The new North-west., 1888-03-30
COUNTY FINANCES.

The exhibit Of our County finances as pub
lished last week Is not gratifying. March
1st, 1887, the debt Of the County was ST.
312.s2-an increase Of $10,766.2S from the
year before. This year the County debt Is
stated At 500, ,084 50-an increase of $42,-
751.6s in one year. This is going at tre-
mendous pace. Aud as there are $3,056.s1
carried into the credit side, which are not
available for County purposes but belong to
the Poor and School funds, the actual debt
is $103, ,121.31. We have also s., los. "a less
in the County fund than year ago. There
were received from property tax and licenses
during the year 500, 1858. Add to this the
increased debt Of $42, 2,751.6S and We have the
expenses of the fiscal year ending March 1st,
1888, amounting to $1l2, ,207.26. The Audi
tors report March 1st, 1887, showed the
Indebtedness of Custer County $29s,372 76;
of Lewis & Clarke, s20s, 1856 40; of Dawson,
$13O, O,27l.75 of A1issoula, sl27, 7,9os. IL; of Cho-
teau, $1O1, ,701 SO, and of Silver Bow, $780,.
ono, while in nearly all the tax rate was
heavier than the 14a mills Of Deer Lodge,
but we had no idea our debt would so rapid
" swell up to the proportions it has.
The increase arouses inquiry as to the
cause. We believe, first, that the salary law
costs this County $4,000 to $4,000 more
per annum than fair fee law would. The
duty of the next Legislature to repeal 1t
seems imperative. Next, glance will show
that $l6,6OO.4O more were expended for
roads and bridges than was collected from
property tax. Then, the two terms OF Court
held las. year were enormously expensive.
The KuKlux cases from Philipsburg, al
though United States cases, cost the County
almost as much as If they had been Terri
torial, as witnesses and jurors were sum-
monei for both Courts the first week, aud as
the United States cases took precedence
Jurors and witnesses Of the Territorial
Courts had to remain here till the United
States cases were disposed Of, and in many
instances their fees and mileage amounted
to over 500 each, while their services were
REQUIRED but short time. This is one adj
vantage ip not having the United States
Court here.
Another thing is, Deer Lodge is third in
property and population in the Territory,
Lewis & Clarke leading, with Silver Bow
second aud Deer Lodge third. But, prac-
tically, helena is Lewis & Clarke County,
and Butte Silver Bow County, while Deer
Lodge has more settled area than both COM
hined and has the three important towns of
Anaconda, Philipsburg and Deer Lodge ly-
ing in triangle At considerable distances
apart with some portions of the County
quite remote. This makes it more expensive
to administer in several respects, although
less than if it were divided and two or three
governments maintained. As the taxes will
be levied this year after the assessment is
made there will be an inevitable increase.
even if the lists 60 up million or two more,
or we will still continue to increase the
debt. We may reasonably look for lighter
Court expenses, fol less expenditure for
roads and bridges, and for repeal of the
salary law, which may cut down the ex.
penses one fourth to one third in another
year, while the property lists and licenses
will increase; but even in these days Of pros
perity it is not we'll to let the public debt
increase. It mas to be paid sometime, and
it is better not incurred if it can be reason
ably avoided. We do not know how other
counties are showing up this year, but we
trust more fayorably than Deer Lodge.