Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-08-25
A BIT OF RECENT HISTORY.

A BIT OF RECENT HISTORY.
While our Republican contemporaries
are sounding the praises Of the record OF
that party for economy in the manage
ment OF county affairs, it might be well
to call their attention TO a convention OF
taxpaveYs which met in Montesano in
March 1894, to devise some means ofrun-
ming the county that would not coniiscate
their property.
This was no populist gathering. there
were no politics in it. indeed its chief
promoters and leading spirits were, and
are, among the foremost Republicans in
Chehalis county, notably Geo. H. Emcr-
son, c. +. WHITE Frank Deckebach, State
Senator Coolor, James \. karr. John T..
AledcalI, a. II. Nrliilhs and Il host OF
othcls. All sections OF the county were
ic. I,-uul,l and uolc earnest set OF
men has never gathered together in Che
halls county.
\ system Of Republican laws had per-
mitted their systematic robbery and the
Republican gang in the court house (who
no.. ,,..,,, .,oI.;ru T., ,.oturnN Vara q lIoWin "
no opportunity to increase the burdens
OF the taxpayer to escape. This led to
the outburst that resulted in the conven-
ton as stated.
No report that Auditor Sells can make,
no fusion statement can begin to equal
the Genunciations hurled at the Republi-
can county officials by the leading spirits
OF that convention.
The committee, headed by Geo. ii.
Emerson, which was appointed to inves'
tiLatc The official methods in the court
ouse, made Il report which was pub
hshcl at the time and which was, in
substance, as follows:
"The total tax bill for the year is $223333
167 go on valuation OF S9.0l5, 10000 OF
something above - per cent. OF this
the state will get $40 ,3O1 50, the schools
$jO,5l5.l IS, roads and bridges $43, 1GS.02,
the cities SIS, 055.SS, and the remainder
$72 1860 will 90 to keep up the officials
and pay miscellaneous expenses OF the
county offices.
"Some Of the amounts under the latter
are appalling; such As $4,000 for books
stationary .and printing; four thousand
dollars for medical attendance and buria
Of the poor.
"Thinl; OF it, over 500 per day for sucl
q service in small and sparsely settled
county, $7O0afor the superintendent o
schools, which means 1000 miles Travelled
in year or over 10 miles travel every
dav the schools aie open. And how ;
superintendent can travel so much anC
attend TO anything else, We leave some
one else To guess.
5000 for the .see. .ot 500 ior lreigh
' postage and SO Oh.
iac association, thinks Inc actual val
1.f.l o. tbr county slightly unde
la'iu licensees eD value, and, ii so
a.. a.. I.,e closely approNimdtes pc
c.4.. ~ tuis is tue state Of facts, i
seems mcc1e.y to claim THAT amy man il
>ucAlU7 county owns his land, hc i
s..4py a tenant to the county, paying
per cent of thedand. value as annual rent
al with covenant in his lease that,
his re"t is not paid when due, he sbal
be fined ) per cent Of the rent be CHARGE
20 per cent interest on it, and at the en-,
Of two years BE elected, if he does not pa,
up tie rent, fine, interest, and big bill
Of costs besides. Talk about the wrong
of the Irish. tenantry insthe face of sucl
a condition Of things as this"
In addition the. committee made
number of recommendations to the boar,
of county commissioners and Legislators
not one of which.was needed, notwith
standing the pledges made to the peopl
during the campaign Of that year. Is
any wonder that thes'people Of Chehali
county flung party affiliations to tn
winds two years later and wrested tn
government from the hands of these var
dals? Is it possibles that the party wit
this record will be returned to powe
through such flimsy statements as recent
ly covered the front",page OF the Vidett
and was issued by the "me too" paper
as supplement? The HERALD opine
not.