Fourth, let alone come here for a celebration.” “So you’ve lost faith in mo, too?” “Oh, no, indeed. I believe in you tremendously, but—-' “But HI have to convince you, as well. All right. You tell your hard "ft ' “Let Him Run the Celebration.” hearted father that I’ll boss the job here on the Fourth and that I'll guar antee to bring the biggest crowd of people here that ever was seen in this town. I’ll not only have people here from this county, but from all the counties around.” Millicent was hopeful, but she could not help a shadowy doubt that per haps her father was almost correct in his opinion of Henry as a youthfully enthusiastic individual, who did not apply earnest thought to a problem. There was a lot of unconcealed merriment in Millridge when it was announced that Henry Talmore was chairman of the Fourth of July com mittee, and that he was working upon a plan which would make the day his toric in the annals of the village. Plumfield, the county seat, was splurging away with announcements of a Sane F« urth celebration, at which the governor would speak, and which would be made joyous by a parade of THE MONTGOMERY MONITOR—THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1912. all nations, to say nothing of floats carrying beautiful young ladles repre senting historical and allegorical char acters. The other towns In the county were planning equally sane celebrations, and had secured orators of compara tive importance. All the brass bands in the county were engaged by these other places. All the orators in the state were engaged also. There seem ed to bo no chance whatever for Hen ry to secure music or speakers. And certainly he could not Interest tho Millridgeites in a historical pageant or anything like that, for the simple reason that there was not time enough to prepare costumes or to rehearse tho characters. And besides, there weren’t enough people in Millridge to provide actors and audience all at the same time. But Henry was not dismayed. He was not even perplexed, lie went quietly about his work, refusing to di vulge his plans to any one until, ns ho said, the psychological moment should arrive. He would not tell Millicent what he had in mind, not. even when she show ed him the large posters on Main street in Millridge advertising the sane celebrations to be held in the rival towns. Henry took the train to the office of the superintendent of the railway one day, and when he returned that eve > . f< ' ... In the Presence of a Curious Few. ning he announced that excursion rates would be made from all ixfints to Mill ridge on the Fourth. Judge Sparkless pooh-poohed to Mil licent when she burst upon him with this thrilling nows. “They give excursion rates from anywhere to everywhere on the Fourth,” he said “Don’t let Henry make you think he is a chantedeer, child. Next thing we know he’ll bo announcing that through his.efforts lie has arranged for tho sun to rise In the east that day.” Nevertheless, Millridge became in terested. The people wanted to know what Henry was going to do. He wouldn’t tell Then they asked the other members of his committee, hut they smiled serenely Henry’s duty to make'ms announce ments at the proper time—and besides they hadn’t heeded his calls for com mittee meetings and hadn’t the slight est. idea what he was up to. One week before the Fourth several large boxes and barrels duly labeled “Explosives” were delivered to Henry from the local freight. He had them hauled to a barn at the edge of town, and opened one small box in the pres ence of a curious few. To their rtls ! gust he produced only a few posters I announcing a Fourth of July celobra- I tion at Millridge. They went buck i down street and gave disgusted re | ports of their observalions. j But Henry was very busy for the 1 next two days. He had a force of bill j posters working under him, and on | July Ist every “Sane Fourth” poster | of the other towns was flanked by a j Millridge poster announcing: ! "SAFE FOURTH OF JULY CELE BRATION. AN OLD-TIME FOURTH AT MILL RIDGE, FIREWORKS, BALLOON ASCEN SION, HORSE RACES. I GREASED PIG, ’AND ALL THE OLD FASHIONED FUN FOR THE DAY.” At noon of the Fourth Millridge was ! so full of people that the corporation lines were bulging. The daytime events were carried out as advertised, and that night Talmore set off the fireworks in a big field, with the crowd roped back at a safe distance. I It was the evening of the sth when 1 Judge Sparklcss said to Henry: “I guess your idea must bo to find out what the other fellow is going to do and then do something better.” j "No,” Henry replied. "Find out what the other fellow wants to do and then arrange accordingly.” So if I could find out that you want me to marry Millicent I will be chairman of i the committee on arrangements.” Ho found out- from Millicent. LOOKING FORWARD. Round tho tattoo on tho drum, Bring tho cracker and tho bomb— Rhow how much you love your land, And you soon may have a hand Shy two fingers and a thumb. I I | ( ()XI)KXvSKI) ST ATKML NT § £s —OF H 1 The Bank of Soperton jjj 1 *■ 1 112 (and Branch at Tarrytown) || | At the Close of Business May 31st, 1912 jj| RESOURCES: LIABILITIES: | Loans and discounts $155,344.98 Capital stock $25,000.00 M Overdrafts 1,443.74 Undivided profits 8,865.14 Sjj Buildings and fixtures 9,121.31 Due to banks 7,247.83 gj P Other real estate 3,358.13 Total deposits 92,694.41 Wj g§ Cash and due from banks 17,821.38 Bills payable 54,000.00 || & Bonds and stocks 450.00 S§ p Total $187,807.38 Total $187,807.38 p !Our constant growth is the best evidence jl of the banking service we furnish || | OFFICERS: I | N. L. GILLIS, Pres. J. It. O’CONN Kit, V.-IYes. I |J. K. HALL, Cashier I. 11. HALL, Jr., Asst Cashier j| Reform the tax laws. All class es—except dodgers demand it. AN OBJECT LESSON. "People nro careless,” said the man with the big firecrucker In his hand. "If they would exercise common sense wo would hear of less accidents on the Fourth.” He touched the lighted end of his cigar to the fuse, and resumed: "There is no danger in the use of fireworks if those who handle them think of tho risk they are running. I have shot off firecrackers since I was old enough to strike a match, and nev er even got a finger burned.” A smile of recollection came upon his face, and he dropped Ills hand idly lo his side while he said: "I remember once when my Undo Thomas came to our house on the Fourth. I was a small hoy at the time, but 1 recall distinctly that we had an old toy cannon, and Uncle Thomas in sisted upon telling us boys how to liro It. Well, sir, he—” Whack! Bang! Wow! Without apologizing for his haste, the man who had held the firecracker ran to a drug store, leaving his friend musing upon the necessity of being careful. WHY HE DID IT. King Stranger—My dear little boy, why do you tie those firecrackers to the tail of that dog? Little Boy - Aw, he’s an English mas tiff. HE KNEW IT. The patriotic crowd, being enthused by the exercises began singing tho "Star-Spangled Banner," Soon every body was Ringing "turn te te te turn,” as is'usual, except one man who lustily sang every word of the song to the end. Later it was learned that he was a foreigner. . I PIANO . TUNING. If your Piano is worth anything’. it is worth EXPERT TUNING. Any other kind will ruin it. I have a diploma, and guarantee all work. Write, and I will call. ORGANS REPAIRED. Charles L. Hamilton, MT. VERNON. GA. A. L. Lanier, Attorney at Law, MT. VK It NON, GA. Will Practice in all the Courts of the State. TTTTTItTTfTITYfOffTTrfTt* TTYTYTYTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT• ; 3 l Your Farm Lands i ► •4 ► - .. """" -4 ► ◄ ► ◄ ► -4 ► ◄ ► -4 ► Will pay you morn turned into cash. 4 ► This wo can do for you. List your 4 ► property with us for salo —we will find 4 ► a buyer for you. Whether you want • ► to huy or sell, we can handle the deal 4 ► to your advantage and get results, on 4 ► farm or city property in this county 3 j IF YOU WANT MONEY j £ Get in touch with us. Wo are in position to supply it on 5 ► short notice, and on very agreeable terms. We have good 3 £ connections with the big firms that want to lend money to 3 T the farmers of Montgomery county. Drop in and talk the r matter over with us. We can do the business to suit you. # i I MONTGOMERY COUNTY REAL ESTATE | l AND LOAN CO. \ ► MOUNT VERNON, GEORGIA S t 3 •AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA4AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA* DROP IN A DOLLAR AND GET THE NEWS. For Long Term Farm Loans. I am negotiating" some very attractive Long Term Farm Loans for the best, companies doing bus iness in Georgia, with lowest rates of interest and the most liberal terms of payments. I have several years experience in the loan business, am located at the county site and believe that I am in position to give you the best terms and as prompt services as any one. If von need a loan see me before application. A. 11. Hutcheson, Mt. Vernon, Ga.
