Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-10-23
RECORD OF
EXTRAVAGANCE
Compiled from the County
Records for Ten Years
WHAT DEMOCRATS
HAVE EXPENDED
$40 ,43l.3S More Per Year in Past
Five Years to Run Otero County
than Under Republicans

The editor of the La Junta Tribune
has lately been dclving into the
county records and has dug up the
following information which will
make mighty interesting reading just
now:
Every property owner in Otero
county wants to know why our taxes
are so high. There's reason
Democratic mismanagcmcnt, pure and
simple, and probably undcflcd-at
least, undefiled so far as we know,
comparison of the last five year
period that Republicans were in alb
solntc control in Otero county-from
1904 to 1908, inclusive-witf The five
year period that Democrats have
been is absolute control-from 1909
to 1913 inclusive-shows the Demo
Gratis spent Sl32, 1908 more 10 con
duct the affairs OF Otero county for
five year period than did the Re
publicans for five year period
or an average of S26,43l.3S more for
each year of Democratic misrulc.
This showing is not on the total
tax. but on the tax for county pur-
poses alone. Each year lcvics are
made for state, county. school and
municipal purposes. and this showing
is on the tax for county purposes
alone.
The same kind OF a showing is
made on the tax paid by Otero coun-
ty each year for state purposes. For
the five year period that Republicans
were in control in CoIorado-l9OI to
1908. inclusivc-thc tax in Otcro
county for state purposes amounted
to Sl43.D33.35 For the five year
period that the Democrats have been
in control-l909 10 1913. inclusive
the tax paid by Otcro county for
state purposes amounted to Sl7o,-
2l6.Sl-or an average of S6i56,6o
more each year when the Democrats
were in control than for the five year
period that the Rpublicans had alb
solute control in state affairs.
This showing. both in state and
county affairs, is demonstrated from
assessment issued the first of each
year by the county assessor, showing
the total valuation, the levics for
state. county. school and municipal
purposes and the total tax in the
county for each one of these various
items And this showing in county
affairs is made despite the fact that
Crowley county was cut off from
Otcro county in 1911 and for that
reason the tax for county purposes
ought to have been considerably re-
duccd
For the year 1912. the first year
that Crowley county was cut off. the
tax for county purposes was reduced
Sl9,350 39-that is the tax for county
purposes in 1911 was Sl32. 1908, In
1912 it was $112.825.99-a difference
OF $l0.35030. For the year 1913. how
ever. the tax for county purposes was
Sl75.0409S, the highest tax for coun-
ty purposes ever known in the his
tory OF the county and an increase
over the previous year OF S62,l2399-
or 55 per cent. Think of it! An in
crease OF S. per cent for county pur-
poses in one short year. And then
we wonder. why our taxes are so
cxorbitant. There's 4 reason-cvi-
IDENTIFY, so apparent in fact, that it
is as plain as the nose on your face
The allegations made above are
based on figures taken from the
printed abstract OF assessment issued
each year by the county assessor.
showing the valuations. lcives for
state. county. school and municipal
purposes. with the total tax for each
one OF the various items. For the
five year period from 1904 TO 1908.
inclusive. during which the Republi-
cans were in control of county affairs.
the tax for county purposes Tor
each wear were as follows: