The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-08-26
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We have, Of late, heard a number Of slurs and
insinuations about the Troy Ring Plundering
the County, or that they would plunder it be-
fore they got through. As it happened, nearly
every one Of these expressions that We have
heard, has come from persons connected with
the red-hOt temperance element at White Clond.
As the County Commissioners have exclusive
control Of the County expenditures, this charge
is aimed at them; and as but one Of them lives
at Troy, we cannot take il otherwise than as be-
ing made solely because the Commissioners are
opposed to the prohibitory amendment. When
those men who have caused this feeling to pre-
vail, to think of it calmly, is it not letting
their prejudiees get away with them too COM
pletely, when they resort to charging men with
plundering the County, when there is not the
slightest ground for it In the last five years,
in which time one members Of the pres
ent Board have been in service, the finances Of
the County have been improved 80 much that
comparison is not even necessary; and they have
been getting better every year of that five.
There has not been dollar lost TO or wrongfRi-
ly taken from the County. A large amount of
the old railroad bond Indebtedness has been com
promised at 50 cents the dollar, and all ths
old refnnding bonds paid of, and yet the taxes
are not inereased-in fact, are much less tllan
they were five years ago. Yet dignifed gentle
men, out Of mere prejudice, will charge that tbs
County is being plundered, simply because the
officers do not embrace their bigOted views on
the liquor question. Do they want to get Coun.
ty affairs back into the hands of such ineompe-
tents controlled them five years ago, when
the Treasury was empty, the County in debt
$4,000 on current expenses, and County war
rants begging purchasers at heavy discount
But il is always the effect of bogus "Reform"
movements, to turn out the tried, and put in the
incompetent.
Let us make n little comparison. Doniphan
County, in the hands of this Troy Ring" has
levied mills on the dollar for County expenses,
and mills to pay interest and other costs on
the compromised bonds, making II mills. The
City Government Of White ClOud is in the hands
of the e.red-hot prohibitionsts, who believe that
drinking is the principal canse of all trouble and
high taxes. They have city debt, except that
incurred for regular running expenses; yet they
have levied n tax of l2t mills the dollar.
That is, it costs Them, to run the town on tenn
peranee principles, within y mills of double the
tax il costs 10 the whole County, in the
hands of plunderers. They have rejected rev.
enue of from 5000 to 500 derived from saloon
licenses, but TO pay for indulging their hobby,
they have levied tax that practically cOnfis-
Gates the property of their citizens-a heavier
tax than is levied by the State Of Ohio for
State, County and Township purposes, and also
for municipal purposes, except in few cities.
1t is a heavier tax than the combined tax of the
State of Kansas and DOniphan County current
expense levy. This in a town of 500 population,
without bonded debt. Gentlemen, go on with
yonr prohibition hobby, and rob your citizens to
pay for the fun, until they rebel against it, and
return to business principles; but please do not,
without the shadow of a foundation, charge
County officers with plundering the County,
simply because their views one question hap
pen to he different from yours.