The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1908-10-10
XXI N POLITICS

uRINo he past week, petitions for signatures have been circulated.
throughout the camp asking that III county commissioners reduce the
u tai levy. The levy as fixed is $i15 IN every hundred dollars Of assessed
valuation j. sGld6Ad ch0a district with > varying levy in other districts of
the county. The total valuation Of the taxable property Of III county, as shown
~ tho .axrons, is sz6S4s6450. The total revenue 20 the county treasurer, in
GLIDING property tar, licenses and fees and bullion tax at the rate fixed fG the
various districts, would be s4e4ss272. The taxable property IF aoldheld dis
trct. is s21sey5 70, which would produce ss1,l5lss revenue, exclusive of the
licenses ant fees paid by the business men of Goidheld, in thu way of a special
The claim is made in the petition that the mount to be collected under this
assessment is far in excess of h actual needs If the county fr tn coming year.
and that only sch amounts should be collected as will answer all the require
for h current year and until III collection of taxes for the ensuing year
This petition appeared upon its fac to be in good faith It ws signed
$3.50 :. ~ :. - .urns out ,hs MOVE h. han amer strorg
political trn. and instead If seeking solely HI reduction OF taxes. is being used
al a campaign document ito defeat the Democratic ticket
The amount OF money spent in the administration OF county affairs during
the past year hal been extremely large-larger perhaps than necessary n
would suppose It a cursoryg glance. But it must be remembered, the needs for
important improvements has been extremely pressing n the county commits
scnes AVE undertaken to do in one year what in other communities would cover
grown up in the county that hav been a constant drain upon the county treas
ury. and WHILE as yet, lot having paid any taxes % speak Of, have necessarily
called upon the county treasury or large amounts
The News has o said that there has lot been extravaganza in he use of
public funds. But it does lot make the unsupported charge as SON of the
political papers, which are opposed :, the present regime. We do feelw warranted
in saying, however, that there has lot been dishonesty in the conduct If the
ONLY recently, a grand jury employed didnterested expert accountants from a
distant city to examine he books # the various county omces and the experts
after weeks of investigation, reported that the ccomts were all right and the
books an records well and properly kept This is certainly a great satisfaction
especially in view of h prevalency of graft in omcial places throughout the
country and n a community where he moral standards ire supposedly not
veyh high
penditures If public funds, we will likely soon know. An investigation is
about to b made, W understand, and meanwhile unprejudced persons will
withhold Judgment. It is very easy and vey COMMON to cry graft lex
tnns 30 urove u we d now however, that some of tn charges made in he
hyterical local press are unjust IL dins m cases untrue, and are made simply
fr thu purpose OF influencing the election Some If the county officials have
incurred III displeasure and distrust OF he higher ups and more parucu-
larIy, If the large corporations which have mannesty engaged n a concerted
enot to gain control of this town and camp and run things according to their
WI motions and they art turning heaven and Earth to encompass the defeat of
these officials.
The fact that this move has been brought in the heat Of a campaign, and
that n of the commissioners is a candidate to succeed himself, shows that it is
not entirely free of a political motive. Those behind the petition believe that
they car accomplish he double object of discredtng the commissioner in ques-
ton, and forcing him, in the face of the election to accede to a demand, which
is always popular, If not just of reducing taxes. If the tax levy as made is nee.
essaryf fol the proper conduct of the county business. the commissioner, if true
to his trust win veto tn request; and if he does veto it, hhsp political opponents
figure that it will bring about his defeat at the polls And this it nw appears,
is III particular business in hand
It is a regrettabe fact that through the evouions of the post convention
campaign COL Ed Hardy finds it necessary to rn as n independent candidate
fr reelection to he position he low holds Hardy is N of hi best omcials
that yer gTaced an once, and withal a gentleman Of the old school, who is a
friend II every man he know, which means nearly every ont in Emeraldal
county. Hamilton is a good man, toe and the county is to be congratulated that
in ii event If Hardy defeat h ONCE will still be well and honestly conducted.
Registration for the forthcoming election closed laste evening. n the books
how . total for Goldhed and North Goldfed (Coumhi) of 4677. The regstra-
Of Godhed proper was Ats names. This precinct alone outnumbeed the
registration Of any other town OF city Of the Estate. thu next closest being Reno,
with 4o24. showing GldfAd, together with the old town Of Columbia, which is
% : part Of 0oldheh under the name OF Ea-h GoMhed. to have the largest
population Of n community Of Nevada, approximadng, from the registration.
some 5000 people