The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1912-02-01
JUDGE LEAvITT's LETTER

~ Ns>o HrsN NVtu"u W. P"es'S" "
i communication from Judge A. l..
.Leavitt. for a number OF years In the
recent past police Judge ana city clerk
OF this city. which at this time is par.
ticularly pertinent.
Judge Lcavitt is recognized as
man OF exceptional knowledge and
brains. and his conclusions are usual
ly SO well founded that they have
great weight with the man OF reason.
Last fall. when the Herald was ad-
vocating the issuing OF bonds to cover
the warrant Indebtedness, as means
OF re-establishing the good credit of
the city. Mr.. Leavitt. stated that he
believed our plan was wrong. and
asked permission to set forth his
views In the columns OF the Herald.
This permission was gladly offered. as
II is the belief OF this paper that n
free discussion OF all public matters
Is for the best interests. Shortly af-
terward Mr.. Lcavitt left for Califor-
mia. but that his interest In the well
fare OF the city still remains Is shown
by the receipt OF his communication
few days since. II Is worth careful
reading.
We agree fully With Mr.. Leavitt
that It would be useless for the city to
issue bonds to cover the outstanding
warrants. II the present practice OF
exceeding the income of each year
was continued. But the Herald was
looking into the future. and II was
not difflcult to see that a. system
which kept piling up debt upon debt
on the city could not last always, and
the end must come sooner or later.
We believe that that end has now
been reached. and that the people OF
this city will demand business nd
ministration at the coming election.
We have worked for commission
form Of government for nearly two
years az the best solution for the
proper management Of our city af.
fairs. and believe that success is near
at hand. Even with n commission
charter adopted. there still remains
the problem OF paying of our warrant
Indebtedness, and even II the run
ming expenses OF the city were cut 10
the minimum. 1t would be foolish
to think that the outstanding war.
rants would take care OF themselves
We still advocate that following
the adoption Of the commission form
OF government, that bonds should b,
issued to take up the warrants. and
provisions made for paying these OF
In instalments each year, as fast al
possible. Mr.. Leavitt argues that To-
suing $4,000 or more OF bonds fol
this purpose. with the interest that
would have to be paid each year
would draw large sum OF money
from local circulation. We may bt
mistaken. but 1t would seem to M
that II would result In bringing thes,
thousands Of dollars OF Eastern mon
ey to klamath Falls for circulation
here at this time, when II Is SO badl,
needed.
At the present time our banks ant
local people have their money tied III
In these warrants, and II money So
cured from the outside to take then
up. II would have n tendency to great
ly relieve the present financial stress
Mr.. Leavitt contends that II Is no
right to compel our children to pay al
obligation for which they had re
ceived absolutely nothing. We mos
heartily agree with him, but at th'
present rate We are travelling II look
as II II was up to the future genera
ti0n. anyway. and 1t would be Just tn,
same TO them whether they redeeme'
warrants or bonds.
One thing Is certain. A city. canno
get full value for Its money who's
warrants are deprecated, and unles
arrangements can be made whereof
capital will accept our warrants a
par. some other method will have Z
be devised go that the city can get
dollar In value for every dollar spent