Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-03-22
JUDGE c. c. GILLETTE
EXPLAINS POSITION
Grants Pass. Oregon.
March ~, 1918.
Ton or THE

set up a complaint. take this meth
cd OF answering the allegations tha
have been made against me as coun
" Judge.
Upon my taking tho once Janu
AIRY i, 1913, the county clerks 70
cords show that there were outstand
ing general fund warrants TO tn,
amount Of ssts.o07,si. with estl
mate accrued interest TO the amoun
of sss.ooo,oo, making total out
standing indebtedness OF ss67. .0o7,'
si, The report Of January I, 1919
shows In general fund warrants
$so1 ,obi.sb. with estimated ac'
crued interest OF tts.s0s.i5, making
a total Of taSo.s55.so. Our war.
rants at that time we're 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 tho local
merchants we're not only charged
with the retail price. but the rate Of
discount as we'll was added. This
state OF affairs 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 -outstandinge warrants
also q current expense fund to proy
vide for the conduct OF the county
business. This action had the
hearty approval OF the executive
committee Of the taxpayers league.
A q result Of this procedure. our
warrants are today being eagerly
sought at par.
In the matter Of handling the
county poor.--thls has been done by
the county court as a whole and not
BY the county Judge alone. This
business has been carried on to fhe
best of our ability under the con-
ditions and circumstances with
which we had to contend. We know
that II is 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 so 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 It's inmates. Four bids
were received, two for $40 pcr cap
ita per month and two for s22 per
capita per month. The contract for
the care OF the county poor was then
let FOR $22 per capita per month. As
a matter OF comparison we might
mention that the cost OF maintaining
the poor In Marion county In 1916
was more than s24 per patient. a
comparison OF conditions In our ad-
Joining counties will prove quite ss
favorable to Josephine county.
In regard to the water master.----
the county court has no jurisdIc-
tion in the matter as thh 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 a
water master be employed but five
months OF the year, that Official
ruled that he must be employed not
lessythan six months OF the year,
which plan Is now In force. No sal.
airy has been paid in the water mas
ter's Office since the middle OF No
vember.
At the last meeting OF the county
court the commissioners and county
Judge, with the approval OF the exc
cutIye committee OF the taxpayers
league. decided that It was for the
best interest OF Josephine county to
purchase the machines that are now
q matter Of controversy. Since the
use Of automobiles are becoming so
general the county has annually paid
out more than the price OF Ford
for auto hire. iA
In conclusion, ! win say that had
an investigation been made by any
committee OF responsible citizens Of
the county and they found II was to
the best interests Of Josephine coun4
ty and so requested, would have
stepped aside without word. Com
ing from the source II did. which
source | will reveal II necessary, ]
propose to defend my administration
before the voters Of Josephine coun-
ty until the same is vindicated and
.the untruthfulness Of these charges
fully established.
Respectfully,