The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1908-10-17

claim that Bryan is now as good as elected. Like
wise there republicans who are absolutely sure
Taft will win, but won't take chance of losing
their bank accounts on the proposition.
There are democrats who conservatively assert
that Bryan's prospects of reaching the White
House are better than ever before during his long
pursuit of the presidency, and this is true. On
the other hand there are truthful republicans who
admit that there is ground for apprehension lest
Taft may not reach the goal after ALL and this too,
is fact
But neither candidate has a cinch, regardless of
what his enthusiastic though cautious partisans
may say. In other words, the outcome of the
campaign is in doubt now. By the middle of Octo-
Der there may be a Qualification of the political
atmosphere sufficient to enable one to form a
definite conclusion-one worth betting on ration
ally-but that condition does not exist today. No
doubt some democrats would prefer to have it said
that Bryan is certain to win as republicans would
like to hear it concerning their nominee. But
both sides are better off if they understand the
exact situation.
Trustworthy agents of the national committee
are in the field, and their preliminary reports are
just beginning to come in. They are finding that
the business and industrial depression which
forced many workmen into involuntary idleness is
factor which must be reckoned with by the re-
publican managers. Bryan has made an impress
sion upon the minds of some of these men with
his argument that the republican party is RESPONSE
BILE for their unemployment and that if President
Roosevelt could not prevent panic Taft would be
unable to do So
About February 1, 1908, the present revenue
41z1 -1.l..
that passed what is now known as the current ex-
pense fund. The taxes for the current year 1897
were paid into the above fund; the outstanding
Indebtedness was taken care of by creating an in
debtedness fund, the delinquent taxes of 1895 and
prior years to be credited to this fund, and in ad-
diton maximum levy of five mills was provided
for. Also eight mills was the maximum levy for
the current expense fund. This levy of eight
Nails on So, ,000 900 valuation, together with the
fees of the Offices ferry licenses and 55 per cent of
the saloon licenses paid current expenses and kept
the county on a cash basis until the republicans
got hold of the countys affairs, when the treasury
Immediately began to deplete. One of the first
things they did was to pay an old road debt of
something like $500 out of the current expense
fund.- and Mr.. Taxpayer if you want to satisfy
yourself consult the record and you will find that
the current expense fund has never been on cash
basis SINCE Today it is approximately $25O00O
in debt
Two years ago the voters and taxpayers of the
county awoke to the condition and elected an en-
tire democratic board Since that time the in
debtedness of the county has been decreasing each
year, as shown by the following auditors reports
Net Indebtedness June 80, 1906, $183, 252. 40.
Net Indebtedness June 80, 1907 Sill 929 II.
Net Indebtedness June 30, 1908, $168, 1855.
In the mad rush at the auditors office to secure
the election of L. E. Jesseph (Who has been in the
office four years. the auditor in his 1908 report
overlooked the fact that the poor farm still be-
longs to the county. At conservative estimate,
this is worth $4,000, which would make the net
Indebtedness of the county but $160. 475.6 65. In
other words the present board of county commits
sioners IN tOo gears has decreased the couty's IN
debtedness $23, ,OOO
w. l. Fountain of Locke is the only one of the
board who seeks reelection, and the fact that
through the aid of his business sagacity the county
is gradually creeping out of debt should be the
strong argument for voters of all parties to give
him their undivided support
H. w. Sparks Of Kettle Falls is the other demo-
cratic candidate for commissioner. He is we'll
known over the entire county, having lived here
about 20 years. He is especially we'll known along
the Columbia river, where he may be expected to
draw practically unanimous support.
Stevens county can not afford to let the county's
affairs get out of safe hands. The record of the
democratic board for the last two years is a
sufficient argument for the election of demo-
cratic board this fall.
Perhaps, while the editor of the Index is ranting
around, making anatomical exposures of himself