The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-07-09
COUNTY FINANCES.
THE ROAD TO RUIN.

Since the two articles in this issue on ths
subject of the county finances have been in
type, we have been referred to the official
statement of the receipts, expenditures, and
Indebtedness of the county, published by
order of the Board of County Commissioners
in the Independent on the 9th of last March.
The statement exhibits the condition Of the
county finances for period of thirteen
months, commencing January tst, 1868, and
ending February LIST, 1862 We invite at
tention to the following items: s. e"@ '" r.
Total Indebtedness Jan. 1st Us ......3 "a 3s7.63
Total indebtedness Feb. lst, G0 ........3 6Se7469
short space Of thirteen months Of $s5 sos, 80.
kscsipts; off, Thirteen int e.. months, s;S
Showing an excess Of expenditures over
receipts Of $50, 22s,53. 't'i -
The statement shows that during tho
same period there were paid .., -, ......xs.,
And for Expenses Of prisoners. slSsS
making an aggregate of $50, ass, 81. for these
two items alone, or within $0,s17, 02 Of the
entire revenues OF the county, from all
sources, and for oil purposes. Tho amount
of benefit derived by the people from these
last two items Of expenditure has been
shown in another article t. 'Ea-' 7'it
In addition to the above, during Inst year
the people Of this county paid into the county,
Treasury the sum Of $22. 0o0, 90, for the pur-t
pose Of erecting Court House, and Jail, and
there il still another special tax to be levied
this year, to pay off the balance still due for.
their erection.
During the same thirteen months, and the
two months proceeding, the County paid ln-
to the Territorial Treasury, the sum Of e1l,.
724,56, on licenses, and property. ?, .,,,'
From the above It will be seen that in tho
thirteen months, from Jan. 1st. 1868, to
Feb. lot. 1860, tho people have pad for
county purposes including Court House.
raia in nso sho Terri; i; iI3 sss
While tho county debt has ocen Increased 'f y
during sssa the Same time up to Feb la. 80 ],
AooSs III Sno sun u ..................S 5I,oSeSouS
And We have it upon good authority. that
since Feb. LIST 1850, II has gone on increas-
ing in the Same ratio and amounts to nearly.
go, 00O, 90 showing IN increase Of indebt-
edness from January LIST, 1868, up to date Of
e56, 81, 81, and this notwiths tsnding, our
past onerous taxation and exclusive Of the,
cost Of building the Court House and JAIN.
And yet during this whole time tho admin
istration Of the criminal law has been ! s.bye..
word and reproach" among all law abid-,
Ing citizcns, and the enormous suma cx-
pended in it, attempted enforcement, have
simply had the effect Of encouraging IN
stead Of suppressing crime, By demonstrat.
Ing to the mind Of every would be criminal,
that in Deer Lodge County, crime d entitled
to apractical immunity. from punishment,
even aftsf conviction. In proof OF thb last
assertion, w call attention 70 the fact that
during this tims every prisoner bu, one, com .
mitted % the custody Of the Sheriff, To-
crimes Of any magnitude has escaped. This
exception was the case Of Ryan who Ne
usgsd BY Sullivan, Mullen, and Bagxl>o e..
caps With Them, but ssjtssS % do u, pro-
fseins - ~ Tho r'.0ood Boy dodge and
play for : pardon, which has ainos been
/ granted hin, for god beAaviorin the pes-
miaeea Language fall into do justice u
81 ~ ~ d rasa ~ ,s.s.iis ..s,a, I'D