The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-11
TAXES LIGHTER.
Tho Misleading Statements Of r.
Jockey Corrected by Hon.
e D Edgerton.
Facts and Figures Showing Clearly
IN Economical Adminis-
tration OF Affairs.
Speculative Outside Property md M.
Jockeys Opportunity-Ths Pay
mont Of Teachers Salaries.

AOO20yb ray
msn Of Tsachsrs' Salaries.
The attention Of County Commissioner
EdRsSton WAS yesterday oallsd TO . com-
munioation from r. Jockey. published In
THn INDEPENDENT Of last sunday. In his
communication Mr.. Lockey attacked the
county commissioners for their manage
melt Of county Affairs. in~sinuating that II
Was just the reverse Of economical. With
. smile Mr.. EdRerton said he had read the
card, adding: Il will say that I would pre-
for TO pay NO attention to that portion
referring to the commissioners. but ! feel
that II 10 only just TO the property owners
and residents Of Helena that statements
which are untrue regarding the subject Of
taxation should not 60 forth to the world
at large uncontradictsd. A comparison
with the previous year and the rates Of
other counties 10 favorable rather than 9th
erwiss." he continued. mi. Jockey is
mistaken when he says that taxes Of Lewis
and Clarke county we're increased last year.
The fact IL they were just one-half mill
less beside the two milla for jail Of any
general tax. 70 far ~ any levy IL concerned
thst could be controlled by the commits
sionsrs. than in 1891.
''The levy for tho state, school, poor,
roads, etc.. were all the same az the pre-
vious year, except the item of eounty Or
general county expenses, and that in 1891
was one and one-half mills. and this year
1t was only one mill; and while referring TO
shat. IL may be we'll to say IL covers about
the only items Of expenditures which are
within the control OF, or Adjustment, to any
considerable extent, of ths commissioner.
In other counties Of the state this item
ranges from three and one-half TO twelve
and one.hal mills. Where Mr.. Lockey
has made his error 10 in regard to the spe-
and just a word on that subisos
may mot be amiss. In 1891 the school trus-
tees asked the commissioned to levy three
n ons-half mills. This was refused, and
only a levy Of v and a half mills made.
A. the spring election Of 1892. held April 2.
the question WAS submitted to the voters %
levied TO furnish additional school
facilities.' The vote on that question was
about four-afths in favor Of this extra az
penditure, SO that IL was the qualified
voters that increased the tax and decided
this extra mill should be levied, and not
the commissioners. the levy by the COM
missioners being the same in 1892 as ii was
special tax for district No. !. this one mill
for additional school facilities' has only
application to the city Of Helana and not
the county generally. In 1891 and 1892
eaoh. We were required by the school trus-
tees. under section 1906. to levy an extra
paying interest on the school bonds an d
furnishing q sinking fund 30 that. taking
off the two extra mills which only applies
to this district, for 1892 the general levy OF
the commissioner for this year would be
six and a half mills. (This does not in.
oluds . levy on outside property of two
mills for general road purposes.) While
last year II was seven mills, exclusive OF
jail. Last year ths reduction in valuation
was nearly $4,000 ,0OO, or about 16 per cent.
without wishing to express any opinion
regarding the management Of school
affairs in general, 1t would seem a. though
possibly there might be some more just
criticism than that of having allowed the
teaohers and children a holiday. / certainly
do not wish to be understood ~ Offering
any apology for the aid 1 have extended to
school matters. nor, ~ q taxpayer, do I in
any way regret tho money expended in that
direction.
"As to the subject of our debt. il osrtainly
IL somewhat astonishing. but the p~osition
~ ! sOOA WAo0 kSkaXU ~ p6vlU0 OH tO9
jail debt. instead of issuing bonds and call
Ing upon posterity to help pay principal and
will show clearly enough that I
believe in the principle of paying az We 90,
and ! think II shat principle was adopted O
little more generally, instead of calling on
the peopls. generally to vote for a bond
,S.os; useless ao.., .ap'1 ID .h;: o.on.a.;o be
IT might be we'll to note that of the
$4,000 paid for interest. only Gil, 400 Of it
IL Tor county purposes. $24. 600 for schools,
and $36. 600 for city.
1.-The only undsniable position taken by
Mr.. Lockey." concluded Mr.. Edgsrton, lis
, mat unimproved outside property is taxed.
proposition 10 the fact that. at present,
there 10 no law that exempts spectators
from taxation. and taxes are one Of the
burdens Of real estate s~peculations: but
Mr.. Jockey being in the Legislature, il af-
lords him q fine opportunity to rem.
edy this defect. II 1t 10, in his opin-
ion, unreasonable that outside property
be forced to contribute toward the
support OF the government, while ii 10 IN
lalable at speculative figures. II may be
we'll to note that the levy in this county,
while we were building our Jail, with
ehe two mills extra for that purpose, was
lower than any county in the state. and the
same is true of the past year."
One OF tho school trustees. referring yes
terday to Mr.. Jockeys statement that be
was informed" that shs ~trustsss had made
the seaohersa present" Of $1,000 or ST. 200,
said 1t would be we'll for that gentleman to
into the matter before he made such q
statement. mo present was
continued the trustee; 1.-THE teachers
are employed at 80 much per month: the
trustees decided TO close the schools for one
week for the Christmas holidays; the teach
srs were there and ready and willing to
work right along; il was not the fault nor
desire OF the teachers that they be laid off
for = week. Under tho circumstances il
felt that that the trustees had no right
to make . deduction from their regular
salaries. The Helena teachers
bssn paid during the Christmas holt
days in previous years. the Butte teachers
paid during the holiday recess,
30 were the Anaconda teachers, and II Mr..
Lockey will take the trouble to inquire he
will md that In every oity in the east of
any size the teachers are paid full salaries
for the month in which The Christina holt
days come. whether the~y'continue for one or
weeks. Perhaps M. Lookey really OBJ
lects to a Christmas holiday recess. There
10 one way the trustees could have legally
the payment of the teachers for The
whole month of December. They could
have discharged them all on Doc. % and
.hen employed those who remained Jan. 2.
The trustees made neither present, Gift,
lor donAtion-they simply paid ths teach-
,rn NJ Ho1aua -haA -.s Aha;v sr.A A. =.