Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-01-20
EDITORIAL.

The Statesman asserts that the
Marion county court had $500 worth
of Autographed stationery printed al
ST. Louis, when as good stationery
could have been printed here at Sa
lem for much less money. The same
county court has been using books fOr
the tax rolls that cost as high as S35
when the Secretary of State furnishes
them TO all the counties for about 81 a
volume. The Statesman itself under
Mr.. T.. Il. Irvine got $500 for printing
delinquent tax lists that Sheriff
Knight had published for less than
half that sum. We do not believe Mr..
Hendricks, the present manager Of
the Statesman, enGOrses this kind Uf
raids ON tie public treasury.
But the point we desire TO make
plain aud sJrouR Is that the county
court is not so much 10 blame as the
Republican party managers Who have
a political pull on the court and use
10 for their Own benefit. The spOils
Republican machine holds up the
county court for such jobs as iithO
graphing, double-price TAX lists, as
sessmenJ rolls that cause the county
litigation and loss, and courthouse
improvements at fictitious prices.
The idea OF such politicians is to
pack primaries, nominate men whom
the people will elect. aud then in the
name of the Republican party hold
up the public trei sury Who Is 70
blame, the court or the party mana
gers? We believe If the county court
were left free from the dictaJiOn OF
the corrupt bosses IT, would do far
better than IL does. Men in public
Office don't want TO do wrong, but the
Republican machine In this county
has been in the hands Of men who
don't want 10 do right.
Candidates are being brought out
for the Office OF school director, TO be
filled Ia March. The finances nf the
district are in deplorable condition.
by change in the laws In 1893 no
levy could be made and the dl ,trict is
about l6 months behind In It's finances.
IL is not the fault OF the present
school board that we are thus COM
PEELED To pay interest on current
taxes just levied.
THE JOURNAL was wrong In saying
there was no law for borrowing the
money at the bank TO run the schools
with. There Is "a section permits It,.
But IL is great wrong in theory and
practice TO mulct the current taxes In
advance OF their collection.
1t is a condition the district should
get out Of. 1t is a disgrace tn our
business intelligence TO pay $1,000
year interest at g, I, 8 and 8 per cent,
when elsewhere similar debts are
carried at half that amount |
II we cut the interest burden
in two, allow school warrants |
TO draw per cent, then the surplus |
money In the community will always
absorb them. But the point we wish
To make Is that this matter must be
discussed. The six mill levy we
charge will not pay the current ex-
penses OF the year and interest. We
challenge anyone to show by reliable
statistics that IL will, and we will ad
NIT we are In error IL 1t can be shown.
We are not only creaCing deficits
but we are making no prOyis-
ion To pay the bonds that fall
due IN 1900 The people waut
not candidates IN the interest OF
this faction or that so much as com
mon honesty OF purpose, to apply com
mon business principles. This is in
eYitable and must be attended 10 If the
credit, honor and integrity of this
community Is to be preserved.