Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-10-29
Mr.. COST0N
FALLS DOWN

tempted TO give an explanation OF his
e.nduct as public Official concern
ing the matters for which he has been
criticised in the Morning Democrat.
The explanation is very lame, but
prepared very carefully. apparently
for the purpose of deceiving the vot-
ers.
Mr.. Coston's sole justification ap-
pears to be his ignorance concerning
the matters of which he ought to be
well informed as an assessor of the
county.
In answering Mr. Costons explana-
tion the Herald desires to call the at
tention of its readers to the fact that
Mr.. Coston is not a fool whatever may
be said of him and his shortcomings
as an assessor, a want of ability and
knowledge concerning the law touch
ing his duties is not one of his fail
ings.
Mr. Coston is an able. well-informed
man. He is a careful, shrewd, calcu-
lating politician and for ability to con-
vince people of his fairness and i'm
partially and to deceive the voters
and the making OF false representa-
fons in political matters he is an
artist OF rare ability. IL has been said
that as tricky politician he Is the
ablest man In his party in the county
today.
In his explanation concerning the
receipt of something over $500 from
the city for the performance of part
of his duties as county assessor and
fur which he had already been paid
Wy fhe eourity, he states that the
county attorney did not advise him
mat he was not entitled to II, With
the ordinary man this might appear
70 be a sufficient explanation, but
with the close observer it Is apparent
tnat the object OF the statement is to
sdScsiye and make q preteHse of an
s%ering a charge, while at the same
time not doing so. What has the
eaupty attorney got TO do with his
pils against the citXs
tie does not state that he asked
the county attorney concerning his
rights in the premises, nor does he
state that the county attorney advised
MIN that he was entitled to 1t. 1t will
be remembered that the Herald called
attention TO the matter at the time,
through It's columns, stating that the
question had been decided by the
courts and that under the law as 1t
then stood, Mr., costoW was not ent-
tied to this money from the city treas
ury. Several months have elapsed
since that time. Mr.. Coston's atten-
ton having been called 10 Il, 4, does
not appeai ihat ne has, during all that
time. made any effort to inform him
self upon the subject or to make resti-
tuition TO the city for the money that
he took from ita Treasury without any
right so 10 do.
II Mr.. Coston is possessed of the
fairness that he, at all time, processes
% Impress upon the people of this
county, his duty is plain in the mat
ter, and that is, to pay into the city
treasury tle amount received by him
70 which he had no right or title.
This would be the best explanation
Mr.. Coston could make to the voters
of the county, but we apprehend that
ne has that rare ability to evade the
payment of this money into the treas
ury where II belongs and at the same
time try and deceive the voters and,
as well, to carry his party vote,
MI, Coaton doubtless thinks that he
- use the Old cry OF stop thief,
atop thief" and escape with his plum
der, He has substituted in this the
cry OF ''smelter smelter," In place
OF stop thief. stop thief"
The law quoted by Mr.. Coston in
support of his claim was superseded
by the act which placed this county
= upon salary basis so far as the
county assessor Is concerned. Prior
to that time the assessor of this
county was paid per diem for his
services. that witl The law Mr.. Cos
loH quotes, was superseded when the
county was put by the Legislature
upon salary basis,
As 10 tho claiming of this money
from the city, Mr.. Coston might just
as well attempt TO claim his IS ner
day under the old law snn nis salary
under the new, thereby receiving a
double compensation for his work
and no one knows 1t better than him
self.
AS to the valuation OF the abstract
books, Mr.. Coston is we'll posted con
cerning his duties In the matter. He
has made a careful study of the rev.
enue laws adopted in 1902. The act
OF 1902 was passed for the purpose
OF gathering in. and making taxable,
all property that had heretofore es-
capped taxation.
Section 13 of the act provides "The
term personal property includes every.
thing which IL the subject of owner.
ship, whether tangible or intangible
and not included within the term real
estate"
Mr. Costen knows that this Ian.
, guage Is in the present revenue law
In fact, that 1t is a part of the very
foundation of it. Other parts of the
act provide that all property shall be
assessed at its full cash value This
language is also known TO Mr.. Cos
r41n.
Is there any one reading these stat
utes that can find any excuse for put
ting In the property OF the abstract
company for one cent less than Its
flill cash value? 1t might be possible
II man was tax-dodger and desired
10 escape the Just burdens of taxa
ton. he could hunt up some decision
OF other states that were made upor
different statutes and find some decI
sion OF courts to sustain him, but Al
the same time he would certainl,
know that those decisions based upor
such statutes in n foraIuy, ,tato ha,,