Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-23

"A time Is az manu- Wueo ~ 10 hhS'J W
become necessary TO use plain and can
did speech about our county and city
affairs. The real situation has been |
known for many months to all who
have had inner knowledge Of business
affairs. Through Indictment Of county
officials tue whole situation is now to
be published to the world, with no ad
vantage to anybody. Officials have
been indicted because they have not
published their reports; aud they have
not published their reports becaust
such publication at this time would on
lv produce additional embarrassment.
Much Of the money belonging u the
county, which was deposited in baukt
months ago, is unobtainable. 1t eau
not be had at present by any pressure.
We do not say that county officials art
without fault, or that they have acted
with prudence and foresight; but they
saw no more clearly than others thai
hard times would set in, or that busl-
ness would shut down. The fact now
is that if this community is to get ouI
of its financial etraits, there must BE-
unity of action aud forbearance al
round. None can afford to drive others
to the wall.-Oregonian Nov. 22.
The above refers to the disgracefu
condition Of Multnomah county Fl
nance, where the principal county offi-
GERS, sheriff, clerk and treasurer, are
under indictment for not properly ac-
counting and publishing their financial
statements to the people according to
law twice year, in April and October,
The simple facts are they had 80 viola
ted their official oaths and embezzled
the peoples tax money to such an ex-
tent that they could not make them
public.
AS the Oregonian says, "the money
cannot be had at present by any pres
sure" The banks that got it from the
Doodle officials have also bodied it. 1t
would break the officials to produce it,.
Yet they are not objects of charity and
forbearance as the Oregonian intimates
does anyone imagine that those officials
have not profited by the misuse of pub
lie funds ? Does any one believe the
banks are not making money by it? 1t
is exactly by this process of boodling
the public taxes that the foundations OF
great fortunes are laid by these public
officers and by these banks. Where "a
few succeed in becoming rich by honest
effort nine out OF ten make their "pile'
In this unlawful use of public funds, q
crime that any honest man should help
make odlous.
Ever since we have published 8
newspaper In Oregon now four year,
I'VE have protested against this sort o
thing. But the people were Indifferent
about 1t. We have protested against
not publishing those reports and the
county court proceedings in Marion
county for the last four years. Al last
a reluctant and untimely publication il
forced from tardy aud unwilling OH.
cials. There Is not good reason why
those reports shall not be ready flI
publication on days notice instead Oi
requiring month or six weeks, or sew
eral months or not at all. The clerR
aud sheriff and treasurer are as respon
sible TO the people for their 6nancia
statements AS National bank Is for IL,
reports which are always ready on 4
days notice.
The last legislature committed 4
number of shameful acts of negligence
Among them was, 80 changing tn,
school laws that in independent dis
tricts no school tax could be levied
Now teacher gets a warrant for a
month's salary. She takes 1t to the
cashier. No money. She takes 1t t.
the bank. They Will not cash IL. They
will not discount 1t. They will take II
as security on short time loan at 10
per cent. City warrants are going beg
cling when the people were told they
would get better financial admlnistra-
tion this year than last. Ia the couu-
ty finances matters are equally as bad.
The county wa rants go begging. The
little money that comes into the county
treasury is FILTERED away on gopher
scalps, attorney fees and exorbitant
newspaper bills, while the actual PRO
ceedings Of the county court are not
made public according 10 law IL is u
time for an awakening OF our officials,
that they owe something TO the people
besides taking their salaries. With an
Increased state taA, double school tax
next year, and increased valuations
and 40 deduction for debt or Iaxation OF
notes or mortgages TO speak Of, the
burdens OF government in state aud
county are going 10 fall on the lands
ana homes OF the people with crushing
force. With products Of the soil at
present low pric .. here will be mor'
and sold for tAxss next year than ey'r
'ef0re.
.a.... h,..lN a ahaIfahad I