The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-12

BRowN Rock. w. T., Dec. 20, Is


EDITOR INDEPENDENTLY
Will you be kind enough to allow stran-
ger say few words to the readers Of your
excellent paper? Clarke county is my
adopted home, and it is but right that
should feel an interest in every enterprise
that tends to make her feurishing and
wealthy county. No county or state can
achieve greatness unless they adhere to a
sound financial policy To this thought
would call the attention of your readers.
County courts should never contract only
such debts as the state of her finances would
| Justify her in assuming With an increase
in population and taxable property comes
the demand for more internal improvements
and corresponding pressure upon the H.
nances of the county. Hence interest on
old county debts must be provided for year
after year without the ability to meet legally
those debts and save the county's credit. l
know nothing about the condition of Clarke
county's finances but presume her treas
ury has not the s25,O which somebody
wants to be used in ornamenting the beau
tiful town of Vancouver with court house.
Looking over the laws enacted by our leg.
islature l see a law authorizing Clarke
county to borrow $25, 900, to be used for the
purpose above stated. look upon that law
as arbitrary and unconstitutional, and Ger
tainly wanting in feasibility. It tramps
upon the rights of every taxpayer, and de.
MES them the right of free ballot, which is
so sacredly guaranteed to us in the Terri
torial constitution. If we are to have .
court house why not enact law giving the
citizens of the county the right to say at the
ballot-box whether we want such improve
ments or no. and their willingness to assume
such debt? This has been denied us and
law arbitrarily enacted, authorizing our
county court to contract an unjust debt.
Whether the law was enacted through Pc
tition and the influence of our representa-
tive it does not meet the wishes of the
masses and is law that should not be en-
forced. The law is an infraction upon q
sound financial policy. We admit that we
need court house, but are we able to build
and pay for one! Our legislature say no.
What would the same lawmakers say to me
if needed a horse to till my soil with!
Don't buy until you can pay for the horse
would be then law. They should have said
the same to our county. They have said to
us, Build yourselves o court house worth
81, 900, aud when you get it paid for it will
cost you $4,000" How is that, say the
friends of the enterprise. Well, we answer,
the original cost is $25, 900; the law makers
say 10 per cent is legal interest. We can
not expect to be able to pay the debt inside
of ten years. The interest on $25, 600 at the
rate of 10 per cent. for ten years gives us
principal and interest) the round sum of
I $50, 600 That would be court house that
we could point at with the finger of pride.
Others would point at our debt with the
finger Of shame. Some one will say, xviii
you have us do without court house.
respectable place to transact the business Of
the county," No sir; not at all. would
encourage legitimate enterprise at your
beautiful town. Let some one or more Of
your solid financial men erect suitable
building at Vancouver to hold our courts in.
and in which could be located the offices Of
the county. Such building could be
erected for six or eight thousand dollars;
rent said building to the county for, say five
or ten years, at 81, 600 per annum, (owners
to make needed repairs to the house, This
could be done and thereby have creditable
place to transact our business, and save to
our taxpayers in the next ten years the neat
little sum of $4,000. Add to this tho
amount necessary for repairs on our new
house while we are paying for it, and we
save nearly the cost of our new court house.
In view Of these facts believe that the
readers Of your paper will agree with me
that the law is arbitrary, unconstitutional,
and possesses the elements of the most un-
safe financial policy. Will our Commits
sioners enforce law that will grind 81. 500
out Of the county's taxpayers simply - .
luxury Will they compel POOR, hard work.
ing men to live in huts and cabins, wanting
in many Of the comforts Of life. to spend
their hard earned dollars in ornaments for
Vancouver? Yes, gentlemen. will you en-
force such law--contract such . debt-and
then have the collector say to our tax
payers: Come by such day and pay the
| interest ON this debt or we will add Is per
cent. &C., to your taxes" Better for the
county to hold her courts under some re-
spectacle fir tree. Give US q good bridge 1t
La Center and at other points on lewis
river, and good wagon roads and bridges
throughout the county, and We give you
our revenues with cheer.
| n NAIWOR