The Helena independent., 1893-08-19


value, in or out OF the city.
Tho tax levy affecting us particularly 10
as follows:
Mills gs
General. county. nty.......................
Poor. ou
fSsHdes' Bistriot No. l. Heien. i:inkina fund.-
District No. !, Helena, AS per vote. ......''"
Total .....'.."i
This last item shows the folly Of COM
munity allowing its affairs TO be manipu-
lated a. ours have bsen. The board OF
county commissioners have authority 10
levy q school tax sufficient for all purposes
without this vote or special tax. and the
school t,ustees would have undoubtedly
waived their right TO demand its collection.
bus for the fact that it had been certified to
the county clerk and was beyond their
power to recall. Your committee were OF
the opinion that the county commissioners
should hive levied a tax not to exceed one
or ono and one half mills for gene al county
/, urposes (ths levy last year being one mild,
thus avoiding the collection OF about $780,
600. but for which II might have become
necessary to issue county warrants some
tims next year. The general school levy
mand was mado for three and ne-hali
mills because of tho small amount OF
money which would be appo,tioned to the
smaller districts so the levy was made two
and one-hnlf mills.
At this point Mr.. Jockey said IN the fore;
going both himself and Mr.. Steele had
ioined. but the remaining portion was his
own idea. The report concludes as follows:
The dispositon Of officials seems to be to
disregard the financial troubles existing
and insist upon collecting ms much or more
from the people than II times we're good.
and financial matters easy. We believe the
,ioc cionnra not iUAtttloO
placing the levy at more than 919 Or 10
mills, II tho original assessment is to
stand more money will be collected Gf
taxes t.,e paid) than is nectssa y. or than
should b. collected. The special a tn tnx 10, 70,
realizo $4S, ,OOO aud il the order OF the state
board is carried into effect will roach
about S55.0oo. then tho ~ mills
general school tax on tho
reduced assessment will produce about the
same amount. about four tifths OF which i
paid BY this distr1ot. making nearly $751;
for school purposes collected from this dis
tict on tbs reduosd assessment and nearly
S1OO, coo on Il . original asssssmens. This
sum IL largely in excess OF any reasonable
demand that can be made for school pur.
poses, and We sugRsst that the citizens OF
Helena take this matter in hand and see
that the manipulation of school funds 10
stopped, and that effectually. II is about
time that those who furnish the money
should have something to say ~ TO ths
amount TO be appropriated. and not those
schemers whose only objsct 10 to colloot
large sums and fssten the burden upon the
people withous regard to its necessity. but
simply that they may beneht by II. We
are OF tho opinion that our schools can be
run for from % to 35 per cent less than
they hnvo been. and that without i'm pairing
their efficiency In the least. :,
Col. Sanders moved the seport be received
.,1 roA e1oDtad nntil ovePv ONa had n
chance to look into ii. II contained soms
statements, snid the colonel. that should bs
considered before the report was adopted.
Continuing. the colonel said tho citizsns
were beginning At the wrong end TO right
things the place 20 begin was nt the polls.
"This meeting" he continued. "is mob
we'll -insentioned md resl lectnble. admit,
but wishout legal authority" Then the
colonsl began to scors the public service
from the school trustees to the governor.
He said that do pito ths fact. ~ he was In
formed. that there were about twenty-five
vacant school rooms in town. the trustees
were building another school house. III Ia
pretty nico." he shid. when you have an
addition. to bo able to have tho taxpayers
put school house on II. but for myself do
mot believe IL is right" Then tho colonel
turned his attention to the proposed state
military encamrmsnt at Fort Ellis. He
said he considc cd il waste of the
public money. unless it, use WAS to give the
colonies, Of whom there was innumernble
horde. chance to put on feathers. buckle
their swords TO their sides, and strut around
for . few days. have not soIuplsd."
continued tho colonel. ITO ask the COM
mander-in-chief TO revoke the tho order
for the sncamrmsnG"
Then the colonel tn ned his attention 10
the Montana exhibit At Chicago. and said
one Of tbs principal questions of the hour
wna how many people has Hslsna on ths
par roll In Chicago. He said he reulixsd
that u Was nice thing to go to Chicago as
the states expense. but he believed two
men ON 4 SALARY there would he enough.
Getting mp to the state officers he said
that g., 600 Was too much 10 pay ~ salary
che stats," hs continued. ''hns sbandonsd d
Bic duties. loft deputy in charge. and
gene to Washington. That IL An agreeable
city to spend time In, bSt believe the gen.
Slsmsn who has been elected to the ONCE OF