Gunnison news-champion., 1923-02-16
Nourse Talks of
School Bills, Roads
and County Garage
Continued from Page one)

Continued from Page One)
allotment, and we will only furnish one
half the maintenance and oae-fourth
the federal aid. County road taxrs
furnish around $4,000, but in addition
We get some $4,000 from the gasoline
tax, nearly that this coming year from
the forest service, and one-half the
auto license fees, or total of very
close to S200,000 for our roads in
1923. Besides, there are government
forestry projects of which he Is not
advised in full yet.
Mr.. NourSe was asked about the
county garage matter which those in
'terested in defeating. have this week.
taken up to the State Tax Commission.
He was reluctant to discuss the mat
ter, but finally gave the News-Cham-
pion this information.
On Monday of this week, Attorney
Hetherlngton asked for a hearing be-
fore the tax commission, and made n
long statement to the two members
present. II seems that last Noven-
Der the county commissioners request
ed the commission TO approve the
one mill levy to raise approximately
$4,000 for county garage building
fund. 1t was approved and consid-
cradle portion of the taxes are all
ready paid in. Mr.. Hetherington
asked the commission to cancel their
approval of the levy and to bring
suit to have the contract Of purchase
of the Eastman garage set aside. Ac-
cording to the tax commission, he!
made many statements of alleged fact;
to the effect that the great Inajorityl
Of the taxpayers here were violently
opposed to the levy and the purchased
of the garage. That it was worth only
$1,000 instead of the Sli 900 price,
that fraud, chicancry, etc. had been
practiced and that he was repre- emit
ing the people who we're being terribly
bilked; in fact, much the same argl-
ment made bef6se Judge Logan, when
ON three occasions that jurist refused
to entertain his motions.
The Tax Commission was quite
agitated and fearful of having been
deceived, SO they Immediately sent
letter to the commissioners and other
officials in Gunnison, demanding ex-
plantations and wanting to know why
these things were. However, they
took no official action. While in Dem
yer Mr.. Nourse heard of the hearing
and on Wednesday took the matter up
with the commission. He explained
that the matter has been thrown out
of court thrice, but was again before
Logan, an impartial judge, who could
be depended on to give the public a
square deal, something the commits
sion members were apparently very
much surprised to learn He assured
them that in the opinion of the great
Of these posted in such mat
tiers, the price was not conside ell e.-
cessive and not a much a. It would
cost to replace such a structure that
the county owned very valuable grad
ers and trucks which were ,,e.e. q at
ing in the weather and s'ouli he
housed; that this road equ pgaert v-as
undoubtedly REQUIRED for the laryc
road program which the stase and
! federal government has outlined for
( the Rainbow Route and connecting
roads in this corrt.', and that The re-
cent grand jury had recommended
better care Of the county property.
He was also informed that the rand
jury went fully into this garag- rur-
chase and found no occasion to crit
cize the county commissioners on that
score.
Upon this showing the merrb4-- Of
the Tax Commission expressed them-
selves ~ relieved and indicated that
they would take no further action in
thc matter.