The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1913-04-11

MIR. Dahls tenure in office to
nearly 100000 a year for each
year of Swanson term. This in
crease is likewise shown by the
increase in the amount collected
from the estates of insane per-
sons and turned into the county
treasury which increased from
only few dollars during the first
four-year period to nearly
100000 a year during the last
four-year period. When we con-
slider the remarkable increase of
money paid into the county treas
ury through instrumentalities OF
the sheriff's and states attorneys
offices, it must be expected that
the expense OF running these Of
fees will also be somewhat in
creased
However. this increased ex-
pense OF these offices has more
than been offset by the increased
moneys collected from the sources
indicated.
1t is the plain purpose of the
eNtravagant and untruthful state
ments of Mr.. Jorgenson to give
the impression that county affairs
have been carelessly and extrava-
eantly managed and that taxes
have been increased. This, how
ever, is not the fact as there has
been no increase i'll the general
county taxes, the only increase Of
any description in county taxes is
one-half mill for the bridge and
culvert fund and one-lnalf mill for
the insane fund. And people of
the entire county are waking up
to the necessity for improved
highways and are clamoring for
roads and bridges. This demand
is proper one in the judgment
OF the County Commissioners and
kind where we believed them to
accordingly the Board levied an
additional one-half mill tax for
the bridge and culvert fund,
which will increase the taxes SC
on each $4,000 assessment. The
insane fund was found not quite
sufficient to maintain the county
insane and accordingly the Board
found it necessary to slightly in
crease that levy by one-half mill,
which likewise will add SC to each
$4,000 of assessment. This will
not materially increase any mans
taxes. If your taxes have ma
terially increased, you will find
upon comparing your receipt for
taxes of last year and previous
years that the increase is caused
by a higher school levy or other
local tax, over which the Board
OF County Commissioners has no
control.
We are aware that blatant cries
Of graft and dishonesty" usu-
ally find ready hearers and that
this method sometimes finds fav-
or in men looking for advertising
or cheap notoriety. However,
where such charges emanate from
a source so manifestly irrespon-
sible and are made with such a
reckless disregard for the truth,
and such absence of even a pre-
tense of a regard for the facts
we do not expect our neighbors
in this county who elected us as
County Commissioners to believe
that we have suddenly become
corrupt in Office.
We are forced to the conclusion
that there must be some reason
which does not appear on the sur
face which accounts for the
course Mr.. Jorgenson is taking
in spending his time for weeks
and months in making continued
attacks upon the Board of Coun-
ty Commissioners, the States At
torney and the Sheriff. During
the time we have held office, anc
so far as we can learn since the
organization of the county, no
suits have been brought against
the county and the county has
not been involved in litigation o!
any kind except such as grew
out of the county seat fight ano
appeals which have been taker
from the allowance or disallow
ance Of bills against the county
and no damages have been claim
>f l..