Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-04-27
THE COUNTY FINANCES.

lllt iVotSiSs sSutttSfs anu ntucuClAtlSs VI
the depletion of the county treasury, are
on the back-track. Believing that their
past course OF profit to themselves can no
longer be followed with safety, they have
whipped about, tucked their tails between
their legs, and with ki-yi that is con-
temptible are "agin the bonds,'' ''agin
increasing the limit of indebtedness,
and are trying hard to mix themselves up
with honest folks opposed to an increase
of the limit of Indebtedness on principle,
under mistaken idea of economy. 1t is
the old story of Stop Thief Stop Thief!
Having secured all the plumber possible
by the enterprise, boldness and effrontery
of thieves, they are now anxious to be
mistaken for the other fellow. BY howl
.'agin bonds,' "agin increasing the
limit" they hope to establish themselves
in the ranks of dyed-in-the-wool eceno-
mists. What a pity that Inen can be and
are misled by such subterfuges on the
part of ambitious moral deformities.
The extravagancy born of the boom
three years ago is now being followed by
the inevitable reaction.
City and county expenses of the inn
mediate past are being canvassed and
condemned in no uncertain words.
Nine thousand dollar bridges, four
thousand dollar wharves, court house
additions, fine furniture, elegant poor
farm on bluff, big printing bills, big
salary lists, are now being looked upon
as luxuries beyond our means, for which
no real necessity ever existed. Economy
and kick are the order of the day, but
while we are pluming ourselves as econo-
mists and even the rats are deserving the
ship, extravaganza and hideous forms are
rising out of the slough OF misappropri-
ated funds and crying "me too" Let us
stop and reason together.
1t is indeed cheap man that cannot
see in the light of county Indebtedness
in excess of the limit that the expensive
bridges, wharves and big printing bills
could have been dispensed with without
serious detriment. This fact being SO palp-
able, it follows that the cheapest road to
popularity that the scheming politician
surrounced by every evidence Of extrava-
} gance, can follow is to shout economy. 1t
is the easiest method for the beneficiary
of past roguery to cover up his past
iniquities by joining the crowd in howl
for economy. Just keep your eye open
for these birds of prey, and watch their
movements, if you would know the true
meaning OF the word poltroon.
Admitting tina. we could have dispensed
J with few of the expenditures of the past
two years, yet reasonable men will have
to concede that several OF the improve
ments made during this period will YET
be looked upon with the eye of approval.
For instance, the policy of concentrating
! the expenditures for road improvements
in lieu of the 'scatter to the winds avail
able funds" policy in vogue prior to the
boom. Again, the citizens of Ocosta look
upon the South bay bridge as ornamental,
If not useful. while we of the north shore
believe it to be a monument OF outrageous
waste of county funds. The citizens Of
. Elma do not frown upon the Elbow Rifle
bridge, while the balance of us wish il
had been securely in hades sometime
prior to the signing OF the contract for its
construction. Such is the world, the
flesh and the devil. Economy is com.
parative term, whose Interpretation de-
ponds largely upon location, residence OF
property interests.
The howl for economy by genuine ad.
vocates, aided by the discordant yell Of
the hyenas that constitute the fake ele-
ment in their ranks, cannot at this day
undo the past nor now reduce the excess
over limit of Indebtedness. Business.
like action is required, not the examina-
ton OF faith on the part OF old and new
converts of economy.
Attorney schofeld, in his opinion sub
mitted to the county commissioners in
answer to a query by them as to their
authority to issue warrants under present
conditions on the general county fund
says:
81 further advise the board of county
commissioners that it has no authority in
law to order such warrants drawn, or to
. create any debts, by contract or other
wise, or to enter into any new contracts,
the payment of which is to be made In
warrants drawn on the general county
fund, so long as said county is indebted
in excess of said limit. =
| would respectfully suggest that there is
but one method of procedure by which
the present difficulty can be avoided, and
that is to comply with the provisions OF
Chapter of Title so OF the General Stat
utes: Section 1915 of said chapter in
substance, provides: That the county
may contract Indebtedness for strictly
county purposed in excess Of the one and
one-half per cent limit mentioned in the
constitution, but not exceeding in amount,
together with the existing Indebtedness,
five per cent of the taxable property to be
ascertained by the last assessment for
state and county purposes, whenever
three-ifths OF the voters OF the county
assent thereto"
To make use of Grover, it is condi-
ton, not a theory, that confronts US.
What does this condition, that renders
it impossible to issue warrants on the
General County Fund, mean? What
will be its immediate practical results?
1st-The suspension of trial by jury