Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-02-12

upon the commissioners TO the extent
of nearly 5000. For instance. the tax
list was set in large type and then
pretended to be reduced TO nonpareil
type. The commissioners, not know
ing how TO compute the measurement,
allowed the bill in the sum of $210.65.
careful estimate places the amount
collectable at s93. and by close con
densation the list would not have
Amounted to more than SIS or $50
The graft. therefore. was something
like sl25 on this one item-more than
could he collected before any court
in the land had the contract been lit
erally fulfilled. Then 1t is only neces-
-ary TO scan every bill filed during
he year to find that over-charges
were made, the contract being ignored
in most every particular. Payment
was secured by fraudulent representa-
tions of being reduced to nonpareil
type. Then in job printing we find a
charge of s3l5O for 1000 postal
cards. a clean profit of S1l.50 over and
| over the cost of the work. How is
| this compared to the Smitn-Brooks
rharges in Arapahoe county and the
state2 Thus we find the Democrat
| robbing the county under false pre-
tenses-pretenses of doing the work
rheap In order to beat some competi.
tor and then more than doubling up
Graft No. 2.
Not satisfied with obtaining money
by rendering false bills the Democrat
;eeps money Justly due the county
II way of taxes. In the first place
he commissioners under the lead Of
| Bradley reduced the sworn valuation
If the Democrat from 81, 800 in 1901
o $4,000. and from $1,000 TO $4,000 in
| 500. These reductions were not
made at the time of equalization. but
,ome years later. AT the time oil
he equalization the Democrat and
| Herald valuations were compared and
| was on the basis of the Democrats
aluation The Herald was raised, 1t
| being agreed that so far as value OF
| he machinery used in getting ont the
Iaper was worth the extra amount
assessed against the Democrat. The
Terald paid its taxes. The Democrat
| axes run along and then the man
cement prevailed upon Mr.. Bradley
abate the amount due. The county
vas thus cheated out of Sli7.9O. And
II this connection we failed to hnG
| where the commissioners ahated any
| taxes due from farmers and mer-
hants on like valuations. 1t was
| mis- abatement the commissioners set
lside the other day and instructed
he treasurer to collect. there being
10 law for the abatement. So much
nr this.
Now comes the astounding facts
hat for the years 1897, 1898 and 1899
| 10 taxes whatever were paid on the
Democrat plant. and at the present
ime the Democrat owes the county
taxes. interest and penalties. for
ne three years. something like $500.
Add this to the sl47.9O and we have
/ total tax due from the Democrat to
he county of something like s470.
rhis the Democrat owes the county
n way of taxes Just as honestly as
my farmer owes the county. The
lbove figures are taken from the rec
,rds-obtained this morning. and can
be verified by any taxpayer.
II Is useless to handy words with
IN outfit mat thus beats the county.
| N attempts to beat II. succeeding
through the manipulations of Mr..
Bradley for the time being. But we
ire Of the opinion the outfit will he
Up against the real thing this trip.
And the Democrat is attacking the
commissioners for placing the county
IN cash basis, paving OFF back judg-
ments, warrants and having a surplus
IN the treasury.