The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-10-12
A Word To The thoughtful.

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the record of Thomas o NELL as Coun-
ty Commissioners, but venture to sng-
gest that the democratic board is en-
titled to very trifiing, if any, credit
for the present prosperous financial
condition of Mason County.
The Tribune exults because the
County treasury now has oyer SOS, 600
in all the funds, most of which are be-
yond the disposal of the board. In the
current expense fund there was on Oct:
LIST, Sc ,942.3S and it is from this fund
that the County's running expenses
are paid. This sum, together with
what may be received from the s cond
installment of 1900 taxes due by Dec
ember 1st, may pay all our running
expenses until next tax-paylng time.
The last legislature provided for the
three per cent. rebate and all the lar
ger and many of the smaller taxpayers
took advantage Of it by paying their
taxes in February and March. Hence
the second iustalIment will be mainly
from the smaller taxpayers and will
amount to but little.
A cursory examination of the annual
reports and quarterly statements will
convince the reader that the County
Commissioners have handled whole
lot OF money in the past two years,
and have 81 900 left. Without looking
up or calling into question any of the
expenditures of the present democratic
board, we refer to some figures shown
by the reports as published in the
JOURNAL this week and IN the past.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, 1900, there was collected on the as
sessment rolls, the sum of $50, 259.S7,
without including special roads, schools
or Shelton municipal taxes. OF this
sum $26,55S.2S was collected from
delinquent taxes for the years 1891 to
1898 inclusive.
A reference to the commissioner s
proceedingsin this issue shows that the
further sum of $3593 has been collected
on the tax rolls for the three months
between June 3Oth and Sept 30th,
1900, and of this sum $3.50 was from
old delinquent taxes. As nearly $2S,
600 has been received from delinquent
taxes and tax redemptions in the past
fifteen months, and apportioned to the
various funds, one third of which going
to the current expense fund, why
shouldn't there be 81 900 in the fund?
This is an extraordinary source of
revenue, for it is only during the past
two or three years that people have
been able TO pay old, or even their cur
rent taxes, or to buy up tax certificates.
On July /, 1899, there was a balance
of 20 ,524.57 in the current expense
fund, but it seems that the Countv's
expenses have managed to keep pace
with our increasing prosperity, as is
the case with the average individual.
There are two points suggested in the
above which are worthy of reflection
on the part OF the taxpayers of Mason
County.
One is that by virtue of the prosper
Gus condition prevailing all over the
country and the healthy feeling in
this state, due largely, in the humble
opinion of the JOURNAL, TO the policies
and confidence inspired by the present
Republican national administration
people have been enabled to pay ND
their old delinquent taxes, as we'll as
their personal debts, and branch out
more extensively in business lines
during the past three years. Thous-
ands, like the editor, have contributed
to the public treasury moneys long
delinquent, hence the healthy condi-
ton of the State and county treasures
with warrants above par. Neither
the state or the county administers
lions are responsible for that condition
of affairs.
| Hundreds OF town and city lots and
thousands of acres of lands have beer
bought in by tax certificates, and be
sides bringing in old taxes, have paic
current taxes, and this has swelle
the cash receipts. Of course we arr
prosperous, butwe leave it to the
thoughtful taxpayers of Mason Count,
to accord the need of praise where i,
belongs.
/ BROWNE, of school book fame. ba,
IL