Morris tribune., 1909-11-12
Communication.

Morris, Mimi, November 8, 1909
EDITOR MORRIS TRIBUNE
Stevens county will not repudiate
it's obligations to the State of Min
nesota For some time past, there
has been considerable discussion as
to whether or not Stevens county
| would pay back to the state, the
money appropriated to Stevens coun-
ty for the purpose of relieving far
mers whose crops were destroyed by
hail.
The money appropriated as | am
informed, was disbursed by the COM
missioners, nearly fifteen years ago.
The parties receiving aid, in the way
of seed grain or money to buy
grain, agreed to repay the several
amounts to the county, at some time
during the fall of the same yea, that
the assistance was furnished, but for
some reason or other, (neglect, no
doubt) the collection was not look
ed after, and as | am informed, most
of the assistance was furnished TO
tenants, but very little was furnish
ed to owners of farms.
If Stevens county failed, thru its
officers, to properly safeguard this
money advanced for seed grain, neg
lected to properly look after the col
lection when the same became due,
is that any reason why, the county
county should, at this time, re-
pudiate it's obligation to the state?
1t seems to me that Stevens coun-
ty cannot afford to do anything to
bring discredit upon the community.
Looking at it from my view point, L
would say, levy tax and pay the
state, every dollar we borrowed, with
accrued interest, to the time of pay
ment.. -.
Up to this time the county COM
missioners have not acted upon this
important question, the matter hay
ing been delayed on account of GER
tain attorneys holding that the state
did not have right to make the, ap-
preparation, or in other words, tech
nically illegal, but that certainly does
not relieve Stevens county's obliga-
tion to the state. We were equally
guilty for accepting from the state.
what is held to be technically lille
gal I do not believe that we should
take any such view of this matter.
do not believe that any taxpayer
in the county, will object to pay
ing his pro rata share of this obliga-
ton, and while l have not interview
ed any of the tax payers in refer
ence thereto, yet l have such conf
dence in the integrity of the people
OF Stevens county as to make the state
ment without fear of any serious OBJ
lection from any taxpayer, and on
that account, | will, if the matter
comes before the board of county
commissioners, vote and use my in
fluence with the other commissioners.
to also vote favorably to paying the
amount due the state, with accrued
interest, to the time of payment.
I hope that all of the taxpayers
will take a broader view of this
subject and not for moment con-
slider repudiating the county's obliga-
ton. There are many times when
bankers take on loans for their bank,
that would be considered illegal, but
! don't believe that when banker
strains a point to accommodate the,
patron of his bank in time of need,
he should be paid by repudiating the
debt because it was technically ille-
gal.
/ sincerely hope that all of the
taxpayers of this county will look
fayorably towards paying our obiiga
tion to the state, so as to preserve
our credit which Stevens county so
richly deserves.
Yours truly,
j, H. Devenney