The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-10-27
JUDGE MARGINS LITTER.
Says County Warrants Have Gone
to PrOteSt--CrlmIuaI Cost
Blll Is Enormous.
RIeh Hln. BIO. May 81. l0Ol.

To the tax payers OF Bates county.
Our county finances have run so
much lower than usual, particularly
In the Salary and Contingent Funds
that LATELY soAm or q WARRANTS
HAVE GONE no PROTEST. a condition
which we have not had to confront
for about u years, and 1t is 20 show
to you why 1t Is so that this is writ
ten. Having been a member of the
County Court longer han those with
whom / am associated. we ielt that
it was our duty to make an expla-
nation.
When we began to build the court
house, and before any money had
been raised by taxation for that
purpose, we transferred $2,4OO from
the Salary Fund to the Court House
Fund, which amount has never been
replaced. The wages Of the Super
intendent, amounting in all to some
thing like $3.50, also came from this
fund, and after the jail delivery In
, the latter part Of 1890, the Circuit
Judge ordered guards kept night
and day at that institution. These
were kept until after the execution
OF DR.. Gartrell, when the day guard
was discharged, but the night nan
is still on the payroll. This has
caused an increased expenditure Of
probably $1,000 more than In former
years. These three items alone,
which l have named, amountL TO
nearly $4,000 and could this amount
he replaced, would be more than
enough to sustain that fund for the
remainder of the year.
When the contract was let for the
new court house a warrant for
S1,l& was drawn ON the contingent
to pay the architect for his plans
and specifications, which was ~ per
cent OF the contract price of the
building; moving from the old build
ing to the one rented, buildinga tenn
porary vault, paying rent at from
$50 to SO per month, and moving
into the new house after it's compile
ton, are some of the expenses that
the erection Of a new court house
always brings In its train. The
steel vault furniture cost about
$500; benches and railing for Cir
cult Court room, $3.50; furnishings
and extra work ordered by Circuit
Judge for same room and Circuit
Clerks Office. about 5000 more; cleo
trio light fixtures, $3.50; concrete
walks, same amount; desks, tables.
ratings, etc, s4eO more; aud the
board OF prisoners has cost the
county -Four Thousand Dollars
($4,0O0) more for the last three
years than ever before In the same
length Of time. Then, add to the
foregoing an enormous criminal cost
bin and you can readily understand
why the Contingent Fund has be
come depleted.
In conclusion, we wish TO say thai
to the best OF our ability, In all mat
tiers over which we had control, WI
have tried TO expend judieiousiy anS
with economy, the revenues which
you have entrusted TO u care
That we have made mistakes we d,
not deny; but no court has eve
looked after the expenses NOR
closely and tried to keep outoi thos'
that were unnecessary. than W,
have. But in spite OF all we coul'
do, and all the protests we coul'
make, too much of our money
spent ''for that which is not bread.
one needed not the gift OF prophec!
To foretell that these things mus
shortly come 20 pass, for Il wa
plain 90 be seen that under the ex
isting order Of thIngs II was only
question Of time until our pape
must go 10 protest. You who con
tribute the ~hardcarned products O
your toll that you may bear you
share Ot the expenses OF our county
government. may well ask why Il 4
that we have twice rs many prison
ers Ia our bastile az ever before. an,
far more than the counties aroun,
us. Are we so much wOnse thar
they2 You may ask again why Il 4
that nine tenths OF these petty erin
inals hail from Butler and are trie,
and convicted before two Justices o
the Peace who reside within the linn
It's Of that beautiful city.
Yours TO command,
ions J. MARCH,
Judge ol south District.