Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-03-24
JUDGE c. C. GILLETTE
B EXPLAINS POSITION
Grants Pass. Oregon.
March 20: isis.
TOR OF THE

INV utht' VI VftNtHf luuil' ouitf.f
has no recourse 10 court OF justIce
and any irresponsible parties may
set up complaint. ! take this meth
cd OF answering the allegations that
have been made against me as coun-
~ Judge. f
Upon my taking the once Janu-
AIRY I. 1918. the county clerks re-
cords show that there were outstand-
Ing general fund warrants 10 the
amount OF t2t2.oo7si. with esti-
mate accrued Interest TO the amount
OF s2b.o00.oo. making q total out
standing indebtedness Of e267.o07.-
81, The report Of January 1. 1918.
shows In general fund warrants
t2oi,o5isb. with estimated ac-
crued interest OF sfs.2o3.l5, making
a total Of s2s0.255.s0. Our war
rants at that time were being dis
counted at the rate OF Ave and ten
per cent Previous TO this time no
provision had ever been made by
any county court to take care OF the
interest or outstanding warrants. In
addition TO this. the supplies for the
county purchased from the local
merchants were not only charged
with the retail price. but the rate Of
discount as we'll was added. This
state OF anairs continued for one
year. After much consideration. the
other members OF the county court
we're persuaded that a sinking fund
should be created to take care Of the
interest and outstanding warrants
also current expense fund 10 pro-
vide for the conduct OF the county
business. This action had the
hearty approval OF the executive
committee OF the taxpayers league.
As a result Of this procedure. our
warrants are today being eagerly
sought al par. z
In the matter OF handling the
county poor.--thls has been done BY
the county court ms a whole and not
BY the county Judge alone. This
business has been carried on to the
best OF our ability under the con-
ditions and circumstances with
which we had to contend. We know
that II Is a matter OF large expense
but the laws Of the state Of Ore
gon provide that the county court
shall care for the poor and destitute
and In 80 doing we believe that they
should have sufficIent clothing and
good. wholesome food. After two
years' experience. the court decided
to advertise for contracts for the
maintenance Of the county poor
farm and Its inmates. Four bids
we're received, two for $50 per cap
TIA per month and two for S22 per
capita per month. The contract for
the care OF the county poor was then
let for S22 per capita per month. As
a matter Of comparison we might
mention that the cost Of maintaining
the poor In Marion county In 1915
was more than s2l per patient. "a
comparison Of conditions In o~r ad-
Joining counties viii prove quite as
favorable to Josephine county.
In regard to the water MASTER
the county court has no jurisdic-
tion In the matter as this Is a state
appointment and controlled by the
state water master. The county
courts responsibility extends merely
to the paying OF bills as authorized
by the state water master. On re-
commentator OF the county court
to the state water master that
water master be employed but five
months Of the year, that official
ruled that he must be employed not
less than six months OF the year,
which plan Is now In force. No sal
ary has been paid in the water mas
ter's Office since the middle OF No
yember.
At the last meeting OF the county
court the commissioners and county
Judge. with the approval OF the exc
cutive committee OF the taxpayers
league. decided that It was for the
best interest OF Josephine county to
purchase the machines that are now
a matter OF controversy. Since the
use OF automobiles are becoming so
general the county has annually paid
out more than the price Of a Ford
for auto hire.
In conclusion. win say that had
an investigation been made by any
Nommittee Of responsible citizens OF
the county and they found It was to
the best interests Of Josephine coun-
y and so requested, I would have
stepped aside without a word. Com
Ing from the source II did, which
source I will reveal II necessary.
propose to defend my administration
before the voters Of Josephine coun-
ty until the same is vipdicated and
the untruthfulnesa of thesp charges