The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-11-14
TRUE ooxDlr1or OF BLAME
The Tax-PayerS Associatiea's State.
Ment Rs(atod

-
! The following communication
from Attorney 8. B. Kingsbury rel
alive to the financial condition .
Blaine county was sent to us Will
the request that 1t b. published II
the columns Of the KEYsroHr fol
tho benefit of the taxpayers Of thi,
county. Mr.. Kingsbury il perfect.
~ familiar with the facts and ques
tons of law involved in the finan
cial affairs Of Blaine county, having
given it his. close attention eve,
since the county was divided, and
his version of the facts can be re-.
lied upon 40 being intslligently
and truthfully stated:
Mr.. EDITOR: In tho News Mine,
of October 9th Mr.. Purdum makes
an ice-cold false statement as to the
financial condition Of Blaine county.
As | am attempting to place certain
bonds Of Blaine county, by which,
if | succeed, some fifty thousand
dollars will come into the hands OF
those resident of the county who
now hold warrants to that amount
issued by Alturas and Logan coun-
ties, and a. such false statements
injure the credit Of the county if
allowed to 60 unchallenged, I ask
you to insert in your valuable paper
this letter Immediately on receipt
thereof. The pretended report Of
a pretended meeting of few men,
large portion of whom refused for
over two years to pay their taxes,
now style themselves the "Taxpay-
ers' Association" does not take into
account that of the indebtedness
referred to in the so-called report
the sum of SAILS, 58O.O6 has been
cancelled in the issue of new bonds,
extending time of payment, and at
lower rate of interest. This was
explained to Mr.. Purdum before be
made his report. He attempts to
mislead by saying that the records
of the county show an indebtedness
of about $775,000, with interest of
about $175,0OO. besides $500, 600 of
warrants making over a million of
Indebtedness, etc. Yet he knew
that of the bonded debt $418,58O
bad been paid off and cancelled.
He also knew that the warrants of
Gilmore county, amounting to over
$4,000, to be applied in cancel
ling balance of bonded debt, were
in the hands Of the auditor of
Blaine county. He knew Lincoln
county had offered to Blaine county
1927 900 as her part of the debt,
and that Blaine county in q suit
vas claiming over $3.50 900 from
county. He knew that
Bingham county was to pay Blaine
county over $4,000. He Was plainly
old with much explanation that
he Indebtedness of Blaine county,
lfter settlement with other coun-
les, would be lessikhan $3.50, 900.
Explanation 70 him is wasted, but
o the public it is due. The fact is
hat Blaine county is in a better
financially than Lincoln
county, q fact Lincoln county is
lot to blame for.
Blaine county could not force
ettlements with sister counties un-
il the amount of debt was fixed.
Blaine county could not force con-
ribution, and levies of taxes for
purpose of contribution, until she
'erself did her full duty and raised
tax to pay what the other coun.
les should pay back to her. The
reditors look directly and primar-
ly to her, and she for aid to the
thor counties. She cannot call on
'ther counties TO pay her until she
las paid for them. Hence the levy
t 4 per cent. special tax for this
ear. But this will be the last of
UGH high taxation for Blaine coun-
=. She is now in q position to de-
nand her dues from those for whom
most of this tax was levied. She
las levied special tax for the
curt house debt, nearly one half
+ which must be paid back to her
y Lincoln county. She levied q
per cent. tax for the coupons due
ext year, and already over $11O,-
90 Of the bonds 10 which the cou-
ons contain are represented by I
be payment of Gilmore county,
nd can soon be cancelled, 80 that
ill leave the money they would
all for in her treasury, and the
anne Is true Of such portions Of
his old debt 40 Lincoln and Ring-
am counties must assume.
stand ready to 60 before the
eal taxpayers Of your town to yer.
y my statements, and to explain
lily the reasons for the present |.