The daily sentinel., 1912-11-01
HERE Is THE RECORD MADE
BY DEMOCRATIC COUNTY
OFFICIALS IN SIX YEARS

he Democratic Party of Mesa county believes
that it is justified in asking for the support of its
county ticket upon the record made by the Demo-
Gratis who have been elected to office in Mesa
county during the past SIX years. Our ticket is not
merely group of candidates banded together for
the purpose of securing local offices; but it is
group of candidates representing a great political
party with definite aims and purposes, and we be-
lieve that those representatives of our party who
have held office in Mesa county have so admin
istered their offices that the people justified
in believing that all our other candidates would
succeed equally well.
Six years ago the people of Mesa county, for
the first time in many years, elected two Demo
Gratis to office.
At the time Mr.. Shores, present candidate for
county clerk and recorder, took charge of the
urers office in 1907 that office had for four years
past been conducted by Republican. During the
first year of this Republicans administration his
books show that the fees of his office exceeded the
salaries and expenses by $ISI.34. No explanation
has ever been offered as to how this money got
past the then treasurer, but we may presume that
it due to his inexperience in the office. He
learned rapidly, however, and find that, in the
years 1904 1905 and 1906 the salaries and ex-
penses of the office exactly balanced the fees
earned.
1t has been suggested that during his admins
traton, the business of the office not so large
as it is at present and the fees, consequently
smaller. 1t is true that the business was less at
that time, but the fees were not proportionately
less, for all during those years the several irrlga
ton districts were compelled to pay the treasurer
per cent for the collection of their taxes, while
since the year 1907 the law has provided that the
treasurer shall be paid not to exceed 500 per
year for his services treasurer of each of these
various irrigation districts.
During the first year of Mr.. Shores admins
traton the fees of the office, with the reduc
ton in the irrigation district fees, exceeded the
salaries and expenses by the sum OF $I,535.I5,
{, .b,tt tbe hoarl
of county commissioners had told Mr.. Shores that
he might employ such assistance needed to
conduct the affairs of the office just so long
he did not exceed his fees.~l In 1908 he turned
into the county treasury, as surplus tees earned
$L37o.3S; in 1909, $1,6oo57; in 1910, $3-
S46.63.
We have heard good deal during this cam
paign about the charges for overtime for the clerks
in Mr. Shores office, but these figures prove con-
clusively that his policy of asking his regular help
work overtime in rush periods OF the year and
paying them therefor rather than to get lnexperi-
enced additional help has resulted in great saving
to the taxpayers of the county.
During the one year that Mr. Canon has been
county treasurer his fees have exceeded the ex.
penses and salaries of his office by the sum of
$S,744.So The figures for 1912 are not yet
available, but indications are that they will show
similar surplus to be returned to the county.
During the four years that Williams was
treasurer it cost the county on an average 2.44
per cent of the total amount OF the tax to collect
it. During the four years that MIR. Shores was
treasurer it cost the county only I.6 per cent Ia
reduction of one-third), and during the first year
of Mr.. Canon's administration it has cost the coun-
ty but per cent. ~
Is not this record of the treasurer's office suf-
ficient to warrant US in asking that the voters
shall return Mr.. Canon to office and also elect
Mr.. Shores county clerk and recorder, to give him
chance to effect similar Improvement in the
administration of that office?
When Mr. Schrader took the office of sheriff
in 1907 the fees of the office had never been
known to exceed the salaries and expenses; and,
although the commissioners made the same propo-
sition to Mr. Schrader that they did to Mr. Shores,
in no one of the years that Mr.. Schrader has been
sheriff has he failed to return to the treasury
substantial surplus from his fees. During the five
wears that Mr.. Schrader has served in that office
he has turned back to the county as surplus fees
the sum of $S,47S.2S, or an average OF over ST.
695 year
Not only has his administration been economi-
cal, but it has been efficient. Despite the nuen-
does and vague general charges made against his
administration, it can be said without fear of con.
tradiction that Mr.. Schrader is the best sheriff
that Mesa county ever had, and that, in so far as
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