Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-01-09
The reported Indebtedness
several counties is as follows:

The foregoing exhibits the debt of
the several counties up to March 1st,
1873, except Lewis and Clarke, which
is to September 1st, 1873. The re-
ports of several of the counties do not
include the accrued interest on the
debt of such counties, which will in
crease the debt beyond the amount
stated. Deer Lodge county paid S9,-
361 s2 of her debt, and Beaver Head
reduced her debt 81 ,O54 Is during the
year, with some surplus revenue not
applied; and with these exceptions
all of the other counties have increased
their indebtedness, but to what extent
we aIe unable to ascertain, for the
Commissioners of some OF the cOun-
ties take as deliberate pleasure in viO-
lating the law by refusing to make
their reports, as they do in rObbing
the Public School Fund OF the taxes
the law requires should be levied for
school purposes.
The debt of Lewis and Clarke county
lbs increased during the year So,
437 81. Line. her tutca.=.sob* 9l4e,
$50 80, which is largely in excess Of
the entire debt Of the Territory. This
increase Of the public debt Of Lewis
and Clarke and many of the other
counties, is truly alarming. The Com
missioners of the several counties as
sert that the increase of the debt is
beyond their control; that their allow
aEces are within the requirements of
the law, and that they are pOwerless
to devise and enforce remedy. A
large county debt already exists, upon
which interest is being paid at rate
that no people can pay and prosper.
The payment Of the annual interest
consumes alarge portion of the county
revenues, and the remainder is found
insufficient to pay current expenses
under the present laws regulating fees
and salaries of district and county Of
ficers; and hence the increase Of the
public debt. The Legislative Assembly
is the only authority that can provide
a remedy for the existing evil, and to
YOU the question is submitted.
The necessities of the present situa-
ton will, 1 think, suggest the propriety
of making our laws relating to the
taxation of property more universal; !;
abolish all exemptions, except church
property, cemeteries, school houses and
other public buiAlings, and require the
taxation of all property that has Q
market value or from which the owner
derives a revenue. The true theory of
taxation, while the people are laboring
under heavy debt, requires that all
property be taxed at its market value
in money, which distributes the public
burden equally among all classes of
property holders. The modification of
the laws of taxation as suggested will
very materially increase our revenues
and contribute to the reduction Of the
public debt.
From a careful examination Of our
financial condition, i cannot avoid the
conclusion that the public interests de-
mand the further reduction of fees and
salaries of district and county officers.
The compensation of these officers un-
der the present law is double what is
paid officers, for like services, in any of
the States east of the Rocky Noun
tains. The per diem of County Com
missioners in Montana is ten dollars,
while the same Office is filed in cOun-
ties in the States, with population
double that of the entire Territory Of
Montana, at a per diem of three dol
lars. The maximum compensation, in
this Territory, to Sheriffs for subsist-
ing persons confined in Jail, is three
dollars per day, while the maximum
in the States is fifty cents per day.
Prosecuting Attorneys in counties in
the States, with more population than
is contained in the three judicial dis
tricts of this Territory, do not receive
an annual compensation exceeding six
hundred dollars, which Is more than
five times less than is paid in Montana
for similar services.
The foregoing examples, l think, will
satisfy you that the compensation Of
district and county officers is still ex-
orbitant and should be reduced, and
our financial condition cOrrespOndingly
Improved. As an argument to pre-
vent YOU from making the reduction
recommended, it win be said that com
Detent men cannot be obtained to Gil
the several county Offices. This cry Is
stale and untrue. The Same argument
was vehemently asserted before the re-