The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-09-24

In another column we publish q
letter from Earl Sanders. the demo.
cratic nominee for county attorney,
to E. liz. Whitla, the republican
nominee for the same office. Mr..
Sanders wishes to meet his opponent
in joint debate in the various towns
Of the county for the purpose Of dis
cussing county issues and the manage
ment of county affairs. Mr. Whitla
has not as yet accepted or rejected
the challenge. We fail to see how
he can we'll decline to meet his OPP
ponent on the stump, for that would
be an admission that his patry mana
gers and himself were afraid to dis.
cuss the great increase of county in
debtedness during the past two years,
and that they are not able to explain
Why it was necessary for the present
board Of county commissioners to in.
crease the tax levy almost one per
cent, with a raise Of 90 per cent in
merchandise stocks and OF 20 per
cent in the value of cattle, by the
board OF equalization. making in
reality an increase in taxes Of over
one per cent. The present levy, in
oluding special road end school taxes,
will bring a revenue to the county Of
over $3.50, 900 for the year, besides
the saloon license fees and other
sources, which will materially in
crease the amount The people who
pay these increased taxes naturally
ask why such a sum is necessary
and what the reasons are for the in
creasing debt and growing taNes.
Where is it to stopg Mr. Sanders
and the democratic party want AN ex
PLANTATION Of these things because the
democrats propose to remedy them ii
the people put them IN power. If
the republicans have good reasons to
offer for these heavy burdens they
are placing on the people they have
the opportunity to do so through Mr-
Whitla. 10 a series Of joint debates.
Will the republican party accept the
offer aad meet the questions on the
stump. or will it acknowledge their
truth by remaining silent, or declin.
ing to accept the offer for a public
discussion Of them. with the people
as judgesg The matter is now up to
the republican managers aud the
people want 10 know what they will
10.
There are a whole lot OF independ-
ent voters in Kootenai county who
will vote for economy and good
government, aud they know that the
democrats took charge Of county
government in january, 1897, aud
found big floating debt, warrants
worth from - to 90 cents aud taxes
at the highest notch. They also know
that wheu the democrats turned the
county over to the republicans two
years ago, warrants were worth par.
and even commanded a small prem
cent lower aad the county was in eN-
ccllent condition financially These
Feopls propose to vote for a return
70 those conditions unless the re-
pablieaHs can make some very salts
factory explanations aud give some
good reasons for the increase IN debts
and taxes In fact they think that
the republicans are spending too
much money and what have we to
show for it. Will some one point
out single permanent improvement
for the expenditure Of over 1900. 900
annually outside of little road work
and some wooden bridges? These
conditions are becoming alarming aud
the people demand some tangible ex-
PLANTATION What has become Of this
yearly fortune: The voters foot the
bills and ought to know something
about who gets the money. while
they pay the freight will the re-
publican spellbinders tell them? If
they do not. the people will turn
them out Of office as certain as the
November election comes. Let Mr..
Whitla accept Mr. Sanders challenge.