Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-10-22

IL Tic SitiEeuS ouu Notefs vi
Wright County:
For some time past my name,
without any suggestion from me,
has been mentioned al a proba.
BILE candidate on the Progressive
ticket for presiding judge of the
county court and since | have
concluded to become a candidate
| have given the duties and re-
sponsibilities of the Office due
consideration, and | want to as.
sure the citizens of the county
that l duly appreciate the honor
and responsibility of the posi-.
ton and it shall be the heighth
of my ambition, if elected, to dis,
charge the duties of such office
faithfully, fairly and impartially
towards all citizens and taxpay.
ers, regardless OF political or re
ligious affiliations. In fact, no
officer should ever permit politi'
cal or religious matters to inter.
fere with his official duties,
From the limited Investigation
| have given the duties and re-,
sponsibilities of the Office in its
relation to the welfare and up.
building of the citizens and tax.
payers of the county, | have
reached the conclusion that it is
a court of the greatest import
ance to the citizens and taxpay.
ers and the greatest burden and
responsibility of the court rests
on the presiding Judge. The
justices of the county court are
elected for two years only. while
the presiding Judge is elected
for four years.
The duties of the county court
las well as all other Oficers) are
well defined by law. 1t is at the
head of the county's finances,
and the presiding Judge presides
over and directs the proceedings
of the county court. 1t is the
auditor of the county, adjusts,
settles and pays all claims and
accounts against the county;
has the management and control
of alfproperty, real and personal
belonging to the county; man.
ages and controls the financial
affairs of the county, fixes the
rate of taxation to be levied and
assessed against the citizens
property; the county court, or
any judge thereof, is prohibited
from borrowing or using the
public money for his own use
and benefit, and from becoming
a party to or interested in any
contract to which the county is
a party or is in anywlse inter.
ested; it is prohibited by law
from lOaning any public money
to any county official or his
deputy, accepting such as surety
on any obligation given to the
county. This places the county
court in a position where it
should have no motive to deal
unfairly with its fellow officers
and with the citizens at large.
The law requires all officers
chargeable with public money to
report to and settle with the
county conrt at each stated term
thereof; pay into the county
treasury all balances due the
county within Is days after such
settlement. | deem it the duty
of the presiding judge of the
court TO call every officer to set.
Element at each regular term of
the county court, and if l am
elected | will endeavor to en-.
force these laws. l have been
of the opinion for some time,
and l find a great many others
with the same view, that the
taxes of this county are too high
and ought to be reduced. A few
years ago the county was in
debt; its paper at a discount.
The assessed valuation was then
much less than it Is now, the
rate OF taxation was then only so
cents on the 500 valuation in.
Guiding county and road. A
court was elected and
through proper economy the
county debt was paid and it's
paper worth its face value and
remained that way for q time. '