Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1886-08-14

out the years of improvement and work
done in older regions, it has been found
necessary to do large share of that i'm
roads and bridges come in from all Sec
tions and it often occurs that he who
most loudly denounccs as extravagant his
fellow:citizen and taxpayer who happens
TO hold office is the one who attempts to
shirk his taxes and the first to come in
with petition for Il schoolhouse, road,
or a new bridge. Neither is humanity
any more infallible IN than out of office.
Most men occasionally make financial
mistakes in private life and it goes
without saying that citizen in Office is
not always able to forcsee just what in
vestment or work is most needed.
But with permanent improvements
once made, the pathway Of a new county,
even if in debt, is one devoid of thorns
Population and property increase much
faster than expenses. The newcomers,
having an interest in and the benefit of
improvements made in the early days, as
slst IN a gradual reduction of the debt,
and in few years it is extlngushed.
If congress, in exercising its authority
as guardian of its territorial wards, had
seen fit to go further it would have been
better. Instead of saying that, after a
certain limit has been reached not cent
can be expended for any purpose, it
should have sought, while cutting down
expenditures and reducing indebtedness,
to allow enough of current funds to be
used for meeting the outlay necessary for
the safety of society and the education of
youth. Had the law provided for the
immedlate bonding of county to pay
outstanding warrants, and required that
only certain amount of current revenue
should be used for current expenses ; d.
rccted that a sum sufficient to pay inter-
est on the bonds be set aside, and then
compelled certain proportion of the
yearly income to be placed as sinking
fund for payment of the bonds, congress
would have accomplished the object
sought, and that, too, without stopping
The machinery of local government in a
single instance. There are many counties
in Dakota where the establishment of a
limitation to the debt and curtaiiment
Of expenditures are necessary; there is
not one where the people will hail with
unmixcd JOY measure which prevents
sufflclent expenditures to meet the de-
mands of public necessity.
AS will be seen, the bill kindly allows
payment for obligations already made,
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given thereafter while the Indebtedness is
greater than four per cent of the tax val
uation. This law applies to Emmons
County, and, we believe, to several of our
school townships. The indebtedness of
those townships where frame school
houses have been built or bonded for,
except that of Wiilamsport, Is in excess
Of the four percent limit-so we are in
formed. However, the law will undoubt.
edly be modified by congress next winter;
or, if not, the legislature can remedy the
evil by providing that county orders shall
not be receivable for taxes, and that only
a portion of the current revenues need be
used for the redemption of registered war
rants. Ii the law were SO amended that,
while keeping expenses good distance
below the revenue, and with provision
for gradual payment Of Indebtedness, po-
litical subdivisions could yet make outlays
Of a necessary character, there could be
little fault found with it, even by the
most critical.