White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-06

MANU- n II Ii1A%
the News the following communica-
ton in reply to an article appearing
in the Ely Record of last Friday on
the tax rate:
Editor of the v hite Pine News:
had hoped that the Record would
eonfine itself to the issues and the
truth In its discussion OF the tax rate.
but il has done neither. IL is my
opinion that IL is the Record which
is sidestepping the issue and 1t de-
l~iberately falsifies when 1t says that
/ am doing the sidestepping me
Record makes several other false
statements which | will point out.
First-I have Mr.. Tamblyns and
! Mr.. Eddy's word for it that the ed
itor of the Record was present at a
council meeting and virtually argued
for a reduction of taxes. The Record
deliberately falsiies when 1t says
that the city for years past has re
fused to make 4 public statement as
10 its financial affairs. Such a state
/ ment has been made and filed with
the city records every month during
my administration. II the RECORD
editor knows this. The Record again
falsifes when il says that Mr.. Leon
| ard has been present at many council
| meetings and has always published
all information o~btainable. The rec
ords are public. He has often heard
them read and he could have had
them for the asking.
Upon inquiry of Mr.. Eddy and Mr.
Tamblyn | find that the Record did
not publish the audit made ny Mr..
Armand covering a period OF three
years for the reason that Mr.. Leonard
asked 10 cents a line to do so. 1t was
therefore decided to publish and pay
foi only "A synopsis OF the report. but
Mr.. Tamblyn left the complete audit
with Mr.. Leonard with a statement
that he might publish such parts of II
in addition as he saw fit.
The Record sidesteps my question
as to whether he will publish our en-
tire record IL we will send it to him.
by saying that he will receive 1t.
| Notwithstanding the cost will be con-
| siderable. in view of the questions
! hat have been raised ! am going to
publish forthwith the entire financial
| record of the city during NY admin
istration, in a local paper.
Answering the Records question
as to how cutters and sidewalks may
be reestablished, | have already in
formed him in my previous eommuni-
cation, which he willfully overlooked,
that there are ample funds on hand,
namely. $4,000, to take care of these
improvements, and in addition to this
the city will have an income of over
$4,000 for the balance of the year
from miscellaneous sources, which Is
ample for all the city's requirements
Answering specifically some of the
Records questions. II is not a fact
that, with the exception of an audit
of the city finances made by Mr.. An
nand, the city failed to make any
other statement to the public during
my administration as 10 the receipts
and disbursements of the city. al
though requested so TO do time after
time. Monthly statements OF the
city's finances have been made, dis
cussed and filed with the city rec
ords. which are public, and Mr.. Leon
ard has always known this. In addi-
ton to the Armand audit. there have
been two others up to December 81,
1919, while one for the last year has
been ordered. The law has been fully
complied With in this respect. If
when Councilman Lowe took Office he
demanded that an itemized statement
be made for the last two years 1t must
have been done in ignorance OF the
fact that monthly statements of the
city's finances had been made and
filed during the whole period in ques-
ton.
II Is rot a fact that | opposed the
bonding proposition when the bonds
could have been sold to the state at
par and then later took $500 from
the treasury and went east In order
&c ascertain the condition of the bond
market. II was only when the state
of Nevada had refused to take the
bonds. as the state did not have the
money wherewith to purchase them
And 1t was for this reason that !
went east TO find a market for a con
templated issue Of bonds: not to pur-
chase the Chairman millsite or to
pave Aultman street, but to repair
and renew the storm up hurry
street. which the city administration
considers a necessary improvement
My expenses on the trip were provid-
I'd for at a council meeting at which
| was not present. and this was done
without a dissenting vote.
II may be a fact that before | left
for the east the Record published in
terviews with some OF the business
men and taxpayers who opposed a
bond issue. but | take II that that
was the issue which included the
Chairman millsite and which was
voted down 4 to l..
l believe a majority of the taxpay-
ers Of the city are in favor of the
Murray creek sewer. For your in
formation will say that l did make
a report to the council as to the re-
suit of my trip In connection with the
sale of bonds, and the city records
should show 1t.
hope MIR. Leonard will not let the
fact that he lives in Fast Ely or our
personal differences blind him as to
the best interests of Ely. I am per-
fectly willing to discuss any of the
city's arairs with him through the
newspapers. but personal differences