The semi-weekly miner., 1883-08-08
SUPPORTERS OF THE LOAN.

AAA@ A/-3A1ALAA H.
SUPPORTERS OF THE LOAN.
The few taxpayers in the county
who favor the Commissioners propo-
sition to raise 500, 600 by sale of
county bonds for the purpose of con-
tinuing work on the court house may
be divided into three classes. One
class favors it on the ground that un-
less it be granted the Commissioners
will levy tax next year sufficient to
complete it. Another class assents
to it for the reason that the building
being commenced it would be better
to finish it at once. The third class
supports it because if work on the
buildings be stopped now the TACT
will he construed by non-residents
as q "want Of confidence in the
resources of the camp. But all ap-
pear to agree that The Commissioners
have made many egregious blunders
thus far in directing the construction
of the building.
tits conceded that the gentlemen
composing the classes named are sin
cere in their several beliefs and sup
port the loan for the reasons given.
Being sincere they are ready to listen
to the truth, are open to conviction,
and prepared to be guided by that
conviction. Therefore if it be proven
they are wrong in their conclusions
they cannot as citizens having the
welfare of the county at heart longer
yield their support to the proposed
loan. To those who have been led
to believe the county commissioners
can levy tax next year to cover the
cost of the county building, we would
say they can do no such thing. The
law directs just what they can levy
no more. no less. Section 1000,
fifth division of the general laws de-
fines their power in this matter. 1t
reads as follows.
"Tbere sh all be levied annually by
the Board of County Commissioners
of each county in this Territory, and
collected by the county treasurer of
such counties, an 0d V0lOrena tax, on
each dollar of assessed valuation on
oil ;o rNowr;t~ru onhioof
to taxation, for Territorial purposes,
ON each dollar three mills; for county
purposes on each dollar, any sum not
exceeding sixteen mills; and for
school purposes, not less than three,
nor more than i've mills; and for
the benefit Of the poor, not less than
one, nor more than five mills +"
Here it may be seen that the coun.
ty commissioners can not leuy more
than sirteea mills on the dollar for
county purposes, only two more than
was levied in 1881. Hence there is
nothing in the threat that if this loan
he voted down the commissioners
will levy tax "at one fell swoop"
sufficient to cover the amount wanted
by them. The other class that holds
that having commenced the building
it may as well be finished appear to
have arrived at the conclusion with
out giving the subject much thought.
They think that great silver and
copper mining camp like Butte will
oe able to stand sl0o, 900 Indebtedness
without suffering much from over
taxation. But these same gentlemen
seem to forget that the great silver
and copper mines of Butte are not
taxable and that their output may be
increased fourfOld without adding
another dollar of taxable wealth to
the county. They also overlook the
fact that if the bonds be voted the
county will be at least $l50,OO0 in
debt before the expiration of the
year, and that to meet interest pay
ments, to create sinking fund, to re-
deem the bonds and to run the coun-
ty government it will require a levy
of sixteen mills on the dollar for
county purposes for the next ten
years. This is as certain as two and
two make four.
The third and last class are those
who fear an adverse vote on the loan
will be construed as an
on the part of the people
of a want of confidence in our mines,
As we'll may it be said our Legisla-
lures showed want Of confidence in
Montana when they voted down sew
eral appropriation bills; that Congress
showed . want of confidence in the
when it refused to entertain
looking to the expendi-
ture of immense sums of public
money, or that farmer shows a want
If confidence in his land by building ;
! 1000 cottage when by mor:gaging
lis homestead he could raise money
md build $1O.O 900 residence as to say
he people of Silver Bow county t
would show a want Of confidence by t
7otlng down the loan proposition.
There is just such a thing as us+- !,
ess expenditure of money. There ,
9 such a thing as counties becoming q
vasteful and extravagant. They can !
ven be SO foolish as to borrow :
Money to build $l75, 600 court houses
vhen SIS, 600 ones would answer all e
heir purposes. And when people q
ote down the proposition to expend q
be greater sum on county buildings f
ecause they prefer to invest no more p
he lesser amount, it is certainly.v very - !
ngenerous and very unjust to inn
ute "want of confidence" as their c.
lotive. The "want of confidence" h
rgument, if it may be called such, is !, !,
very silly one and is liable to raise {
,e suspicion in the minds of stran- G.
ers that we are not altogether sound :,