Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-01-28

In the following open letter appearing
in the Hermosa Pilot of the goth inst, 4,
over the signature Of Ii. j. Churchill of
that place, the county commissioners
are accused Of gross partiality, and un-
Just discrimination in refusing 10 lower
his assessed valuation, and granting a
similar request in the behalf of the
Sheidley Cattle Co., made through their
agent, Dave Clark. The writer is some
what bitter in his denunciation of the
action of the board, and goes 50 far as to
indirectly intimate that money was
used to influence their action. While
we do not believe that the board has
been thus influenced, we would urge the
propriety Of their making a public state.
ment, explanatory Of the whole matter
for the information of the public, and
in their own justification. 1t is but fair
TO state in this connection that Mr.
Street put himself on record as opposing
reduction in both instances:
HERMosA, OAK, Jan. Is, 1888.
DDIToR PILoT
DEAR SIR TO me it seems that the
local paper is the domestic weekly
budget of all that goes on in our vicinity
and county, though we may know Il
great Zeal of what may be going on, yet
1t is decidedly. TO our advantage to use
many articles that it contains, such, for
instance as the proceedings of the coun-
ty commissioners. OF course all of your
readers, especially the taxpayers, read
with interest the action of the guardians
Of the county, who are sworn to do their
duty faithfully, and lots OF it. They will
also doubtless observe that our com
miSsioners do more than to allow bills
that come before them. On January
3rd, /, accompanied by Mr.. +. w.
Xahrendt, went before the commission
ers with sworn statement, per inven-
tory, Of my personal property, which
inventory was shown to be much less
than my assessed valuationa as raised
by said board when sitting as equalizers
the Sth of July last. ! was informed by
the chairman that they were not no W
sitting as board of equalizers, and that
they could do nothing for me, that
would simply be obliged TO pay the
,
that it was my business to have been
before the board last July; and per-
son named FRYE, whom | understand
poses as legal interpreter for our county
officials, the same who recently, we are
told, while enjoying a drunken brawl,
had the pummeling act done on his face
till it resembled a "hobnailedliycr'-
said for my benefit, that a taxpayer had
no business objecting 10 his assessment
being raised, if he were not present
when they were sitting rs a board of
eQualizcrs, and that under no cousidera-
tiOn could any reduction be made now.
Two days later, at the same session of
the Hon. Board of County Commission
ers, Mr. ID. II. Clark, representing the
Shiedley Cattle Co., appeared before
them and informed them that their per-
sonal property was raised too high and
that it must bc cut down. Your readers
will readily see that their request was
promptly granted. A very important
part is here omitted, namely: How
much He made or They made by the
compromise trust you will pardon
this unpleasant thrust at our Hon. (?l
Board of County Commissioners. Bnt
Consistency thou art jewell" Mark
! the change, Mr.. Clark represents one
Of the weaIthiest cattle companies in
| the Hills He had no trouble to obtain
hearing and large reduction on his
assessed valuation, besides securing the
cancellation of penalty and interest on
taxes of 1886. This certainly suggests
the conclusion that the commissioners
ought to state how much tribute is
wanted, and if their price is too nigh
| for any but big cattle men, possibly a
number of us poor devils can club to-
gether, hire hearing ard buy justice,
| and thus save the seven dollars sole
leather expenses Of one of the county
rings substitutes, even if 1t be true as
| claimed, that such money saves his soul
from - and his body from the
PotteIs Field.
Believing it to be the conscientious
duty Of every good citizen to expose cor
| ruption in office, take this means OF
| informing the public of two actions OF
our county guardians that | am ac'
quainted with, at their last session.
Yours for honesty in Office,
III. J. CHURCHILL,