Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1910-03-10

on, as did also j. A. Stanley, stated
that they were not we'll enough In
formed at present to discuss IL but
would take It under consideration and
II good thing would give it their
support, otherwise not. Attorney
Lawrence H. Hedrick, OF this city, was
the next speaker and his talk was to
the point and will perhaps be the basis
that will be worked on for or aaainst
county division. Several of the previous
speakers had stated that the taxes
would be no higher in either portion Of
the county should 1t be so divided and
would be lower IL anything. Mr.. He'd.
rick took issue with them on this point.
Two sets Of buildings, two sets OF
officers and other expense naturally
incurred could not help but increase
taxes according to his statement, but
the cost at the present time of mileage
and per diem necessary in the admins.
tration Of justice which includes
sheriff's fees, jurors, witnesses, etcl,
would no doubt be less after county
division than it is as at present situated.
At present this part of the county
expense is much greater than is gener-
ally supposed. The main point brought
out by Mr.. Hedrick was that thus far
nothing has been discussed but gener.
alities. No figures had been shown
to substantiate facts as to whether
county division would be good thing
or not. No data had been secured to
use 40 basis to see whether tho
criminal expense from the west end
would bear out the statement that q
new set Of county officers as an OK.
pense would Offset and thus keep the
present rate of taxes or increase them.
Taken all together, Mr.. Hedrick voiced
the opinion of the greater majority Of
the voters when the question is put to
them. He stated that It would be
case of increased taxation or not and
that facts and figures would have to be
produced before any voter would lend
q hand to burdening himself further.
Mr.. Hedrick's talk was. we'll received
by all. Edgemont reopls statsd that
they we're glad to have some one
present some of the obstacles they
we're likely to encounter. short talks
by editors Goddard and Nudge, of
Edgement, and by DIR. Bentley, of this
place, finished the discussion. Mr..
Gull then moved that the executive
committee of the Hot Springs Club
be appointed q committee to look into
this matter and report at the next
regular meeting. j. F. Parks seconded
same. Motion carried. Motion was
then made for an adjournment.
Few Facts
We would like to take issue with our
Edgemont friends upon few state
ments that we're made at the meeting
Tuesday afternoon, but first let us say
that until we are convinced otherwise
by facts and figures. that we are
against the proposition Of county divi.
sion. There are innumerable reasons
for this attitude on the question but at
present We want to combat fewof the
arguments offered by the Edgemont
speakers. Later We will be open to
conviction as to whether q division Of
this county will be Of mutual benefit
to the county in general OF whether It
is not merely selfish desire on the
part of Edgemont to build themselves
up at the expense Of the rest of the
county. We admire the energy and
enterprising spirit which seems to be
behind this movement and IL later We
are convinced that their arguments are
proper, we wish to state that the STAR
will help the movement, as 1t is our
aim to promote any thing that is for the
general good Of Fall River county.
Some of the speakers In their talk
mentioned that the management of
the county heretofore and ct the pres.
ent time was radically wrong. They
claimed by dividing the county ws
could remedy this. They also stated
that the county debt was enormous
J and that this county was going farther
in debt should they make the necessary
Improvements. Now in the first place
the former management was some.
} what wrong. Thirteen years ago, as
stated by one man, the county was
s92, ,000 90 In debt, when, ~ matter Of
fact, on June goth. 1897, sl30,4sO.73 in
warrants were outstanding bearing
seven per cent interest not computed
but estimated at nearly s25, 10000, bs.
sides bonds Of 100000 or making q
total, nearly sl95, 600. 90. Now in regard
to the county debt being enormous we
win say that s28o,724-77 is quite Q sum.
But here is difference from yearc ago
and where we wish to eorreot tha