The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1912-03-01
Ask STATE PROBE FOR COUNTY COURT
tContlnued from Page ~

thousands Of dollars at discount OF
and 10 per cent, thereby bringing
the credit of the county. which was at
par when they went into Office, to a
stage where warrants sell very slowly
at a discount OF t5 to rs per cent.
When the present county admin
istration went Into Office we were In
debt less than 100000. Warrants
now unpaid amount to ssSo.0oo. Our
legal limit on outstanding warrants is
5000. We want to pay our county
debt, but II the extravaganza OF the
county court is not stopped We shall
be forced TO repudlation. Our popu.
lation Is approximately 10000 and
ours Is not wealthy class OF people,
Considerable road and bridge
building has been done at the expense
OF the taxpayers, but we believe much
more could have been done for the
same money had personal favoritlsm.
graft and private contract letting been
eliminated, Many roadmasters have
been In charge OF work whose only
qualification was their relationship to
or loyalty towards the members OF the
county court.
The court has threatened to build
q court house on q tract OF land out.
side OF the legal limits OF the county
seat as established by a vote OF the
people without asking for authority
of the people. The building OF
court house on this site would entail
an obligation OF not less than 5000.
600 and the maintenance Of the same
as county court house forever. This
would be contrary TO law. which gives
the people OF the county the right 10
move the county seat BY three-fifths
vote OF the people thereof An addi-
tional expenditure OF at least $780,
900 would be incurred In fitting up
the grounds and furnishing the build
Ing II would plunge the county so
deeply In debt that our taxes. already
unreasonably high. will be Increased
almost to the point OF conflscation.
These. together with many other
acts, the records OF which are obtain.
able. are, We think. ample grounds for
asking that an expert investigation OF
our county management be made SO
that some remedy may be found and
some curb be placed ON the Wild aud
criminal management OF our county
finances. Respectfully submitted.
klamath Falls Commercial Club.
BY Charles Graves. President.
c. p. Stewart. Secretary"
When asked about the matter Coun-
ty Judge William s. worden this NJ.
terIoon said:
Il haven't anything particular to
say. All OF the transactions and rec
ords are on fle here and open to in
spect!on OF any OF the people Of the
county. would be more than pleased
to have an inspection made OF the
books and records OF the courts
acts"
One recent story about the county
courts official doings was that IL had
ordered s35,o00 worth of auto trucks.
and that each OF the commissioners
was TO have an individual auto. This
report reached Arthur c. Lewis Of the
Farmers Implement and Supply
house when he was In Portland. from
the J. !. Case Threshing Machine CON-
pany. which asked Mr.. Lewis. who
represents.lt here, why II had not had
chance to bid on the supply. He
said he had heard OF no such order. |
The Case people said they could |
have afforded to give the commission !
ers individual autos II they had been |
given the order Tho reported order.
L Is understood, was denied by the |
court.