The copper era., 1904-05-05
COUNTY AFFAIRS.
Mir. Clark Takes Exceptions to the Bras
 Editorial on County Affairs.
sorn4oNvIrLE. Ariz.. Ma,

so1oxoSvlLLE Ariz, May Ist ls0i. Editor Copper Era
 l have just read from the last issue Of your pape-. an editorial relative to county indebtedness. increased valua- tion Of taxable property, county gov ernment. etc. Being absolutely cer- .ain, in my own mind, that n one con- nected with your paper would will'ully attempt to mi.lead its readers, there fore I must conclude that the writer Of the article above referred 10 must have laOO"ed under a misapprehension of the true state Of affairs. IL is not my intention or desire to critici5e the ut torrance Of any one advocating a re- form in our county government, but l do desire that our county papers, who should, and trust do occupy the position of "watch dogs" for the tax payers, be fully advised in matters upon which they are presumed to give information 10 the public. Now there has been great deal said Of late, iu reference to the county, floating in- debtedness of which you make men, tion. IL is clea, to my mind that the prevailing opinion is that this il- debted ness is on the increase, when as matter ot fact. the records Of the board of supervis0rs show eNIs is-s...c1tedness was reduced during the year 1903, in round numbers fifteen thousand dollars (Sl5, ,000), and would have been further reduced 10 an al most insignificant sum, had 1t not been for the unexpected and unprecedented expensive term Of court Of last October, the demands allowed by the board for this quarter aggregating twenty-seven thousand dollars S27 ,0O0), or F per cent. Of the total amount allowed dur ing the year. ] maintain, however, the taxpayers are to blame for the enormous expense of criminal prosecu- tion; nor do l apprehend that any tax payer will complain if the county funds be expended for this purpose, provided that the expenditure is made in a judiciOrs manner. I take it that our citizens pay taxes with the expectation Of receiving the benefit derived from the enforcement of our criminal laws, and in my judgment have just cause for complaint if they do not receive the benefit expected.
 It is true that the valuation Of our taxable property has increased an- nually, and it is also true that our population has increased in proportion thereto. Increase in population neces- sarily demands the outlay of an in- creased amount of money for the main tainance of the county government.
 Fir.t-New school districts are created, and the old ones become more expensive as tte attendance increase.
 Second-New public roads are estab- lished and maintained. and the de- mand for the bettering of the condition of the old ones become more urgent.
 Third-We have a statutory provis- ion which provides that as our wealth and population increases so shall the salaries of our county officials; this, however, has reached the limit under our present laws.
 Fourth - Increase in the cost Of criminal prosecution necessarily fol- lows an increase in population. By comparison of the years 1902 and 1903, find that the amount expended for this purpose in the year 1908 was eight thousand dollars (SS000) in excess of that expended for the same purpose in the year 1902.
 Thus it can be plainly seen that as our population increases, so does our expenses. Trusting that you and the readers of your valuable paper will ap- preciate the motive that prompted this communication, I am. Very truly
 BEN R. CLARK,
 Clerk Of Board Supervisors.
 Iniunctj0n Madp pprmanenf