The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-09-17

to their trust and merit praise and
Communications, or whether they
have been negligent of duty and are
deserving Of ensur and rebuke.
It is up to the people to speak their
mind, and by their ballots at the
forthcoming November election,
their sentiments may be judged.
Study this statement, talk about
it with your neighbors and with
YOUR friends. Remember that it is
official and that it is a sworn state.
ment of facts, and that every figure
may be verified by the records in
the offices of the auditor and treas,
urcr. Editor Harris, Of the Miner.
and others who are dissatisfied and
disgruntled, will attempt to tell the
people that this statement is gotten
up for political purposes, and that
the same is not worthy of credence
or consideration. This will be their
measure of the intelligence Of the
people. They will attempt to dis.
tort and to misrepresent. But Their
practice should have no weight and
should be given no consideration
in view of the fact that this state.
ment-the record of the Repub,
lican party, if you please-is a copy
of the official records of the
county Auditor and Treasurer.
These records are public. They
are open for your inspection, and
they are open for their inspection.
they are open for our inspection
They may be verified by any indi-
vidual or by a commits of citizens
if desired, or an expert accountant
may be employed to do the work
These officers are sworn, they are
under bonds and they are amenable
to the law. If they have perjured
themselves, we want to know it and
the public should know it. However
we contend thai they are honest
men, and that their work has been
we'll done. We also contend that
this statement is a good one, and
that it reflects credit on the ability
and business tact of Republican
officers, who have had charge Of
county affairs uninterruptedly dur
ing the past eight years.
Eight years ago, when the Re-
publicans came into absolute con-
trol-every officer being a Repub-
lican-the financial affairs Of the
county were in a demoralized con-
dition. The Indebtedness Of the
county exceeded the five per cent
limit prescribed by the constitu-
ton, and county warrants went
begging at fifty cents on the dollar.
Virtually, the county was bankrupt
and there was no confidence in its
future ability to meet it's obliga-
tons. The report of the auditor
and treasurer for the year ending
June Both, 1897, showed the actual
Indebtedness of the county to be
$44, .25. and it. was estimated
that warrants drawn then would be
paid in six years. The report OF
the auditor and treasurer published
in this issue for the fiscal year end.
ing June Both, 1904, shows the &C
tual Indebtedness of the county tt
be but Sill, 6S8.26 after the cash OF
hand in county funds Ire deducted
from the bonded Indebtedness. Thi'
reduction in the Indebtedness hal
been accomplished with a gradua
: annual decrease in the rate of tn
4 levy of taxes for county purposes
S It has been done without burden
| ing the taxpayer with an excessiv
| tax. The tax levy for 1897, inc]ud
ing levy for general county, roae
bridge, interest and sinking was 2
y mills on the dollar; in 1898 for tn
same purposes it was 1915 mills; i
e 1899, 1876 mills; 1900, 20 mills; $50
t. l8mills; 1902. IA mills; 1903, Ii.
p mills and for 1904 the levy for tn
n above purposes will be approx
S mately Ii mills on the dollar. til
e official figures not having yet bee
d made up. With the continuance
f. the same policy that has marked til
administration of county affair