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Editorial
March 30, 1921
Grainger County News
Rutledge, Jefferson City, Grainger County, Jefferson County, Tennessee
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes the wasteful use of tax money in Tennessee's larger counties, where court officials receive exorbitant fees for basic services, exacerbating complaints about high taxes among farmers and citizens. Blames legislative inaction and calls the fee system a state disgrace.
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DISGRACEFUL WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS
Tennesseans in general, Tennessee farmers in particular, are loud in their complaints over increased taxes this year.
There is some reason for their complaints, too, especially on the part of farmers.
At the same time there has been going on in Tennessee for years, right under the noses of all citizens who live in any of the larger counties, a waste of tax money that would be ridiculous if it were not something much worse.
In the larger counties of the state trustees and clerks of the various courts are getting $10,000, $20,000, $25,000—some of them, it is believed, as much as $40,000—a year for performing services that any $3,000 a year accountant can perform.
In Maury county last year the county trustee got $2,300 out of the school fund alone, and the county superintendent of schools was paid $1,300.
Yet some citizens complain of high school taxes and others wonder why the schools are not better.
No one except the officials themselves knows just how much the officials in the four most populous counties get.
Most citizens, too, it seems, have become so used to this sort of waste of public funds that they have almost forgotten that all this money is tax money and that they are paying it.
For years they have gone on paying it, while the scandal of this misappropriation of public money has steadily become more shameful.
Legislature after legislature has failed to change the system or has passed laws that the courts would not sustain.
The whole fee business, in short, along with the nefarious back tax collection system, has become a standing disgrace to the state.
It remains to be seen how much longer the people of the state will stand for this fee system, but as long as they do stand for it their capacity for self-government will be open to question.
And Tennessee is not the only state so burdened and so discredited.—The Southern Agriculturist.
Tennesseans in general, Tennessee farmers in particular, are loud in their complaints over increased taxes this year.
There is some reason for their complaints, too, especially on the part of farmers.
At the same time there has been going on in Tennessee for years, right under the noses of all citizens who live in any of the larger counties, a waste of tax money that would be ridiculous if it were not something much worse.
In the larger counties of the state trustees and clerks of the various courts are getting $10,000, $20,000, $25,000—some of them, it is believed, as much as $40,000—a year for performing services that any $3,000 a year accountant can perform.
In Maury county last year the county trustee got $2,300 out of the school fund alone, and the county superintendent of schools was paid $1,300.
Yet some citizens complain of high school taxes and others wonder why the schools are not better.
No one except the officials themselves knows just how much the officials in the four most populous counties get.
Most citizens, too, it seems, have become so used to this sort of waste of public funds that they have almost forgotten that all this money is tax money and that they are paying it.
For years they have gone on paying it, while the scandal of this misappropriation of public money has steadily become more shameful.
Legislature after legislature has failed to change the system or has passed laws that the courts would not sustain.
The whole fee business, in short, along with the nefarious back tax collection system, has become a standing disgrace to the state.
It remains to be seen how much longer the people of the state will stand for this fee system, but as long as they do stand for it their capacity for self-government will be open to question.
And Tennessee is not the only state so burdened and so discredited.—The Southern Agriculturist.
What sub-type of article is it?
Taxation
Economic Policy
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Public Funds Waste
Tax Money Misuse
County Officials Fees
Tennessee Taxation
Fee System Reform
Legislative Failure
What entities or persons were involved?
Tennessee Farmers
County Trustees
Court Clerks
Maury County Trustee
County Superintendent Of Schools
Tennessee Legislature
The Southern Agriculturist
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Waste Of Public Funds In County Officials' Fees
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Fee System And Official Waste
Key Figures
Tennessee Farmers
County Trustees
Court Clerks
Maury County Trustee
County Superintendent Of Schools
Tennessee Legislature
The Southern Agriculturist
Key Arguments
Tennesseans Complain About Increased Taxes, Especially Farmers
Waste Of Tax Money In Larger Counties On High Official Fees For Simple Work
Officials Earn $10,000 To $40,000 Yearly, More Than Needed
Maury County Example: Trustee $2,300 From School Fund, Superintendent $1,300
Citizens Unaware Or Accustomed To The Waste
Legislatures Failed To Reform The Fee System
Fee System And Back Tax Collection Disgrace The State
People's Tolerance Questions Self Government Capacity