Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-01-26

In response to the query, "Why are
taxes so high in Otero county," the
La Junta Tribune says:
why are taxes high in Otero coun-
ty this year? As the Postum man
says in the upliit magazines, There's
reason, The salary OF every official
in the courthouse, including the jani
tor, has been raised since the demo
Gratis have had full sway in county
affairs. The only reason that the sal
aries OF the elected county officials
have not been raised, probably, is be
cause all such salaries are fixed by
laws OF the state. The deputy county
clerk, under republican administra-
ton, received salary of $1,000 per
annum. Under present democratic
rule he receives salary OF SI,5oo per
annum. The same condition holds
true in the Office of the county treas
urer. One deputy county treasurer,
under republican rule. received sal
ary OF 500 per month. AT the pres
ent time it is SIPS per month. The
'stenographer" in the county court
used to receive a salary OF $50 per
month"; whereas at the present time
it is 500 per month. The deputy as
SCISSOR now receives a salary OF S1,5oo
per annum, which is an increase oi
$500 over the salary in vogue under
republican administration. Then
there is the salary OF the county auto
mobile which has been as high as $500
in one month.
OF course all the salaries, except
those OF the assessors office, are paid
out of the fees OF the office, and we
are told by one bright and shining
light OF the democratic newspaper
persuasion. that under the law the
county officials have the power to ex-
pend all of the fees and emoluments
OF their respective Offices in salaries
if they so desire. Quite true. Go
the limit, if you want to, and expend
every cent OF the fees received in sal
aries. That's probably the democrat
ic way, and seems to be the only way
that will satisfy the otfce-seeking
hordes OF democracy.
The same condition prevails in state
affairs. The democrats have given
out so many jobs and expended such
vast sums in salaries that a panhand-
ling committee had to make tour OF
the state and solicit funds from the
various counties to keep some of the
professors on their jobs at the state
agricultural college. When the re
publicans were in power the county
officials used to work their heads off
trying to make showing in the
amount OF excess fees turned over to
the county. Even the sheriff had eX-
cess fees when George Barr .occu
pied that Office. We would like to
have the democratic organs publish
the amount OF excess fees that have
been turned over to the county during
the administration OF the present in
cumbent What? The money turn
ed over to the county in excess fees,
of course, reduces the amount that
will have to be raised by taxation, and
makes taxes just that much lower.
For the year 1907 Harry Garwood.
Our last republican county clerk, and
one OF the best and most conscicn-
tious officials that OGero county ever
had. turned into the county treasury
of Otero county the sum OF S7,So2. .35
in excess fees. OF course, under the
law. as orr good democratic news
paper friend remarks. he could have
expended every cent OF this amount in
giving jobs to good republicans at
fancy salaries, but he seems to have
been inclined to do otherwise, which
is the natural republican way TO do