Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1908-04-03
Mayor Hargens Discusses Some Mat
ters Pertinent to Taxpayers.

ing the past two years of my admins
tration the revenues of the city have
been One Hundred Dollars less than
for the two years ending April 3Oth,
1906, and with my administration still
unfinished, the revenues will exceed
that of former years, without any
gambling fines during the past year
and half.
AS regards the Herald's second allie
cation, an investigation of the city's
records. made this week shows that not
only has my administration not added
any new Indebtedness to the city, but
it actually has reduced the old debt.
The city is now on cash basis and all
warrants issued during the past two
years have been paid. not only that
but accrued interest on old bonds and
judgments have been paid, and nearly
100000 of the city's cash has been
invested in $4,000 90 face value out
standing warrants.
The expenditures for all purposes for
the two years prior to my administra-
tion, ending April Both, 1906, we're
s22, .16, and large part of this is in
unpaid warrants now outstanding,
drawing per cent. interest. For the
past two years of my administration
we have expended for all purposes
sl3, ,563 .O5, a decrease of oyer $4,000. 90
as compared with the former admins
tration; not only decrease, but war
rants are all paid in cash, not one dol
lar of my issue outstanding.
AS regards the 3rd allegation, { sub.
nit my administration cannot be held
responsible for the thousands OF
dollars worth of judgments rendered
and warrants issued at other times.
The judgments against the city during
the past two years are judgment agree
ments entered into between the city
council and the holders of old warrants
which drew per cent interest.
This move on the part of the city re-
tired seven per cent paper and substi-
tuted per cent agreements. The
time to meet these per cent judgment
agreements is q specified number of
years. During these years we are
meeting the interest on these agree
ments, thus preventing an increase in
the city's Indebtedness. Now when all
or nearly all of the old outstanding
warrants have been thus retired, and
the city's credit restored by demon
strating that we can and do pay the
interest, it will be up to the tax payers
of the city to decide to pay these judg.
ment agreements by voting low rate,
long term, interest bearing bonds and
allow the future growth and prosperity
of the city to take care of the debt.
In regard to the roadway to the
National Sanitarium from the central
part of the town, the Herald's state
ment is rot. That roadway, I under.
stand, was not obtained because the
abutting property owners, necessary
to vacate the street, could not agree
on the conditions after vacation, and
was not matter that ever came be-
fore me or the council for any official
final action.
Regarding the afth charge, in refer
ence to the saloons, they have been al
lowed by all officers and the people to
run regardless Of the state law in the
most important particulars, thereby
resulting in the natural consequence
of drunkenness, rowdyism and other
lawlessness that naturally follows the
disregard of law. Will the Times.
Herald stand with me in the future in
all necessary measures to suppress the
nuisances it refers to?
AS to my permitting Fall River to be
converted into an open sewer; when I
became Mayor in May, 1906, found
the river used as of old. Every citizen
here knows when, how, and at what
times various institutions and places of
business built private sewers into Fall
River. What else, Mr.. Times Herald,
would you have had them do years
ago? How, up to this time, would you
have disposed of the sewerage? Is 1t
not up to the taxpayers to ask Tor
whet they want Are you or they
ready to be ssddled with additional
tax for sewerage? The time may be
here if not, it will come.
It cannot be denied that to use Fall
River as an open sewer is shame, but
will you have cess pools all about town