Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-14
Department.

ment will be In charge Of an old x
perienced writer, who will have more
time, and inclination perhaps, to take
q hand in the political whirl than the
publisher. He will be the sole guar.
dian Of this department and will stand
ready to uphold whatever may appear
herein, unless it be in the way of COM
m%unications, which will of course be
welcome and will be published IL space
permits and are along beneficial lines.
This department will not be SANDER
GUS and abusive, but will seek to be le-
Ultimately helpful to the republican
ticket. If you have anything of a po-
litical nature to publish in the interest
of the republican party OF the ticket
address it to "Political Department."
care of the STAR, and the editor of this
department will attend to it. In fact
he urges those interested to send in
brief items that may be helpful to the
party.
Taxpayers should make a note of the
fact that the Times-Herald makes no
direct charges against any republicans
in its SANDER column of "Gentlemen
Please Explain" That paper merely
asks insinuating questions for which
there is not the least foundation. AS
n man puts it, it would be just as
reasonable and fair to ask Mr.. Ames
why he dosen't pay his lodge that
money that he collected for it? or, why
he doesn't send his paper to all those
people who have paid him in advance?
or, what about that hush money that
hegot from a certain candidate?
These are fair questions IL his are.
The B. g. M. Railroad Co. is not fav-
ored in the matter of road tax, as Edi-
tor Ames seeks to have his readers be-
lieve. Their "road tax was cut in two
this summer" SO was that of every
other taxpayer in the unorganized por-
ton of the coulty-That is the levy
for road tax this year in one mill and
last year it was two mills. The B. &
NJ. works out its road tax under the
supervision Of the road supervisors in
the several districts through which
the road passes, as is their privilege as,
we'll as that of every other taxpayer,
while the Elkhorn company prefers to
buy road warrants in the districts
along the line of it's road and turn
them in in payment Of its road tax,
which is also the privilege Of every
other taxpayer. Is that plain enough
for one of the fool questions of the
Herald's SANDER column?
The Herald editor seemsto be partic-
ularly and personally interested in the
defeat Of the present auditor, who has
been one of the most competent officials
the county ever had. The duties of
the auditor are manifold, his work is
complicated and his responsibility
great, a fact which any experienced ac-
%countant or book-keeper will admit.
Scarcely a session of the legislature is
held without he is given some new du-
ties to perform, with no additional
compensation. The last legislature
enacted a law creating a county board
of education and establishing a uni
form system of text books. Under
this law the auditor is made ex-oficio
clerk Of this board, is required to at
tend all meetings, to keep an accurate
record of the proceedings and given
supervision of the text book business
throughout the county; orders all
books and keeps an account with each
text book depository-all this without
extra pay. He looks after the loanine
of the permanent school funds, draws
all mortgages, notes, cupons, etc., and
notifies all mortgagors of interest com.
ing due. He has charge of the leasing
of all school and endowment lands in
the county, draws all leases in dupli,
CaVo-AOf WllCu II lGc VI 10 C0uCS IL
charged and this is sent to the Land
Commissioner-and keeps a record OF
all leases and collections, all without
any compensation. In reference to
this the commissioner of school and
public lands in a recent letter says:
II realize that this work has become
quite burdensome to the county audi.
tors. 1 believe they should be allowed
some compensation for the same and I
wonld be willing to loan my might in
the next legislature to see that they
are paid"
The county auditor has general su.
pervision of all matters pertaining to
annual and general elections, sees to
the publication of all notices required
by law, the printing of ballots, the or.
dering of all supplies, poll books, etc,
and directs the delivery of the same to
| Tho x,,;o,,e -~o11;,,- r3ooo, nN.... g.