Graham guardian., 1904-12-02
POLITICAL PREJUDICE.

developed that "clerical error
was made in totalipg the tax roll,
which amounted to something
over 100000. In other words
the tax roll showed property
values Of almost S5,0GO,OOO, and
the tax levy was made on that
basis. When the supplemental
roll was made up il was found
that the total was in round figures
about SS00,000 less than that
amount. 1t will be remembered
that the democratic papers made a
great to-do over the reduction OF
taxes from four to three and one
half per cent. This was used as a
campaign slogan, and with telling
effect. Had this "cIerical error"
not been made the tax levy would
have been the same as last year.
As il now stands, the collections
this year will fall about S27 900
short of meeting expenses, which,
together with outstanding indebt-
edness, will require tax levy for
next year of about four and one
half cents on the dollar, in order
to pay expenses and wipe out the
deficit Of the present year. A
"clerical error" of this kind is GER
tainly bad enough, but to use it
for campaign purposes is iuexeus-
ably cruel.-CopPer Era.
We are very much surprised that
Bro. Leonard should so far let his
political prejudice run away with
his usually good, fair business
judgment as to make such break
as the above. A little investiga.
tion on bis part would have given
him the facts and he would not be
open to the charge of falsifying
the facts or gross ignorance.
There is absolutely no truth in
the above, either in statement or
inference. There was an error
made by one of the clerks 10 The
assessors Office in tie lead pencil
footiugs of the original assessment
roll. But instead ofit being dis
covered "after the election" as the
Era says, it was discovered montGs
before. 1t was not worked" dur
ing the election, the only refer
ence made to taxes was the reduc-
ton in the rate and the increase
of 100000 in property values
during the year, or about $1,000
600 in the past two years This
increase has actually been made.
When the Era said that lit was
discovered after election" if 1t
knew anything about the matter
at all it knew that it was not the
truth. The republican member of
the board Of supervisors aud a
candidate on the republican ticket
for reelection, aud one of the
heaviest stockholder 10 the Era
and also stockholders in the Mo-
renci Standard, knew of it months
before. The republican nominee
for council was the second man in
Graham county to see il. If it
would have made any difference
at all TO the county or people does
any one suppose for a minute that
these two gentlemen would not
have "worked it" for the benefit
Of the republican ticket3
The statement that the rate
would have been 81 had it not
been for the clerical error, has as
much truth in it as has the one
"that it had been discovered since
election" A little figuring would
have proved this to the Era's edi-
tor. In 1908 the total tex was
sl36,507.S2. This amount was
raised under levy of S4 on the
500 valuation. This year the
total assessment of property is
s4,l9S, 1864, which, at a tax rate
Of $3.50 on the 500 valuation will
raise STAG, ,946.4s or $1,000 more
than was paid in 1908. Taking
from this all widows exemptions,
of S67 900, still leaves sl44,6l1.4S,
leaving an excess in revenue of
SO, ,10S.6O in 1904 above 1908. Be-
sides this the criminal prosecutions
of the county in 1904 will fall at
least $4,000 less than they were
last year Adding these two items