, 1900-12-14

confined to that particular locality; in
am disposed to believe that there are,
at this time just such conditions eX
listing in many municipalities and 9th.
Ell public governments of states locat.
ed east of the Mississippi river.
Wyoming in common with other
states. suffered from the negligence
and lack of business methods that pre-,
vailed among public officers. Her coun'
ty Indebtedness had increased from
year to year. while there was no per-
ceptible increase in the value of her
improvements.
Our constitution provided that any
Indebtedness existing at the date the
territory was admitted to statehood
might be bonded. provided the bonds
issued should not exceed four Per
centum of the assessed valuation Of
the county or municipality as the case
might be. The counties awaited them
selves of this privilege. but. with per
haps two exceptions, Immediately pro-
ceeded to create new Indebtedness
contrary t the provisions of the stat
ute that would subsequently, have to
be legalized and cared for. or repudiat-
ed. The ultimate result attending the
creation of such Indebtedness was not
a matter of serious consideration of the
officers who assisted in creating It.
In 1892 | found that the expense Of
our county governments amounted
to SAP. 0OO.0 0 a large amount of which
could not be and was not paid from the
revenues then collected.
curtai'ing Expenses.
In 1898 endeavored to curtail ex-
penses and abolish the system of ere
ating an Indebtedness that had no le-
gal standing. In this | succeeded with
a few exceptions and subsequently Sc
cured the enactment Of a provision OF
law making it an offense to create any
Indebtedness in excess of the actual
receipts of the current year for public
account; the current year as defined
being from the first Monday in Janu-
airy last past to the first Monday in
January next, ensuing.
This law further provided that any
Indebtedness created in excess OF such
receipts should be null and void as
against the county or other corpora
ton, but that it would operate as a
lien against the officers creating the
same and their bondsmen. This re-
striction had the desired effect.
In 1892 there we're two counties In
our state upon an approximate cash
basis. County scrip vas sold at from
fifty to ninety cents on the dollar. To-
day, every county Of the state Is on
a cash basis and has a surplus to car
ry over to the succeeding year; this
condition has existed for two years,
notwithstanding the fact that our rates
of taxation have decreased annually.
The expense of maintaining our coun-
ty governments in the year 1899 COM
pared with 1892 shows a decrease Of
s117. 100000.
Our towns and municipalities gener-
ally are upon an absolutely cash basis
and in none is there any Indebtedness
created that cannot be discharged
from the that are levied and
collected for the current year. In
state affairs the same degree Of ex-
cellency obtains. No Indebtedness is
created in excess OF the revenues, and
no warrant is issued that cannot be
paid upon presentation to the state
treasurer.
How It Was Done.
The question arises,-How was this
condition brought about?
First-The examiners reports are
written and are open to the public.
The criticisms passed or the compli,
ments expressed are published by the
newspapers and disseminated among
public in general.
Second-The standard of integrity
and competency of these nominated
and elected, has been materially eleva-
ted and, in securing business men and
taxpayers to administer the affairs of
government the interests of all have
been protected.