The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1914-10-24
THE BIG COMBINE.

But not every farmer realizes
that while he is harvesting his
crop, certain financial combina-
tions are scheming to use his tax
money to further their political
ends and thereby further their
financial ends.
Do you realize that the inter-
est on the money you pay to the
county treasurer in taxes is used
by certain banks to elect certain
man for county treasurer? If
not, investigate, and you will
find this exact condition true.
For IL successive years, certain
interests have controlled the coun-
ty treasurer's Office. But did
YOU get anything out oft? Were
your taxes less? Did you get
any of the interest on the county
funds? If you didn't, who did?
For 4 years George Seal was
county treasurer, and he after
ward started a bank.
For a years, Charles Adams
was deputy under Seal, then for
a years was county treasurer, and
now is in charge of another bank.
For a years Bliss Phillips was
deputy under Adams, then for A
years was county treasurer, and
now is said to be slated for a
bank job.
For a years Irving Sill was
deputy under Phillips, now is can
didate for county treasurer, and
is supported by Seal. Adams,
Phillips, and the banks in which
they are interested.
But this array of facts don't
! tell the story. There is nothing
strange in friends sticking to-
gether. The story is told in the
deposits which are given to the
banks in which above named men
have been interested, and here is
the story:
For some years there has been
a growing effort to reduce tax
alton. The only way to reduce
county taxation is to reduce the
cost of offices, or increase the
office revenues. The treasurer's
office, with it's great funds on
hand, has been a poor revenue
producer, and warrants have re-
NAMED outstanding at 80 when
the funds were in the banks of
certain friends at 296. For some
years an effort has been made to
change the situation, take the
treasurer's office out of individual
hands, and have the Office run
! for county benefit instead of pri-
vate benefit. To this end, some
man was sought this year who
could be depended upon to be
fair, honest, and work only for
the county's interests. R. E.
Lee of Colville was urged for
some time to make the race. but
he consented only under strong
pressure from a number of tax
payers.
R. E. Lee stated that if elected
treasurer, he would make deposits
of county funds in county banks
according to the relative finan-
cial standing of the banks" He
has made this statement on paper,
and he has made it openly The
result is that he is not supported
by any bank, and is being bitter
ly fought by a certain few banks
the same ones who have profit
ed by the old system of political
patronage for so many years.
This then is the story: Lees
statement regarding deposits
brings a bitter fight from certain
banks. And WHY? Is his state
ment unfair to any honest man?
Is he wrong in stating that
nothing but fairness will be hand
ed out by him?
Or is he right in his idea? If
he is right, what about the bank
ing interests which are fighting
him, and endeavoring to elect the
present deputy and thus carry
out the routine-in-o office plan of
the old ring?
What reason has any honest
Il. L. ~L.~uL - l:..:n:1.. - ~1,.-