The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 10, Ed. 1 Friday, March 8, 1940 Page: 3 of 4
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0. 1940
fHE MEXIA WEEKLY HERALD
PAGE THTlCT
1*"
THE MEXIA WEEKLY HERALD
C. L. TATUM, Editor and Publisher
Office with The News Publishing Company
Entered t the Postoffice at Mexia, Texas, as second
class mail matter under act of March 3, 1879.
Tragedy Oppresses
County Taxpayers,
Says E-T CC Head 1
Limestone County Now Realizes Peril
and Has Adopted Budget Control,
Declares Hubert M. Harrison
. Li
A modern tragedy oppresses
the taxpayers of Limestone coun-
ty, Hubert M. Harrison, vice pres-
ident antl general manager of the
Vsiht Texas Chamber of Commerce,
H«id' from lipngview Wednesday in
the regional Chamber's tax letter.
Harrison' warned taxpayers of
the perils of not having budget
control, and {declared that Lime-
stone county citizens have waked
up to the county's predicament and
are,,nw charting their financial
coarse.
Says County Wakes lip
County Judge Carl Cannon, his
commissioners and County Audi-
tor Esther Mae Jones are now ap-
plying budget control, he said. Ev-
ery county newspaper publishes
once a month the financial con-
dition of the county and purchas-
V
I
*
ing control hits been tightened up,
he declared. "There la a vigorous
county-wide taxpayers' committee
made up of responsible citizens
which works with the Commission-
ers' Court," he pointed out. "Lime-
stone county.is pulling out of the
hole. What's past we regret but
can't help. In the future we should
not be pushovers for the same old
evils."
The regional chamber reported
that Limestone county's receipts
and disbursements for 1939 reveal
81; Expenditures, $94,619.24; Bal-
ance $313,743.74.
Permanent Improvement Fund
—Balance 185,012.29; $62,219.72;
Expenditures, $32,806.76; Balance
$5,699.33.
Boad and Bridge Fund—Balance
$320,102.31; All receipts $100,977-
Owned and Operated by
the Great A. & P. Tea Co
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
ALWAYS FRESH FROM THE GARDEN
TEXAS . . . SPECIAL NOW!
Oranges doz.lOc
PL RE GOLD . .. DON'T MISS THIS VALUE!
Lemons doz. 12c
YE I, LOW
Onions 51b. 10c
IE
Carrots 2 bch. 5c
l UKFN
Onions, bch. .. .5c
mtUSSEL
Sprouts, box .. 19c
fi .*5 ni'NCHKS
^ Radishes 5c
(y 1'CTCW II ■ .!■ I. I———
jj I'A.M.V
Spinach, lb 5c
Tomatoes, lb. 19c Rhubarb 2 lbs. 15c
< Ol.l.ARh
Greens, bch.
. 5c
(.Ol DFV RIPE
Bananas, lb. .
. 5c
lOff«
CUSTOM-GROUND | 0f{JftTH
ajfce-'
3S. 39
t ,
MIIIDIIIII
ION A . . . EXTRA SPECIAL
TOMATOES 4
No. 2
Cans
A. & P.... The All Purpose Shortening!
Dexo 3 lb. can 41c
ANN PAGE SPARKLE
Gelatin 3 boxes 11c
A. & P. GRADE A SOUR PITTED
Cherries 10c
N. B. C. EXCELL SODA
Crackers Box
IONA—Every Sack Guaranteed
i Lb.
fSack
15c
IVlia—UTHJ nnvi!
Flour 48& 139
P. & G. OR CRYSTAL WHITE
Giant
Bars
1 i « If. UIV til IOl Ali " I
Soap 6
20c
Nutley
OLEO, lb.
10c
Sour or Dill 1 fl*
PICKLES, qt IUC
Vanilla 1A _ Yellow Wax | A
* WAFERS, lb IUC BEANS, No. 2 can IUC
16
The GREAT ATLANTIC* PACIFIC Tea Co.
81; Expenditures, (32,806.76; Bal-
ance, $5,599.33.
Improvement Shown
"No reflection certainly i* In-
tended to our friend* in Limeiton*
county who are in public office or
who are private citizens," Harril
son *aid in the report. "County
Judge Cannon now heading the
Commissioners' Court of Lime-
atone county is serving hia first
term. The present county auditor,
a lady by the way, is serving her
first year. Those who served as
Limestone county officials in 1939
as a matter of fact improved the
situation. It's what went on before
Jan. 1, 1939. that was most tragic.
"This case history is related to
show graphically WHAT CAN
HAPPEN NOW in your county,
cit'M and school district. It Is to
warn all taxpayers of the perils
of no budget control, and to stir
you to take a livelier interest in
protecting that part of YOUR per-
sonal business you entrust to your
public officials.
Not Done Delberately
"Now it is probable that those
responsible for Limestone county's
PRESENT grievious condition did-
n't do this damage deliberately.
Likely they didn't know what was
happening. This doesn't mean that
they were stupid or ignorant. But
it does mean that there was no
budget control to warn them that
they were approaching the rocks.
"To deepen the tragedy it must
be reported that in 1936 Lime-
stone county found Itself flounder-
ing in road and bridge scrip—hot
checks of the county for which
there was no cash. It issued that
year $345,000 of road and bridge
bonds to refund an equal amount
of this road jind bridge scrip.
"Thus, after putting into bonds
in 1936 $345,000 of road and
bridge scrip, or overdraft—the
bitter, expensive fruit of no budget
control—by Jan. 1, 1939, the coun-
ty road and bridge fund was again
$320,000 in the red.
"To pay the maturities and the
interest on the 1936 funded debt
the county has to pledge all of its
regular 15 cents road and bridge
levy. While it has an extra 15
cents road and bridge levy, this
cannot be used to service the road
and bridge debt.
"Six percent interest is being
paid on this $313,743.74 road and
bridge overdraft. Last year this
overdraft was reduced approxi-
mately $6,400. If the county docs
as well in 1940 the 1940 interest
charge alone will be approximate-
ly $18,750. If the county in the fu-
ture does as well each year as it
did in 1939 the road and bridge
overdraft will all be wiped out by
the end of 1989. At the same 6'/c
interest, the interest charge over
the 49 years would total approxi-
mately $459,000.
"What can the county do with
this sad situation in its road and
bridge fund? Pay it off the hard
way. Again we are reminded of
how easy it is to get into debt;
how excrutiatingly painful to get
out.
"Budget control—lest we forget
—means simply this: (1) Making
a good budget—figuring out in ad-
vance in detail what you absolute-
ly need and certainly stopping
within the limit of your reasonably
anticipated legal income; (2) Keep
ing good enough rccords so that
not less than once a month every
county official will know where
the county stands in relation to
its budget; and (3) Refusing to
permit any expenditure not in the
budget or in excess of the budget,
save only in a sure enough public
calamity. This isn't theoretical
moonshine. It's plain horse sense.
And it's the law in Texas!
Must Apply Budget Control
"Taxpayers, if they really bow-
ed their necks, working in coopera-
tion with county officials which is
possible in 99 cases out of 100,
could make budget control an ab-
solute fact from here on out in ev-
ery county, city and school district
in Texas.
"How much can be saved by a
county through buying only on
competitive bidding and through
some centralized authority was
demonstrated recently in Falls
county. County Judge John Pat-
terson decided that buying little
dabs of road materials here and
there without any system or com-
petitive bidding was bad. He learn-
ed to his amazement, that neigh-
boring counties were buying creo-
soted lumber as cheap as his coun-
ty was paying for untreated third
grade pine. So he asked for bids
on four cars of lumber. Eleven
dealers submitted bids. Sure
enough, he could have bought first
grade creosoted lumber at about
the same price a* some of the
highest bids for untreated lumber.
On that one lumber deal the Judge
says he has saved his own year'*
salary.
"McLennan county has long
proved the economy of buying on
competitive bids. Judge D. Y. Mc-
Oaniel, his commissioners, and the
other county official* there work
under a self imposed rule that NO
ITEM costing more than $25.00
shall be bought without at least
three competitive bid*. The county
buy* all it* printing and stationery
a year's supply at a time—and on
competitive bids. The bid provide*
for fill-ins at an agreed figure.
"That efficiency i* possible in
county government—as it now is
Political
Announcements
The Mexia Weekly Herald
is authorized to imnnimr* ' ~
following candidates for the
offices as indicated below,
subject to the action ui the
Democratic Primaries.
(First Primary, July 27,
1940. Second Primary, Aug-
ust 24, 1940)
For Sheriff:
LUTHER SIMMONS
SAM ADKINS
For County Attorney:
L. L. GEREN
For County Treasurer: •
JOHN KIDD
For County Clerk:
STEVE UNFRIED
For Counly Judge:
CARL CANNON
For Commissioner Precinct 4:
E. B. (Son) MOSLEY
C. E. HEROD
For Tax Assessor-Collector:
WILCIE A. BROWDER
For Representative:
JIM ENGLEDOW
A. R. (Bob) HENDERSON
in Texas—hat, been proved by
McLennan county in its road and
bridge work. This county has
1,280 miles of lateral road under
county maintenance. All but about
200 miles are all-weather. The re-
maining 200 will become all-wea-
ther this year. Nearly 300 miles
are hard surfaced. Now this has
been done without any road and
bridge scrip or overdraft, without
any lateral road bond issues, with
only a 15c tax rate where many
counties have 30c, and with practi-
cally no CWA, PWA or WPA. ftow
did they do it? Well, the county
has had for 25 years an outstand-
ing engineer and road administra-
tor who has done the planning, su-
per*ised the actual work, checked
the purchasing, and kept the cost
figures. Actually McLennan coun-
ty has had most of the features of
the County Unit System of road
and bridge administration.
Expensive Machinery Bought
"One reason why in most coun-
ties lateral roads are bad and yet
so expensive is that too much of
the road and bridge budget goes
into expensive road machinery.
One average sized Kast Texas
county, already owning 26 pieces
of motorized road machinery, last
week bought still another. It was
election year, the Commissioner
apologized, and he had to get all
his roads dragged this spring or
he would be defeated. Now half
that amount of equipment would
be ample for this county. It would
be ample, that is, if it were used
FLOWERS
a
for EVERY Purpose
Sparks B Jenkins
Florists
806 E. Commerce St.
Phone 161
Today & Saturday
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Serial & Our Gang
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Today & Saturday
"DAYS OF
JESSE J AMES"
with
Roy Rogers
George Hays
and
Chapter No. 13
Lone Ranger Rides Again
Maverick Urges
Abolishment
of Poll Tax
WASHINGTON, March 8, (U.R>
—Mayor Maury Maverick of San
Antonio, Texas, today urged a
house judiciary sub-committee to
abolish the poll tax in elections
for federal office and restore
control of the South to Southern-
ers.
"The poll tax," he said, "makes
the south a sort of piece-meal
fractional democracy".
Asserting that "Texas is owned
and operated out of Chicago and
New York," he added:
"I want the South to be run
by Southerners."
He testified in support of a bill
by Rep. Lee E. Geyer, D., Calif.,
to amend the Hatch act so fcs to
abolish the poll tax—now in ef-
fect in eight southern states—
in elections for president, vice
president and United States sen-
ator and representative.
"I believe that it is of inter-
est to all Americans to make it so
that all Americans can vote," he
said. "We become one economic
and political unit and congress
should recognize it.
"I think that the Southern
states themselves ought to abol-
ish these requirements but I also
think that the federal government
should abolish the poll tax as far
as it affects itself."
He contended that the poll tax
"breeds corruption" in Texas and
elsewhere.
R. F. C. Loan
Given Texas
on a county wide basis, rather
than on the present precinct basis.
It would work more hours. There
is equipment standing idle in one
precinct that could just as well Be
working in another.
"The Hill County Planning
board met last night (Tues.) to
hear about the Harrison County
unit system of road and bridge ad-
ministration. Harrison County
Judge Reagan Huffman and our
tax director talked. One direc-
tor in Hillsboro, president of the
Planning Board, is a vigorous lead-
er in Hill county in tax control ac-
tivities.
"Freestone County for yaers has
quietly been making progress in
the direction of efficiency and
economy. Its financial condition is
greatly improved over what it was
several years back. County Judge
A. H. Benbrook and County Audi-
tor Compton White are due much
of the credit for this headway be-
ing made. Principal reason: living
within its income and staying off
bond issues.
"Too many of us have taken the
half cynical, half jesting attitude
toward democratic government —
which includes our county, our city
and our school district — of that
amiable ancient Greek, Plato: 'De-
mocracy, which is a charming
form of government, full of vari-
ety and disorder, and dispensing
a sort of equality to equals and un-
equals alike."
Possibility that Mexia may get
■ national guard armory was con-
|*idered enhanced Wednesday af-
ter the reconstruction finance cor-
poration announced in Washington
• $7,200,000 loan to the Texas
National Guard Armory board
for construction of armories.
Asked by The News if Mexia
was on the list to get one of the
armories in the new program, Gen
eral John A. Hulen, chairman of
the Texas National Guard Ar-
mory board, said as "far as 1 re-
collect, you are."
General Hulen said the board
will meet in the near future to
consider acceptance of the RFC
loan for the building program.
Acceptance of the loan, he said,
depends upon agreement with the
conditions laid down by the RFC.
The loan, at three and a half
per cent interest, would be re-
paid in 2 years by rentals charg-
ed to the State for use of the
building, plus state appropria-
tions.
The tentative program, he said,
calls for construction of 70 ar-
mories, stabler and garages in
50 towns. Communities in which
the armories would be built would
furnish the site.
"A lot depends," General Hulen
told the News, "on whether you
people have the proper site pick-
ed for the armory." Informed a
site had been picked which The
New* considered would be accept-
able, the general replied "iWa
good."
City Manager Howard Maca k«*
been working to clear a deed for
some property in the south end of
the city near the awimmlng pool
for the armory.
Mrs. Ruby* Kis«ling and Mr*.
T<,m Measels were Fort Worth
visitor* Tuesday.
W. A. Browder and Senate Wo-
mack of Groesbeck were Mexia
visitor* Tuesday.
*< , and Mrs, F.mmlt Fail
Pitts and Mr*. Noel Pitts of Dal-
jihi were guegte of their mother,
Mr*. Ltli:«
Wednesday.
Pit
y
and
A R Henderson of Groesbeeli
w*s a Mexia visitor Tuesday.
J. & K. AUTO SUPPLY CO.
Highest prices for Iron and
Metal. Iron 30c and 35c per
hundred poinds.
209 Commerce St. j
Mevia, Texas
Visit Our Big
9° SALE
Hundreds of money savin? items are
now on sale . . . Sale will last through
March 16th.... We invite you to visit this
sale. j
J. I. Riddle & Co.
Hardware Dept.
*****
Former Mexia
Resident Dies
TEAGUE, Texas, Malch A. —
(Spl)—Funeral services for Mrs.
Walter Kenton, 41, were held
Tuesday at 2:00 p. m. from the
home of her sister, Mrs. Beulah
Keaton. Mrs. Kenton died in Dal-
las Sunday at 0:15 o'clock p. m.
The Rev. H. M. McKissack of
Fairfield officiated in the ser-
vice. Interment was made in the
Prairie Grove cemetery at 4
o'clock unler the direction of
Ham Bros, morticians.
Surviving relatives are her
husband, one son. Tolbert Keaton,
Teaguc, a sister, Mrs. Beular
Keaton, also of Teaguc, besides
other relatives.
Mis. Keaton was born in
Mexia. In 1920 she moved with
her husband to Teague where
she lived until her illness. She
was a member of the Methodist
church.
Negro Red
Flays Garner,
Tom Connally
WASHINGTON. March 5, (U.R)
—A Negro Communist witness,
testifying before the Senate ju-
diciary sub-committee on the an-
ti-Iynching bill, was threatened
with expulsion today for ques-
tioning the honor and integrity
of Senators and Congressmen.
Senator 1 derick Van Nuys,
D., Ind., chairman of the sub-
committee and co-author of the
bill, told the witness, Benjamin
J. avis, Jr., member of the edi-
torial board of the Daily Work-
er, New York Communist news-
paper, that Communists have
harmed the bill more than any
other group.
Then Nuys instructed the com-
mittee reporter to expunge Davis'
angry remarks that Vice Presi-
dent John N. Garner was "an
evil old labor baiter" and a ref-
erence to "the shameful tactics
of Senator Tom Connally."
V
ITEM
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PROVE SAlTWAV'S EVER*-DAT
SAVINGS TO YOURSH.T
fWry $*iU«<iy * •ffitianl «h thir 0 iy«tw* you MtMWlfW
caib rtrtipt a thai you ««oy ol« oy tba *avin§t
mod* ow •voey purcM'e
✓ Chock lhe e further laU«f«Y Uriililil
• l w print* do t • Choorfvl, <our*lout
• Monty-bat* |vorant*« on «U purcka l
Ijou. uui joiweuys oi Safeway,. *
NOTE THESE SPECIALS I
Waldorf
Tissue
Fresh Country
3'10
Oleo
Sunnvbank
Impprial
flnlh Rag
Sugar
Pimentos
Mackerel 3
doz JL 2C
lb 10c
| O lbs 50°
4c
4 oz
Can
Tall
Cans
Flour
Har\ e*t
Blossom
48,bs
25c
$| 39
Tomatoes 4
No. 2
Cans
Paimoiive
Toilet Soap
Bar
5c
I
Hershey's
Cocoa
Sour or Dill
Pickles
2 25c«t iqc
WILSON'S
PICNICS
1 lo (i Lb. Average
ib. . .
12|c
Roll Roast Nn
lb. 19c
Stew Meat B"'
Ib. lftc
Round Steak
lb. 25c
Sliced Bacon S"'""T
Ib. 21c
Sliced Bacon
lb. 15c
Sausage r"X
lb. 10c
Pork Steak
.. lb. 10c
FRESH
SPINACH
lb -
- - 1c
Cabbage
Ib. 1c
Oranges
doz 12c
Lettu ce
3 for 10c
Onions
3 lbs 10c
4 • COKKEK
Airway 3 ih*.-
Supurb Soap
Flour «i:?r
Spiccs „nrk„.
Milk ,h'ruh
Peaches&
Pears JJrr
Corn '„rr>
Jell Well A" '
37 f
21 Or. Pk|.
50 ot. pKg.—85c
2 lbs. 25c
17c
18 lb. bag $1.55
1 pkgs. 25c
tall cans 18c
No. 212 can 15c
2 No. 1 cans 25c
No. 2 can lftc
3 pk#s. 10c
Hominy
Cherries«,„k,i.. 2
Scots Tissue ...
Scots Towels ..
White King To,
Super Suds
Super Suds r"1"'
Crisco
Prunes *un"""
No. .'iOO ran fJc
No. 2 cans 25c
... .2 rolls 15c
roll 10c
Pks
3 sm. pks. 25c
Is:. pk>r. 19c
. 3 lb. can 40c
2 lb. box 19c
f AMILY CIRCLE
F REt
EVERY FRIDAY
SAFE WAY
LOWER PRICE FOOD STORED
m
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The Mexia Weekly Herald (Mexia, Tex.), Vol. 42, No. 10, Ed. 1 Friday, March 8, 1940, newspaper, March 8, 1940; Mexia, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth299648/m1/3/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Gibbs Memorial Library.