Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-29
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A PLAIN STATEMENT OF FACTS

While the democrats are making the charge OF
extravaganza against the republican administrator
in state affairs in the interest of fairness we submit
to the candid consideration of the voters of Wapeo
county the following statements Of fact:
We have heard much criticism of the executive X aye
county property. Notwithstanding the fact that
valuations were increased, the board OF supervisors
of this county failed to make any reductions IN tne
eves for the year 1913: 1t is to be supposed tna5
when the levies for 1913 were made that the board
of supervisors had fixed the leves so as to bring IN
the amount of money necessary to run the county
business, based on the old valuations But when the
valuations Of Wapello county property were M
creased we can see that with the levles remaining
the same the tax payers paid about $4,000 more IN
taxes for the year 1913 than for the year preceding
But Notwithstanding the great increase IN the
amount of money at their disposal to meet tne eH-
penses of the current year. the county treasury is
now empty and there are thousands OF dollars IN u!
paid warrants outstanding Officials holding UNPAID
warrants for salaries; jurors holding unpaid war
rnats for fees; widows unable to cash warrants Tor
pension allowances - all drawing per cent interest
Economy!
With valuations over 40 per cent higher the
board of supervisors in making up the levy for l94
actually increased the levy two mills outside OF the
to US that if the demand for economy is made IN
good faith and not merely to take advantage OF some
temporary feeling against particular measure the
searchlight Of democratic criticism would not be
While the burden Of the taxes Of Wapello county
has been growing heavier = increasing nearly 40 per
cent in the last five years the indebtedness OF the
county has increased 200 per cent in the same period
until on January 1914, the total Indebtedness OF the
county was S29082958, and outstanding warrants
paid, drawing per cent interest," amounting to
$2882958 With the county treasury, now empty,
after an increase in valuations which afforded an IN
crease in revenue from taxation approx1matng
$75000 it is pertinent to ask what would have been
the condition of the county treasury now If that IN
crease in valuations had not been made.
The record of claims filed shows that June
g. 1913 bill was filed for $3.50 for automobile,
which, we understand, was secondhand car. This
car was purchased for that amount and paid for and
the repair bill for this same car IN the month OF
August the same year was $136.18; for September,
Sl60.53; October $4735; November, $4645 The re-
half the original cost of the car. While this item
shows only small leak in the public treasury it does
indicate the kind of business management that has
controlled the administration Of county affairs.
The board of supervisors of Wapello county is
democratic by a two-thrds majority, and the demo-
Gratis are therefore able to dominate and determine
the financialpoi of the county.
The financial policy Of the county is determined
by board of supervisors. This board is controlled
by the democratic party and II there IS good faith IN
their demand for economy why hasn't the example
been set in the management of county affairs, where
most of the public money obtained by taxation is
raised and paid out
The increase in taxation, due to capitol extension,
is a mere bagatee when compared with the enormous
amounts raised by taxation and spent for county
purposes.
The facts and figures as herenbefore set forth
are taken from the public records, and be verified
by anyone who will go to the records at the court
house.
The present democratic congress has been the
most extravagant in the history Of the republic the
affairs of our own county making record for ex-
travagance in county affairs. We therefore ask the
buncomb" in the Glamour for economy raised by our
opponents in the state campaign.
Respectfully submitted,
REPUBLICAN COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Cho;r