The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-06-04
7nAf NEW ADDITION.

PIX, which the same stands for Peter
Koch, comes ont this morning IN an
article headed "Extravagance or Econ
omy," and makes an attempt to answer
the Chronicle editorial advocating the
proposed erection of the addends to the
court house as contemplated by the COM
missioners. First, the inadequacy Of
vault room for the storage Of papers and
records. End. The danger from fire.
3rd. That the cost of erection will not
add any to the burdens of taxation. In
the first Mr.. Koch makes himself the
judge, and says, "The vault attached to
the clerks Office ispretty well filed with
the various records but it answers fairly
well as it h." Does he not know that it
Is full, and many books and papers are
even piled on the floor and some left
outside. That there are other places
they might be put or that they might be
insured, of course no one can deny but
is it convenient or business like to put
papers and records where they are not
easily accessible. Again, the crowding
of the court house cuts no figure in the
proposition. It is only the clerks Office
we are speaking Of, and the Territorial
or county prisoners occupy no space de-
signed as vault room or for the storage
and safe keeping of records. Now as to
the danger Of fire. Our article in no
eense intimated that the vaults were not
fire proof, they may or may not be, but
vaults cannot told only so much, and
though safe, everything outside of them
would be unsafe. He attempts to use
sarcasm for argument, and tries to make
it appear that we have asserted an opin-
ion as to the safety of the vaults. We
do not claim to be "weighty authority"
on that point. Again, as to the building
adding to the burdens Of taxation" In
this P. K. declines to make any argu-
ment, but simply advises the editor to
close up and seek Wall Street as his pre-
sent sphere is too limited. if he has dis
covered way by which ten or twelve
thousand dollars worth of bonds may be
paid off without adding anything to the
burden of taxation" If any one will
read the article referred to they will see
that we said that the rate of taxation, or
in other words, the tax levy will not be
go high as formerly and why, because
the increase in values the additional tax
able property, the increased population
will not necessitate such high levy.
Has the building of the court house in
creased the tax levy? Did the gentle
man oppose the building of court house
because it would increase our taxes?
Would he be opposed to any public i'm
.provement because it costs something?
That is the spirit that retards the growth
and development of every enterprise.
Now as to the right of the county to
build. We do not know the questions in
volved in the decision by Judge Gal
braith. If it was aquestion of borrowing
money for the erection of county build
inQs, there can be no question but that
it must first be submitted to the voters
of the county, see sec. 34S, fourth SUBJ
division, also sec. 349, page 4sl, revised
statutes, but if it be to build and keep in
repair county buildings, out of the cur
rent funds of the county, there can be
no doubt of the power of the commission
ers. P. X. admits the financial condition
of the county and its ability etc., but
simply bases his whole objection on the
ground that it is not necessary, and by
that admission valves every other argu-
ment against it. He attempts to rake
over the board of county commissioners
for their extravagance. So far so good,
and we are pleased to see the people
taking ar interest in public affairs and
demanding economy. He says also that
the people will demand two new COM
missioners at the coming election, who
will be pledged to avoid all unnecessary
expenditures. When have the people
ever failed to demand it? When was
the time when they have not demanded
honesty and economy?