The copper era., 1901-02-14

has not a yet been disputed, il Is a
matter OF surprise that any taxpayer
in the county. outside OF the town OF
Solomonville, should oppose il. 1t is
a fact beyond dispute that the county has
nothing TO SHOW for the money eXpend-
ed except the court records. The costs
OF holding court have reached such "A
figure a. 20 threaten bankruptcy TO the
county in a few years unless reforms OF
some sort can be had. The Bulletin
is authority for the statement that the
last term OF court cost more than So
600. That i more than $4,000 per
year, and the cost is Increasing with
every term OF court. The time Is not
long hence when some OF the cOunty's
creditors will take judgmentagainst her
and secure an order OF the district court
compelling the board OF supervisors to
levy "A special tax to discharge such
judgments. Then how about your law
limiting the taxation to four per cent?
This Is the ultimate outcome OF the
manner in which the county is now
being run. II there be remedy for it
except division il has not yet been sug-
gested by those who are today oppos-
ing division. The only reason so far
suggested against division by the peo-
pie of the valley is that the revenues
derived from the gambling licenses in
the east end Of the county, would be
cut off from them, which would mater
tally effect their schools. They seem
totally oblivious to the fact that the
county is steadily and rapidly running
behind year after year, and has already
passed the danger line. This is mat
ter in which every taxpayer is deeply
pocket book, and with special levies,
which are sure to follow as the indebt-
edness of the county increases, the rate
of taxation will be raised to five or six
per cent. 1t is high time that all tax
payers should give this matter serious
thought. There is no sentiment in it.
1t is purely a business proposition
which any man can, and will, under
Slduh, Wien AoN pay ihS ot ~ 30
The people of the valley refuse to look
at this question from a business stand
point. They claim that we will lose
one representative in the Legislature,
and that therefore the county should
not be divided. This is all rot The
coLnty would not be benefited by Il
half dozen representatives in the legis-
lature. AS an illustration of the only
arguments used against division. the
following is submitted from the Guard
ian:
The Guardian has just pride in the
growth and prosperity OF Graham coun-
". We have Il pride in her advancing
strength in territorial conventions,
aud her increasing population which
entities her to greater representation In
the territorial legislature. These
things make US opposed to the legisla-
ture dividing us. Also,as we now under
stand the interests of the county, we
are opposed TO division if left to vote
of the people.
In other words, the politics must not
becomes of the taxpayer. In the came
article the Guardian furnishes some
very good and sufficient reasons why
the county should be divided by the
statement that those who favor division
argue:
1st-That the expense of justices and
coGstables of the upper end amount to
over So, 900 annually.
2nd-That guarding their Jail up
there and feeding their misdemeanors
cost Il considerable sum.
3rd-That the mileage in bringing
down their Insane.
4th-The heavy mileage of grand
and trial jurors from there.
9TH -The immense mileage of serv-
ing TIE large number Of witnesses from
6th-Thc mileage is bringing down
hordes o. prisoners to await trial in the
district court.
7th-The expense of bringing down
so many INDECENT witnesses and main
tanning them in SOlomonville during
court with meals and lodging at SIPS
and upward per day.
Stn-The expense of feeding in the
county jail the large mum Der of pris-
oner5 brought from above.
9th-Their mileage and cost OF trans
portation to Yuma whenever convicted.
l0th-The prolonged terms of court
with the heavy expense of the court
machinery when in session including
the per diem of Il large number of
jurors.
1lsh-The fees of the clerk of the
court, in and out of court. caused by
the cases crowding in from above.
12th-The increased cost of Jail guard
caused by throng of prisoners.
13th-The hospital inmates from
above.
14th-The mileage and transporta-
ton of their insane to Phoenix.
15th-The lion and bear scalps from
above.
They argue that the above amounts
annually TO twice or three times our
school moneys. We know the figures
on school expense but not the above.
The Bulletin announced the expense of
the last term of court to be over $50, 900;
If so, then all the foregoing items will
probably more than double that, but no
advocate or opponent of division have
been able to give us anything definite
upon TIE question.
There has been no financial state
meut of the cOunty's affairs printed for
several years, hence the advocates of
division are not prepared to furnish
the exact figures. 1t was clearly the
duty of the old board to have furnished
such statement, but it was not done.
The people who pay the taxes have a
right to know where their money goes.
They know that they are being taxed