The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-28
A QUESTION or EQUITY.


near, it is proper that every voter
should understand the questions at
issue. Int he irst place, and despite
broad insinuations to the contrary, it
is right to assume that the people Of
Canyon County are quite willing to
pay their just obligations to the last
farthing. That point settled we may
proceed. For the present we may
leave out of consideration the rabbit
warrents.
In 1895, The County Commissioners
entered upon a contract with the
Gillette Herzog Manufacturing Co.
for the construction on two bridges
to cost some S13704 Very well.
Evidently the Gillette Herzog Co. is
not composed of callow youth or
sage in dotage, hence when they en-
tered upon that contract it is due their
intelligence as a great manufacturing
institution to assume that they knew
what they were doing. 1t would be
unkind to assume otherwi Use. But
there are facts going to show that the
Gillette Herzog people were well adj
vised. Indeed they keep constantly
employed able counsel. Very we'll.
If these Gillette HerzOg people knew
what they were doing they knew that
when they undertook to build $4,000
worth of bridges for Canyon County
on thebare authorization of the Com
missioners, they were taking pretty
serious chances. They knew that the
Commissioners had no right to incur
such an extraordinary expense without
being authorized by vote of the PeO-
pie. Indeed it is but fair and just
presumption to say that the bridge
builders fully understood and realized
the extent of the risk they were taking,
That being true we may at once dis
card any sympathy that might be felt
for them on the score that they had
gone on in complete good faith and
unsuspecting confidence. However,
even the fact that they were appraised
of the risS, is not sufficient ground for
repudiating any just claim they may
have against the County, but it is
matter which the people have right
to consider. Now comes the next step.
Gillette Herzog e. Co. find that the
thing they understood was liable to
happen does happen. Their warrants
are invalidated and naturally they are
in great stress of body and mind
They come to the Hon. County Com.
missioners for relief and those generous
officials act with a promtness and
and magnanimity that is truly spirit
ual. The Hon. Board say to the dis.
tressed Gillette Herzog, why of course,
Wen help you at once. Well call
special election right away and have
ourselves authorized to make special
levy so as TO pay you off in this year
and next; then we will take your war.
rants Of$l3,794, and, right after election
compute the interest on them, bunch in.
terest and principal and give you nice
chunk of warrant for $4,000. That,
Won see, will enable you to compound
interest; that is draw interest on inter-
est. Thus, in effect, spoke the good
county commissioners OF Canyon coun-
ty and they said: We want to show you,
Messrs Gillette & IIerzog that we are no
doggon Repudiators. We wont permit
you to go Into court and take judg
ment and get your pay the same as
anybody else. No sir, ee! You might
think we are Repudiators, Wei have
a special election and big splurge and
spend a $1,000, or so. on il, Just to show
you that we are no doggon Repudia-
tors. From what has been done that
is what we may imagine the Commits
sioners said. We can not help but ad.
mire the goodness and benevolence of
their hearts although it does seem as
though they were n little too kind to
Gillette, Herzog &CO. 1t viii be noted
that these people are to get compound
interest. 1t is to be remarked that
they are made preferred creditors; that
is, If this election carry, a special tax
levy will be made this year to pay a
portion of their claim and a levy sufi-
cient to pay the balance viii be made
next year. Now, why should this be
done for the Gillette & Herzog people
while hundreds of other warrant hold
ers, whose claims are just as good, must
wait the regular course of events to get
their pay2 Why was not the same pro-
vision made for the rabbit warrantsg
Why all this eolat for the benefit of