Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-21
AUDITOR ISLANDS up
Hut the Com Fusion Organ Refuses to
Publish Courteous Communi-
cation.

Editor of STAR:-
On the 8th of October E. s. Ames,
editor of the Times Herald, was asked
by me if he would publish a communi.
cation from me in answer to the ques-
tions propounded to me, as auditor,
from week to week in the columns of
his paper. He asked me why did not
publish it in the STAR and replied
that 1 wanted all of the readers of the
Times Herald to see what had to say
in reply to his queries and that in just
ice to me and for the edification of his
readers he should permit me to reply
to his questions in his own columns.
He then said that sit costs money to
set type" whereupon 1 told him that
would pay for the type setting or set
it myself. He then stated that he
would require all his space for other
political matter in preparation, but
that he would think it over and let me
know. He failed to do SO and on Tues
day, the 10th, I again asked him if he
would publish my communication. He
answered that he would see. II he
''saw" he didn't advise me of the fact.
On Wednesday called him up by
phone and asked il he had decided to
run my article, saying that would
hire it set in type and bring it to him.
He replied that he could not print it
as he needed all his space for other
matter. Thus he is placed in the posi-
tion of asking lot of insinuating
questions calculated to deceive, mis-
lead and malign and then refuse to
print fair and candid reply, free from
abuse and based on the Rcial records
of the county. Twas asking no more
than custom and jtstice demanded,
and am willing to leave it for the
voters of the county to say whether
his treatment was just and honorable
and the kind OF fairplay that every de-
cent and respectable citizen likes to
see in a political campaign as we'll as
in the ordinary affairs of life.
will esteem it great favor if you
will kindly publish the following COM
munication intended for publication
in the Times Herald:
Editor Times Herald:
Inasmuch as you have seen fit to
criticise in an insinuating way some of
my official acts as auditor of Fall Riv-
er county and have made statements
that are not in accordance with the
facts, / deem it but just aud proper
since am again candidate for re-
election, that those who have read your
comments should also have the benefit
of a statement from me.
You have attempted to quote the Law
In reference to the salary of county
auditors and cite your readers to chap
ter los of the compiled laws of 1887,
when it is quite generally known that
the law regulating the salary of audi
tor has been changed at nearly every
session of the legislature since 1887
Chapter 81 of the session laws of 1899
provides that the salary of county au-
ditor shall be based on the valuation
6f property in their respective coun
ties as fixed by the state board for the
preceding year as follows: Five mills
ON each dollar of the first 100000: one
mill on each dollar of all sums in ex.
cess of the last named sum and less
than $780, 600; one-fourth of one mill
on each dollar of all amounts in ex.
cess of the last named sum and less
than 81, 100000, and one-twenty fifth Of
one mill on each dollar of all amounts
in excess of said last named sum
Again last winter law was enacted te
regulate the salary of county auditor
chapter A of the session laws of 1897
In this the salary is fixed precisely al
5 It was in 1893, so far AS it effects this
4 county, with the further provision that
the salary shall be paid in warrants on
either the SPECIAL SALARY FUND, or the
county general fund. Reckoning on
/. this basis the salary of the county au.
ditor in this county, with a valuation
Of sl,511 1884 is a little more than s115O
besides postage, instead OF 1893 as stat.
ed by you in the Times Herald.
During the term of the democratic
auditor, j. w. Moore, the deputy audi.
tor, w. B. Dudley, who is pretty we'll
posted lawyer, found that the audito,
vas entitled in addition to the regula,
salary provided by law, to 25 cents fol
every certificate, with seal, made by
bin, and under this provision Of Law
he drew on June 1, 1892 general fund
warrant for e403.s3, mostly for Ger
y tiacates made BY him up to that time
and from that date up to the time the
pressnt salary policy was adopted the
auditor was allowed fees Tor thess
certificates In addition to his salary
I and postage bills. This, no doubt, hs
4 vas legally entitled to, but this plan