Bisbee daily review., 1904-08-18
MORE JUMRLEp STATEMENTS FROM THE BENSON PRESS.

The Benson Press is determined that no mere statement of facts and figures will stop its "holler." It has attempt ed to show that it knows more about running the affairs of Cochise county than the members of the present board of supervisors, but has backed water on its proposition to run the county on tax rate of s2.50 on each s1o0 valuation, and in its recent issue says it meant to say s1.55. Now. with tax rate of s1.55 on each s100 valuation, the total revenue to be de- rived from taxes, provided there were no delinquents, would be s9o.s75. From this amount alone the county school superintendent estimates that s55, 900 will be necessary from the county treasury. including the poll tax. and gambling licenses (which go directly into the school fund.- fer the proper conduct the public schools of the county. With the schools provided for in this manner a big hole has been knocked in the s9O,000 avail able for all purposes. The Review wishes also to call the attention of the Benson editor to the fact that all fines collected by the Justice and District Courts go direct into the school fund
 One expensive term of court like tce present would almost take up the bal ance. Then the attention of the Press is called to the fact that the county is paying off its bonded indebt- edness, under the present administra- tion, at the rate of about s19,000 per annum. for which provision must be made in the tax levy.
 The assertion of the Press that the county government should be run on tax levy of s1.55 on each s10o appears ridiculous. Other counties of Arizo- na, even with an increased taxable wealth, are unable to meet the ex- penses of county government on any such levy.
 The most ridiculous statement con tained in the latest article is the fol- lowing: ,f- c.
 There are 36 school districts in the county, and 50 or more teachers are employed. At the county seat are employed 12 officials. besides few deputies, and the taxpayers contribute to their hands more than double the sum necessary to maintain the schools of the county, with little in the way of improvements to show for the expendi- tuTe"
 Cochise county pays its county off cers about 5000 per quarter. or at the rate of s20,00o per annum. The fees of the sheriff, clerk of the court, etc. come under the head of court expens- es, which are fees allowed by the law and not in the power of the Board to cut or reduce, only when not in ae. coTdance with the statutes. The edi. tor of the Press must confine himself 10 facts if he would have the taxpayers take him seriously.
 The Press evidently thought it had at last "lit on" something when the following paragraph was penned:
 "The Review says it does not fee called upon to defend the present Board of Supervisors. The Review forgets that it is under obligations tt the board for a thousand-dollar dona tion to it from that body, and the mon ey was not given without a purpose.
 Now, that was an unkind cut, in deed. Tie Review happens to know all about that transaction. and cal furnish the Press with. the details, O | if 1t. cares to examine the minutes O the Board, it will find the same state
 ments. More than year ago thi paper began gathering the data for thu
 publication of a Worlds Fair numbe
 to be distributed free of charge by tn,
 Arizona commissioners a- the World Fair. That work has been complet
 ed. Twenty-Five thousand copies wer printed These copies are now beini given away at the St. Louis Exposition
 and the County of Cochise bought 400
 copies of the same. believing that thei
 distribution would prove the best ad
 vertisement this county ever had, an
 would be the means of inducing nor immigration and taxable wealth int our midst. Will the editor of the Ber son Press say that the advertising c | the resources of the county throug