People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-12-10

| opOh huo' ihSi SooS INV Si'Sit 40 III
value of property decreases, SO as II
raise the same amount of money b.
taxation. Pursuing this policy, tn,
surplus remaining in the treasur,
each year over and above the ex
pendltures soon grew 10 be large
sum OF money, so 'arge that it begar
to attract the attention of our loca
bankers, Up to this time banks haC
sprung into existence like mush-
rooms in the spring time, and bank
ers the same shrewd fellows they
have proven themselves in more
modern times. The value of II ell
assets had shrunken with depressed
times and they must borrow money
to meet their demands. With a
surplus in the treasury and officials
of their politics, Sumner county be-
came an easy victim to the entreaties
Of these bankers.
While these funds had been paid
into the treasury by men doubtless
who had borrowed the money at
from 1919 to 24% per year, giving
as security mortgage on their prop
erty; yet the bankers borrowed them
from the county at 3To to 4% per
year, giving only as security their
character, standing in the community
and reputation as prominent citizens.
Everything went in those days to
those who possessed a "pull."
Our readers can see, if they will
just reflect, how and why things
were so managed.
By and by the assets of these same
banks had again shrunken and they
must again borrow money. They
had already borrowed from Sumner
county without security, but couldn't
find anyone else so easily duped, so
they must now give security for
their loans, and as consequence all
their good collateral was in due time
absorbed in this direction.
About this time the people and
their officials began to be alarmed
lest danger was ahead, but were
coolly informed BY these same
bankers that if we are required to
pay what we owe you we can't do it.
The amount was too large. The
debt was too big and if the tax
money had been left in the pockets
of the people, the surplus in the
banks would have been gradually
reduced to a minimum before the
crisis of hard times struck US. We
are amongthe old fogies who believe
that no greater sum should be taken
from the people for taxes than is
absolutely necessary to defray the
economical administration of the
county and state.
And in this connection we desire
emphatically to condemn a policy Of
administering our county affairs that
will pile up in our treasury, or in
county repositories a surplus of
$4,000 to 100000 all the year
round. Taxpayers, just think of it!
For the past year the funds of the
county locked up tight and fast in
the First and Sumner National banks
amounts to over $4,000. So far as
the county using them is concerned,
these funds might as we'll have been
at the bottom of the sea. Notwith-
standing that this $4,000 could not
be had, Yet every warrant of the
county has been paid on presenta.
ton by the treasurer just the same
as though this $4,000 were available
for use. And this, too, without a
dollar being collected in the way of
taxes outside Of what would have
been collected had the banks not
failed, as the levy on which all tax
paid since their suspensions and
prior to November l, 1896, was made
IN August, 1895, before either bank
closed.
This shows conclusively to our
mind that too much money has been
and is being annually collected for
taxes in this county. And in our
opinion the policy was begun and
has been continued for the purpose
of furnishing certain favored ind;