The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-02-26
Communication.


An article appeared in your last issue
signed " Farmer" in which some erro-
neous charges were made against the
and number of questions
asked which prove the writer to be very
much in the dark respecting township
matters. In the first place the super.
visions are not responsible for the ill.,
creased rate of taxes. Had GARNER"
attended the annual township meeting
as it was his duty to do, he must have
known that all sums to be levied for
township purposes are stipulated by vote
of the ratepayers and the supervisors
cannot exceed the sum voted.
There are several causes for tho in
crease Of taxes this year; one is the
amount of money required for the con-
struction of roads and bridges. By an
almost unanimous vote of the ratepayers
the board was authorized Ito bond the
township for the sum of eight thousand
five hundred dollars, and to expend the
money in the following manner: In the
construction Of three roads leading to
Pembina and such other roads and
bridges as might be deemed necessary.
The the law provides that tax shall
be LEVIED annually, to create sinking
fund and pay interest on said bonds, all
of which has been complied with. An
other cause of high taxation is the trans
ferring of the liquor license revenue
from school to general county fund there
by necessitating direct tax for school
purposes. III school district No. we
had been pursuing the unwise policy of
keeping taxes low while the deficits were
increasing, year by year, till the situation
became so desperate that it required des-
perate measures and the school board
was obliged to increase the rate from
eight mills in 1885 to twenty mills in
1886. The next charge is that in con
nection with the frost of the oath OF
August, matter very easily answered.
Not being possessed of spirit of propll-
esy the board could not foresee the cat
astrophy and does not hold itself respon-
sible for the results; nor has it any aut H.
GRITTY to borrow money without vote of
the ratepayers.
The next charge is that of having I'M
dertaken more work than the newness
of the country would justify. We under
took no more work than the ratepayers
authorized. AS to purchasing grader we
deferred doing SO until public sentiment
and the interests of the township de-
manded it. To give the farmers chance
to do the work we advertised for tenders
but found that we could not get one
quarter of the required work done in
that way. As to quality of work We
acted OH the advice of the chairman of
the board of supervisors of Grand Forks,
he being an experienced road contractor.
In regard to amount paid operator OF
grader, we paid only what the law al
lowed.
"Farner" endeavors to throw the
blame on the supervisors of the short
comings of the road supervisor. Of
course somebody must be blamed, and it
would be entirely unreasonable to place
The responsibility for his failures upon
he taxpayers who, by large majority
assigned him to that post! A scape-goat
must be found-somebody 20 abuse.
The properly constituted overseer of all
Dad work is the road supervisor, and the
could not have properly set
lin aside, at least, until he lad proven
himself incompetent. a" Farmer" asks
What has been gained bv purchase OF
raider. On Il basis of fifty cents per rod
he grader has cleared eleven hundred
dollars, one hundred more than original
.ost.
Apropos of township matters, would
rye all the ratepaycrs 10 attend the
aucus on Saturday the 9th inst, and
lso the annual meeting OH Tuesday, the
nd, proximo, SO that each may have a
dice in the election of officers and all |
Their business which may be brought
efore the meeting, and I may here say
rat no member of the present board will
G candidates for reelection.
Trusting that do not take up to much
T your valuable space. am
Yours Respectfully,
SUP9RvIsOR.