La Junta tribune., 1912-01-20
So the People
May Be Advised
With Apolisie. to the Pueblo chief..in

o"yc IA eiie upuLl muSuLmeS, luetc n
. reason" The salary OF every off
cial In 'he courthouse. including the
janitor, has been raised since the
democrats have had full sway In
county affairs. The only reason that
the salaries OF the elected county Of
ficiAls have not been raised, probai,-
~. II because all such salaries are
fixed by laws OF the state. The dep.
uty county clerk under republican ad-
mintstration, received salary OF $1,000
per annum. Under present democrat
ic rule he receives salary OF 81 800
per annum The same condition holds
true In the office OF the county treas.
urer. One deputy county treasurer
under republican rule. received n sal.
ary of $50 per month At the pres.
ent time 1t is tl25 per month. The
"stenographer" In the county court
used 10 receive salary OF $50 per
month, whereas at the present time
1t Is $50 per month The deputy as
seeoor now receives salary OF
$1,000 per annum. which is an in.
crease Of $500 over the salary In
vogue under republican aiministra.
tion. Then there is the salary of
the county automobile 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 shin
Ing light OF the democratic newspaper
persuasion. that under the law the
county officials have the power TO
exqend all OF the fees and emolu-
me3ts of their respective offices In
e, iss II they 30 deaire. Quite
q q. r. xn1h X yes xsa. 70.
receive1 In salaries. That's probab-
iy tho democratic way. and seems to
be the only way that will satisfy
the office-seeking hordes of demo
cracy.
The same condition prevails In
state AFFAIRS. The democrats have
given out NO many Jobs and expended
such vast sums In salaries that a
panhandlinE committee had TO make a
tour OF the state and solicit funds
from the various counties 10 keep
some OF the professors on their jobs
at the state agricultural college
When tho republicans 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 excess fees when
George Barr occupied that office. We
would like tn have the democratic or.
gans publish the amount OF excess
fees that have been turned over to
the county during the administration
OF the present incumbent what? The
money turned over to the county In
excess fees. OF course. reduces the
amount that will have to bc 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 conscientious officials that
Otcro county ever had. turned into
the county treasury OF Otcro county
tho sum Of 37.s02 35 In excess fees.
OF course. under the law. ms our
good democratic newspaper friend re-.
marks. he could have expended every
cent Of this amount In giving jobs
10 good republicans At fancy salaries.
but he seems 10 have been inclined
to do otherwise. which ID the natur.
nj republican way TO do things. Mr.
GArwood expended the sum Of s..
1890 In conducting the affairs Of
his office durinx the year 1907. Dur.
Ing the year Just closed. under dem.
ocratic regime. the expense Of con.
ducting the office Of the county clerk
was 3j.6o5.36. and the sum Of t3.o37..
65 was turned over 10 the county
treasury In excess fees Mr.. Oarwood
turned over 70 tho county treasurer
et.76t.s0 more In exccas fees than did
tho present Incumbent for last year.
and expended li.%73.35 less In con.
ductinE the affairs Of the office-s
spot cash difference for the benefit
Of the county In favor Of Mr.. Gar.
wood Of es.23s.is. or over $500
per month.
In conclusion. and In response 10
the pertinent query. "why are taxes
20 hiEh!" vs reply. III fares the
land. 70 hastsaias lie . prey. where
democratic salaries Increase and mul.
tipiy. and nsa Decay" and Ia The