Tombstone epitaph., 1890-02-22

deem $20,000 of bonds last year. The law gave them the option of redeem ing or refunding within certain time. When the present Board took office they received proposals from Chicago parties for the $9l 900 in bonds, in an- swer to an advertisement published by their predecessors in office. These communications were never answered but were c0ntemptuOusly thrown into the waste basket. Thus was lost at that time the opportunity 10 lessen the interest charges and Obviate the ne cessity of redemption in time of un- usual business depression. Owing to , lack of business judgment, to say the least. time was allowed to slip by until they were face to face with the fact that they had to provide for the re- demption of $20,000.
 Second-We charge that the Board, in levying the tax for the redemption of these bonds, was guiltless of a knowledge of arithmetic or had some ulterior design. In 1888 the assess ment roll, stating the amount in round numbers, footed up $2, 2,SOO,OOO in 1889 the assessed valuation of the county was $3,200,000-an increase of S400,000. In order to raise S20,OOO an extra cent on the dollar was added to the tax levy, which would bring in S32000. What the taxpayers would like to know is, why this extra burden of SI2,000 was laid on them and what has become of the money?
 Third-We charge that the Board has not been honest in its dealings with the public regarding the refund ing of the bonded indebtedness of the county, and has caused false i'm pression to obtain that S23,OOO has been redeemed Such is not the case. The amount of the bonded indebt- edness was $9I ,000 and when the | S20O00 were redeemed an advertise ment was published calling for pro- posals for $6S,000 instead of $71 900, leaving it to be inferred that the other | S3.000 had been redeemed. A citizen of Tombstone, after seeing the adver- tisement and figuring out that there were $3,O00 in bonds uncal!ed for, went to the Board and asked for them, being willing and anxious to invest that amount of money in the refund ing bonds at 7 per cent. But the Board refused to let him have them and that amount of old bonds are not refunded, are still dIawing 10 per cent interest and are now, or were a few days ago, lying in the County Treas uref's Vault, but who the favored in- dividual is we have not been able to learn. The people would like to know why they are taxed this extra 3 per cent on $3,000 for the benefit of some unknown party.
 Fourth-We charge the Board with wasteful extravaganza. Their availa- ble revenues, leaving out entirely the redemption of $20,000, have been $22,G00 greater than those of the old Board. By the operation of the sal ary law, which went into effect last year, a saving of $I0,000 was effected, and the $I2,000 raised above the re- quirements of the redemption fund makes the $22,000. Still the general fund is overdrawn. Where has this large sum of $22,000 gone? AS an instance of wasteiul mismanagement we will cite the manner of placing the rew bonds: Matters had been satis- factorily arranged with parties in Chicago, and they were ready to pay over the money on receipt of the bonds. All this could have been cas- fly transacted through Wells, Fargo & Co.,, without any risk whatever and for a reasonable sum. But, no; they must needs send d special agent, allow ing him $500 for expenses, which, making a liberal allowance, was $100 in excess of his requirements. h. stead of requiring this special agent to take the bonds with him they were forwarded through the express office at a valuation of something over $15O, thus further increasing the expense. Alter the old bonds were surrendered in Chicago, and had become utterly valueless, they were shipped back to Tombstone through the express office at valuation of tWO hOuSdad dOLLdrS, when they could have been brought back as so much old paper in the va lise of the special agent. It would appear from this that the Board, in- stead of trying to save money, exer- cised all their ingenuity in devising ways to pile up expenses Does this look like economy?
 Fifth-We charge the Board of Su-