Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-11-23
communicated.

Communicated.
Now, a few kind words to AL
NOR Stern, in answer to his let
ter.
Yes, l think l have known
him for the past thirty years,
ami think he is just the man to
ks, the people cut their taxes
down to benefit laboring men,
t ,i!ners, and business men of
H.srsison County, with his kind
ws.,d that he uses in his letter.
Now, first as to the $21,86O
thar he speaks of as yearly tax,
fvr clerks, &C., according to his
figures, and the law he refers
to. We do not fully understood
him. 1--WE cannot divide the
County, and must live together
may be true, but will the law
also COMPEL US to pay $21, $3.50
y, mly, or will it give the coun-
ty a chance to cut this tax, and
yet save these men spoken of
an honest living?
Now, Mr.. Stern, you remem-
Der when you and | were boys
some 80 years ago, was sta
ton agent, ticket agent, opera
tor, express agent, baggage
master, and freight handler, all
combind, and worked at it for
ID years for the S. C. & P. Rail
read Co., and my pay was $45
to SEQ per month, or 5000, per
year. Now, friend Stern, If we
will cut down the officers sala-
ries, say to $1,000 per year, or
some to $1,000 and draw their
pay regularly, and the deputies
call for theirs. Now | speak of
the wages on the c. & N. W., is
about the same, with the hours
cut short about 2 hours per day.
Now, with that $21 $3.50 yearly,
and the New Court House, if
voted, bonds running 20 years,
at legal interest, which means
1856, 900 before paid, is more
than evidenced that this bull
ding should be voted down by
1.-THE people, and kept down at
least 10 years to come, to give
the tax payers and our children
a chance to live, then build a
IN e w Court House, and the
$21, 800 yearly expense | would
be in favor of cutting into, just
as | suggested doing with the
county, but | suppose the law
would prevent this also, but l
think it would be justice to the
tax payers.
Now, my friend, did you com
pute that 81, 700 interest on the
debt yearly at legal interest on
the lowest bidder, as you quote
less for the first when it ought
to be low all through. On what
little money have borrowed, ]
have paid from 6, z, 8, and 10
per cent during the past thirty
| years, and | do not think we
lean find much of the interest on
mortgages against the farmers,
or tax payers of this county, as
you have quoted $1,000 yearly
on S85, 900 principle, if you can
[ would call that justice and not
lawful interest. Now, | think
the money must come from
some of our County Banks who
use the surplus county money,
and may buy these bonds back
with the understanding that
they pay the county no interest
on such county funds yearly.
This may all be according to
law, but how does it help the
farmer, laborer and tax payer:
They have to pay the tax, the
same fees, and now they are be.
ling asked to vote this enormous
tax upon themselves for a new
court house! l will just say to
the voters of Harrison County;
beware of this court house bond
Question, either by law or inter
est, as there are times when
such bonds will be heavy drafts
upon our pocket books.
With regard and kind words
to all, | am, &c.
R. Newton.
Mo. Valley, Iowa.