El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-07-21

The greatest concern 10 the proper
owners and voters generally n =
secretion Of their county I,eI,se-e-
with reference to the business M ID
ment that will be given TO PUBIC ma
tiers.
II an administration in the past has
through indifference, neglect OF
travagance. mismanaged the llhahclal
affairs OF the people, it would be safe
to assume that a continuance U -
administrative functions under the
same domin stion would be repetition
of the past. ss-s--
Of this county have been grossly ms
managed bv the present county al
minfstration under the influence ana
the domination Of what Is termed tne
ring organization The total COUuSS
values in April 1907, amounted 10 $40
626.645 At the close OF 1917. those
values had mounted to s4U' 4e,L1o' e.I ~
in addition thereto, about lSIUs tns
county Of FL PasO was diVloeo anu Ous
OF the eastern portion, cohsls lIlL5 ~
practically one-half Of the supeTIlclal
area Of the old county, the leglslatuLe
organized what is now known as Oul-
bersOn county, but even IN We"
that fact the present county ring ~
ministration continued TO increase t-LS
property values so that from an e&
animation of the records, you WouIu
be unable TO ascertain that this county
was deprived OF that large area NO"
composing CulbersOn county.
In 1912, and in June. 1913, represen-
tations were made by citizens 70 the
commissioners court proleslus
against the exorbitant values placed
upon the property in Fl Paso countS
bv the court When those representa-
lions were first made. the county Judge
and the commissioners admitted the
correctness OF the contention, and pro-
tested that they would rectity lne
same, but for political reasons ~. SnJy
were prevented from carrying out tnsl5
object BY those higher up, who Wle4uSu
an Influence over the court, with the
result that the court failed and refused
to extend 10 the people Of this county
the relief they were entitled TO, name
" A reduction in values But as an
evidence Of the fact that the conteh-
tion had merit and was well MADE lns
county assessor and the commission eLs
have made straight reductlon OF teH
percent upon practically every pleSe
OF property in the county, Wnloh az ~
itself while being insufficient, vii
nevertheless save the people OF thls
county many thousands OF dollars a.
the next tax paying period rms W.
a direct result Of the campaign maue
during the summer OF 1913
You. as a taxpayer, are intereslSI
in this matter in this way: WheheNe4
your values are increased by the Coun-
tv commissioners, it compels you not
only TO pay more taxes 70 the cO1i-.y'
y
ditional amount to the state OF Texas
To show YOU what that additional
amount comes to in dollars ana cents,
viii give YOU an idea OF how grossly
your financial affairs have been man
aged BY the present organization
In 1897. the commissioners raised the
values in this county S1O,656,S4l over
the previous year. The state rate ouL
ing that year was 3 1-zc on lhe mn
dred. This caused the people OF the
county TO pay to the state an addiuon-
al sum Of S34.540.05 more than tney
had paid the year before IN tsuo
the commissioners raised the values
10 sl5.s39. $50 more than they were
in ions The state rate then was
% lille on the hundred This caused
YOU and other taxpayers TO pay 10
the state the sum Of $50, JOSS IN e3-
cess OF what you should nave palu- N
1903. the commissioners raised the
values in this county S19,2l2,O44 more
than they were in 1906. The state rate
was q 2-3c, which caused you ana
other state taxpayers to pay 10 Inc
state $41,526-16 more than you snouIu
have paid IN 1910 the commissioners
raised the value in this county Szl.-
71l947 more than they were IN 1suo-
The state tax rate was ~ CSC, Wnlch
caused you 10 pay unto the state S9t'-
SOS % in excess Of what you should
have Maid In 1911 the commissioners
raised the values in this county So
9q726S more than they were in 1906
The state rate was % l-bc, Wnlch
caused YOU and other taxpayers 10 pay
the state 6s.s5s.73 in excess of what
Won should have paid During 1917
the commissioners raised the values
s22l21.5O1 over the 1906 values The
state rate was IS 2-3c, causing the peo-
pie Of this county TO pay TO the state
85Sq9O66 in excess OF what the!
should have paid This makes total
~ s2qS 057 O6 that the people Of this
county have through the maladmlnls-
tration Of their officers been caused %
nav TO the state OF Texas IN excess OF
what thew should have paid This vast
sum Of money being placed at interest
at the rate OF percent Tor SIX years
would net $50, 417.1O in interest M KING
an average total OF excess , tS1e,- SIS
! interest amounting to 1881 - $40,
which would have completely wiped
| out the bonded deb- IN 1917, when
| amounted 10 S371.0 900, and LETT a sur
plus Of s16,474 in the treasury, or
/ would reduce the present bonded oeoI
from S795.0OO TO Si0I 600
4 This money which belonged TO you
! has been gratuitously given away by
| the organization which now and Ior
| several wears past has controlled the
! offices and politics Of this city and
| county I want to impress upon you
] the fact that it was not necessary 70
| Increase the values for the purpose
] Of raising funds sufficient to main
| tain government in this county Your
| commissioners, had they desired OF
| needed more money 70 operate Ine
! government, should have increased
| YOUR county rate and permitted your
| values to remain as they were This
I county has always paid more than Its
| proportion toward the maintenance OF
| government in the state OF Texas. and
| the action II your present Officers
| during the last six years, has increased