The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-09-09
Fake Populist Figures.


away on their anyils at the task oil
making it appear that the Populists
are entitled to great deal of credi,
for the improved condition of the pub
lie treasury. Intent on this task, they
are oblivious to the fact that all around
them the people are discovering tha,
it is not the Populist administration
which is entitled to the credit, but the
people themselves.
The reason the treasury is in better
condition is that the people have paid
their taxes.
Taxes have never been so generousl,
paid in the entire history of this state
and territory as during the past two
years. They were not paid in mere
rapidly because of increased confidence
in the honesty of Populist officials, but
because the people had the money, and
they were enabled to get the money
through the improved price of wheat
for which the Populists are not entitled
to much credit, and to the generally
improved business situation, for which
the Republican national administra-
ton is entitled to all the praise.
For the past five or six years the an
nual delinquency in taxes has run all
the way from 80 to 60 per cent. AS
the levy was for no more than the es-
timated expenses, it was inevitable
that there should be a deficit in the
county funds. Within twelve months
thousands upon thousands of dollars
have been paid on account of delin-
quent taxes. This has enabled the
county governments to call in out
standing warrants and show a surplus.
1t is not the economy of the Populist
officials, but the opulence of the tax
payers that has furnished surplus.
These facts apply to every county
in the state, but in some of the coun-
ties the Populist officers have sought
to delude the people by statements SO
erroneous that they might be describ
ed as absolutely false. One of the
most remarkable instances OF this is to
be found in Chehalis county, where
the report of the auditor is so mislead-
ing that, thanks to an analysis made
by the Montesano Vidette, the people
are indignant.
The county tax levy for 1897 under
Populist rule was SD, 1922, while un-
der Republicans the levy for 1896 was
only $46,64229, an increase under
Populist government of $S,15O.43.
The auditor claims in his statement
that there has been great economy, but
what use is that economy which costs
more for the same services? The an
alysis of the statement made by the
Vidette shows increased taxes, increas-
ed expenses and increased county in
debtedness.
One of the means by which the COM
parative statements have been render
ed misleading is very striking. On
October 8, 1894, general fund war
rant of the county was issued. No
warrant was thereafter issued until
April l, 1896. A period OF one year
and six months elapsed du:ing which
no warrants were issued on the fund,
because the county had reached the
legal limit of Indebtedness, and the
Republican officials refused to issue
more warrants. Nevertheless, the
courts had to be kept open and the
business of the county transacted.
The officers consented to act aud take
their chances OF payment when the
county was able to make it. On the
first day of April, 1895, the county
was again within the limit of indebt-
edness and the county commissioners
issued general fund warrants for the
year and six months during which no
warrants had been issued.
The Popullst auditor Jumps those
warrants with the warrants for 1896,
and then compares the warrants for
1897 with the total. Thus he makes
the expenditure for the year ending
June 80, 1896, $63. 1854 while that
under the Populists for the following
year was only So, ,947.34, making an
apparent saving of $15 5,531.