Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1901-03-29
ENMoNs COUNTY RECORD
BYD. STREETER.


Linton, .Nortzt Dakota.
Pioneer Journal of the County.
The Record is entered ut the Linton. Post
Office as second.class matter.
SOME time ago a settler from the
southern part of the county was in
Linton and, while visiting the Record
office, said: "During the last cam
paign, down our way, republicans were
met with the assertion that the debt
of the county. had increased during
the six years at:Braddock had been
auditor. We had no knowledgeo OF the
facts, and therefore couldn't. dispute
IT,. 1t would be good idea for you
to get the figures, if you can, and
print them.''' The editor Of the Rec
ord has done as he was requested. In
this connection. however, we will
state, that the coupling OF ain audit.
or's name with the good or bad finan-
cial standing Of a county is one Of. the
funniest things that can happen, il
the manifest malice Of those making
the connection is eliminated. The
Record has more than once stated
that the board of county commission
ers is alone to, be held responsible
in all matters regarding the county's
expenditures. If the county is run
ming behind, tits the board that has
spent the money, although they can
not be blamed for that, if the expend-
itures were necessary IF tits getting
ahead, the board must be credited
with the saving that has made the
gain possible. In this instance the
various gentlemen who have served as
commissioners during the period nam
ed arc entitled.to credit: =.
We have taken the trouble to ascer-
tain approximately the standing. OF
this county six years ago and at the
present time. I'VE find that the debt
is much lower than it was this time
OF the year in 1895. Bat we repeat
that no conditions excepting those
brought about by the COUNTY board
backed by the general prosperity that
a republican national policy has caused
to exist, which has, enabled property
owners topay their taxes more prompt
ly-have conduced tosthe bettefment
Of the cQunty's finances. The Record
does n6t claim that the outgoing audi
tor and treasurer deserve any credit
for the improvement. What we do
claim for these officers is that their
work was done with. such care, and
| faithfulneS that, when the nOn-rcsi-
dent tax-iighters attempted to defeat
the workings Of the Wood tax-law,
bcaieying it was impossible. for a
couple ct officers in u lrayseed county
to comply with the complicated de-
tails Of the law, such tax-tighters
were easily defeated in the supreme
court and several thousands Of dol
lars saved to the people OF the county
who always pay their takes without
kick OF. protest. But let US look, into
the. matter of past and present I'M
1debtednesS. 1t should be remembered
that the following figures are not
claimed to be exact, for the reason
that the condition of the treasury
changes from day to Gay. But we are
informed that the figures are not far
wrong.
Six years ago there were $4,000 of
bonds outstanding. There were, in
!, certificates and warrants outstand-
ling, $4,000. The bond-interest fund
was overdrawn to the extent of 81, 500.
The certificates outstanding are esti.
mated, the estimate Of warrants and
certificates placing the total in 1885,
between S15,00O and $4,000. Thus:
Bonds outstanding. ................S S 1900 0.
Warrants and certificates out
! Standtng......... .............. 1900 q
Bond-iaterost fund ovordrawn... $500 0t
observation-disclosures, Jaa.1. 1895. E3,5oo Il
! At the beginning of this year the
financial condition of the county was
about as follows: u.
Bonds outstanding..... ......... s 45,ooo o.
Warrants outstanding. ........ $500 U
! Total... .......... 8 u, 500 u
Less cash to crctlitof the various
4 funds............ ............... 5000 O
Total debt, Jan. ], 1901. .......... s 3o, 500 U
Total dobt, Jan. 1, 1906 ........... 5 8s,5 500 o.
Total debt, jan. l, 1901 .............. $500 o.
Reduction since Jan. i, 1885 80. 5 z8,G coo
4 1t should also be remembered tia III
within the. period above referred to
| the trial of the Indian murdercrs took
place. The outlay in these trials was
about S7,75O, or at least $1,000 more
than the expense of any other term OF
court since the county was organized.
4 But the men who composed the board
during the six years-and they alone
should be credited with the reduction
In conclusion VIC assert what ever,
one Of the headers of last falls libelou
!. attacks on Certain republican candi
dates on the county ticket well knew
that the only wayin which /; county
treasurer can steal public funds with
out prompt discovery is BY making ;
grab at the MONEY in the safe ant
leaving the country. An auditor. ca II
not steal a cent unless he issues frand
ulent county warrants, sells them, anc
departs for a foreign land. Many o
J. 1.-The stories circIlo tad lort F,il ,unr,