The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-06-14

NOiHHlssIoHcTs uus tuc DuiiuihS Va thS
First National Bank for the use of the
county? We, in the west part of the
county don't believe in taxation with.
out representation. If we have got to
pay taxes on county buildings we want
TO have something to say about the
construction, cost and location of said
buildings, and not have the Commits.
sioner who lives in Wichita have the
whole say about it,without any regard
to the rest of the county.
Yours, ETC.,
WILLIAM LYMAN,
And many others.
To fairly criticise and to inquire i'll
to the actions of public officers is emf
nently proper, and no man is worthy
of public trust or position who would
object to having every official action
laid open to the light. From what we
know of our County Commissioners
we feel warranted in asserting that
they not only have no objections to all
their actions being fully explained, but
that they would prefer such a course.
There is no position SO vexing and try
ing as that Of County Commissioner.
Under our laws the general business
and legislation of the county is all
vested in the Board Of Commissioners.
In new county where there are a
thousand things demanded in the
way Of improvements, organizations,
changes, etc, yearly, and when but a
fractional part of the real estate is
taxable, the position often becomes
very embarrassing. 1t is said that it
is a rule in Kansas that County Com
missioner is never reelected. That
Sedgwick county has an honest, capa-
bic board we think their official record
will fully sustain. Our friend, Mr..
Lyman, being no captious fault-finder
or chronic grumbler, but one of our
fairest-minded, honorable citizens, we
take pleasure in telling him al! we
know about the questions asked with
out time to hunt up the records or the
officers in question:
1. The city appointed on its behalf
Mr.. NJ. w. Levy to attend the railroad
meetings held in the counties east of
US, and the Commissioners upon the
part of the county appointed and paid
Mr.. Kelly upon the part of the county
at large, we behave. An eastern con-
nection is very important to both our
town and county. AS the city paid
entire for one, we supposed it was
deemed nothing more than proper, es-
pecially as the city pays also her pro-
portion of the county taxes in addi-
ton, that the Commissioners should
provide the other representative. Mr..
Kelly was not delegate for or from
the city of Wichita, but for the county.
2. The Commissioners will hardly
pay all the bills that may be contract
ed by individuals in efforts 10 secure
roads. For one, we recollect distinct
ly of being sent,..in the dead of winter,
to Solomon City, four years ago, to
look after railroad project in which
Sedgwick was and is interested, but
neither the county or city wonld make
good the expenses which amounted to
about 500 for two of us.
8. Scdgwick county is the wealthiest
and strongest county, financially in
Kansas. For three years
her papers, books and records have
been carted around, and the men who
pay the most taxes, consequently the
largest property holders, have been
trembling in their boots for fear of the
destruction of the records which would
not only entail law trouble and expen-
sive suits without number, but which
could not be made good for an hun
dred thousand dollars. And that is
not all Absolutely up to the time of
the purchase above mentioned, the
county has not had so much as lock |
DR. key with which to protect her
funds, thereby forcing the Treasurer
10 take the chances of robbery or to |
deposit in a bank and take the risks of
Still this is not all. The |
money paid out annually for rents
would in very short time pay for a |
building. The opportunity arising,
he Commissioners, and wisely, too we
nave no doubt. secured building for
ess than half what it cost, and which,
besides burglar proof safe and two
yery large firc-proof vaults, has ample
for all the county of
icers, and in addition the county gets
hree hundred dollars year rent. We
AVE yet to hear the first business man
'ffer an objection to the action of the
Commissioners, in fact the act seems
o be almost unanimously approved.
At any rate the building is such that
dissatisfaction should develop. the
could be sold for all and prob
bly, more than it cost.
4. Taxation and representation
hould of course go together, but our
riend VIM. L. must know that in case
t the erection of permanent county
tie construction and location
re matters over which the Board of
have absolute control.
md as to the Commissioner who lives
4 Wichita we are very sure that he
ad no more to say about the matter
han either Of the other two, in fact
re know they have in all things acted
18th the utmost harmony. In town
nc shoe has been on the other foot,
nd men have blamed the Commission
: living in Wichita for allowing the
Their two Commissioners to run
iings.
One other phase of the court house
uestion might be stated. In the pur-
lase of the building, any loss that ,