Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-08-18
ABOUT COUNTY AFFAIRS.
High Taxes and the Duty Of Voters
at the Fall Elections.

EDITOR ARGUs:-I have written a
long article for the ARGUS about our
county affairs, but have come to the
conclusion that farmers and stock
raisers cannot spare the time to read
elaborate articles this fine weather, SO
only send a synopsis.
We are paying too much taxes; prin-
ciple cause, too much crime, much of
which can be traced to our saloons
and gambling houses. Tocorrect this
we must live better lives. ii we want
our children to stay away from sa-
looms and gambling houses we must
stay away ourselves, set them good
examples, introduce more morality
and less algebra in our schools, and
more good works, less faith, re-
pentance and "come to Jesus into
our churches-have fewer sins to re-
pent of. The secondary cause of our
high taxes is too high salaries, too
many officers and too many legisla-
tors elected through the influence
OF cliques who must be reward
ed by high salaries - at least double
what the holders can earn in private
occupations.
My son and self have paid Meagher
and this county, directly and indi-
rectly,) over $4,000 in ten years. Di-
rectly it has not benefited us one dol
lar; we have no schools, work our own
roads, when thieves stole our horses
and killed our cattle We had to put
them down ourselves at a cost to our
ranges of thousands of dollars.
was treasurer of Morrison county,
Minnesota two years, appointed by a
Democratic board of commissioners
to take the place of Democratic de-
faulter; it had two unorganized coun-
ties attached to it for jndical purposes,
and my whole salary for all three
counties for the two years was some
$1,000.
Three years ago l got two water
right blanks filled out and recorded by
our present efficient recorder, fee So,
time consumed, say two hours; hay
was then selling in Lewistown at So
ton, oats at so cents per 100 lbs, and
eggs at Is cents per dozen. Comment
is unnecessary. Before the publica-
ton OF it's receipts and expenditures
our county was reported to be one
hundred thousand dollars in debt. i
am pleased to see it is less, though far
too much. The blame is generally
all laid on the commissioners. No
doubt they have made serious mis-
takes, but our legislators are as much
il not more to blame. They make the
laws, the commissioners only execute
or try to execute them. i have held
both positions several terms and know
something about it.
Report says this sparcely settled
agricultural and stock county has four
sheriffs, at an annual cost of fifteen
thousand dollars; or two dollars and
a half for every man woman and child.
Some twenty years ago Lewis & Clarke
county had but two sheriff officers, ex-
cept during court or on extra occa-
sions. Helena was not Incorporated
then and had from six to eight thous-
and inhabitants. Mr.. Walker, saw
mill owner in the Judith Basin, was
sheriff two years and can verify my
statement.
Now what is to be done? Our gov
ernments are all founded on the prin-
ciple that all power is in the people.
Let us exercise that power: take
it out of the hands of cliques,
nominate men for the legislature-not
boys or law students-pledged to vote
for the reduction of salaries and all
other economic measures, and men
for county commissioners who pay
taxes and manage their own business
well; in short, good, honest, compe-
tent business men who can say no
when necessary, and above all, let us
not vote for men who frequent saloons
and gambling houses.
This may not suit some; it is not
satisfactory to me; it would have been
better if | was younger and had more
time.
JAMES FERGUS.