The Cody enterprise and the Park County enterprise., November 01, 1922, Image 1

About The Cody enterprise and the Park County enterprise. (Cody, Wyo.) 1921-1923

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HAY WILL SAFEGUARD WYOMING’S INTERESTS - VOTE FOR TH EM
Founded In 18W by Col.
W. F. Cody ("Buffalo
Bill") and Col. Paako.
VOLUME 24. NUMBER 12
IM UELINQUENGIES UNDER PRESENT
800 OF COMMISSIONERS GREATEST
111 THE HISTORV OF PMK COUNTY
Fines Will Not Offset Increased Expenses of Sheriff's Office
And Criminal Costs—s4o,ooo Will Be Necessary
To Finish Administration
Additional flguree on the cost of
maintaining the County government
of Park County, Wyoming.
The following statements relative
to the cost of maintaining the county
government of Park county, Wyom
ing, between January 1, 1917, up to
and inclusive of June 30, 1922, are
made from figures and information
obtained from the records of the;
State Examiner's office of the State I
of Wyoming and from official records
of Park county, Wyoming.
Examination of the County Treas
urer's sem*.' anuel abstr a ct statement
as submitted to the State Examiner;
shows that delinquent taxes for 19161
collected during 1917 amount to
-.<15,270.26;
Similarly, 1917 delinquincies col
lected in 1918 amount t 0.20,406.94
Similarly, 1918 delinquincies col- .
lected in 1919 amount t0<15,167.31,
1919 tax delinquincies collected
during 1920 amount t0<14,986.93
1920 delinquincies collected dur-
ing 1921 amount t0<49.524.02
And 1921 tax delinquencies col
lected during the first elx mos. ,
of 1922, that is, up until July
Ist, 1922, amount t 0565,530.99
This comparison of figures shows
clearly that a greater number of peo
ple in Park county during 1920 and
1921 found it difficult or impossible
to promptly meet the steadily grow
ing county tax burden growing ou*
of expenditures authorised by the
Board of County Commission j s.
Under the present Ix>ard of County
Commissioners, of which boa**-! h4r.
S. A- Watkins is chairman, the great -
est delinquencies of —<ssJiU' yj’
—recorded in the history of the roun-j
ly has occurred. i
That this is caused by higher o»»sU
of living which warrant Increases Vk
the cost of maintaining the co ’.aty
government is an exploded theo.y.
It is well known by all persons in
terested in agricultural and livestock
business that market prices have!
tumbled tremendously since the war
period—the period of 1917 and 1918
—while Major Hoops was sheriff and
■lnce the after-w a r reconstruction pe
riod of 1919 and 1920, during which
period Barber was sheriff.
This series of facts is here men-.
tioned in order to forestall any claims
which may be made in an effort to
justify increased costs of county gov-,
ernment under the present board of
commissioners on the theory of high
er costs and higher material and
commodity values during 1921 a nd
1922 in contrast to the universally un
precedented living costs during the
world war period.
All of the figures set forth in the '
tresurer's statement and all other
ures as the basis for these remarks
have from time to time been officially
made matters of public information.
With full knowledge of the Indus
trial difficulties which confront the
people of the county, and which par
ticularly have confronted them dur
ing the past two years, the present
board of county commissioners has'
Increased rather than diminished the
county expenditures and the general
county burden—that is to say, in dis
regard of local and general economic |
conditions, the county commission- 1
era have not been helpful to people
of county. In this same connection
it may be mentioned that the costs
aising out of eal or fabricated crim
raising out of real or fabricated crim
payers’ burden.
Other figures taken from the ;
County Treasurer’s reports to thel
State Examiner and as made public ;
hy the official publication of thei
semi-annual abstract statements re-1
puired by law show that the follow-1
ihg amounts for the following de
•cribed years have been collected as
aggregate justice court and district
court fines and have been covered in
•° the county treasury:
In 1917 and ' 1918 when Hoopes
was sheriff ~<115.00
In 1919 and 1920 when Barber
sheriff $20Z9.17
In 1921. and up to June 30, 1922
while Davis has been sher
iff ..._544t > 3.65
While it is conceded that these
•-nes have been somewhat helpful to
the county finances, it is ridiculous
contend that these amounts have
onset in any material way the phe
nomenal costs to she county which
nave been aggregated from the func
"omng of the sheriff’s office, the
cnminai Expense, district court
Jfie Cody Enterprise
CODY, PARK COUNTY. WYOMING—GATEWAY TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Arpense, clerk of court expense, jus
tice court expense and the office of
; county and prosecuting attorney.
In an earlier article these items
when aggregated for the particular
corresponding 18 months periods, o
- periods of Bern-annual abstract)
statement were shown to be as fol
lows:
January 1, 1917, to June 30,
| 1918, while Hoops was sher-
iff 814,758.08
I January 1, 1919, to June 30,
1920, while Barber was sher
iff $18348.19
January 1, 1921, to June 30,
I 1922, while Davis was sheriff
$26,570.30
To show the falacy of any state
ment that may be made to the effect,
| that the agregate justice court and
I district court fines collected and de
posited in the traeauy funds of the
county have made a business and
! creditable showing for the office of
i the present sheriff under the present
| board of county commissioners the
' following figures are presented.
If from each of the last above
I mentioned sums there be deducted
the respective total of the fines col
lected during the corresponding pe
’ riods under the three different sher
iffs the net cost to the county, after
deducting the fines received, will be
obtained. *
1. $14,758.08 total for first 18
months during 1917-18, Jess the
$115.00 fines collected equals $14,-
643.08. net cost to county while Ma
jor Hoops was sheiff.
2. $18,348.19 total for first 18
months 1919-20, less the $2079.17
fines collected, equals $16,269.02, net
cost to county while Barbe was sher
iff.
• 3. $26,570.30 total for first 18
months 1921-22, less the $4483.65,
i fines collected, equals $22086.65, net
cost to county while Davis has been
' sheriff up to only the date June 30,
1922.
It ia to be noted that in arriving
at the last above schedule of figures
the fine® deducted for tlie periods
presided over by Hoops and Barber
I have each been all the fines collected
I throughout their respective two-
I year terns, and that these fines have
been deducted from the total costs
growing out of their respective first
18 month periods, which correspond
similarly with the first 18 months
under the present sheriff.
In spite of this advantage given
,to the Davis regime tt appeals that
the sheriff’s office under the present
, sheriff has been operated at a net
cost to the county which is $7443.57
I more than was the cost during the
corresponding period in 1917-18 dui
i ing which Hoopes was sheriff and that
I the net cost to the county from Jan
’ uary 1, 1921, to June 30, 1922, is
$5817.63 greater than it was in the
, corresponding similar period while
i Barber was the sheriff of Park county.
This article carries this cmopari
son a second step farther. The whole
two year periods of both Hoops and
Barber while respectively serving
the county as sheriff will be compared
with the yar and a half between Jan
uary 1, 1921, and June 30, 1922 dur
ing which Davis has been sheriff.
The total cost to the county dur
ing two years while Hoops was sher
iff, involving the costs of the sheriff’s
office, criminal expense, district
court, clerk of court, justice court and
prosecuting attorney, from January
1, 1917, to December 31, 1918, war
$17,228.01. This amount less the slls
fines collected equals $17113.01.
Similarly the total corresponding
cost under sheriff Barber for two
whole years 1919 to 19.0 inclusive
►mounts to $24304.34, whjch last
amount less the fines $2079.17 col
lected under Barber’s term equals
$22125.17 for net cost to Park coun
ty.
It has already been shown that the
corresponding cost under Davis for
onlv 18 months, a year and a half, up
to June 30, 1922, is $22036.65.
In other words, under Davis as
sheriff for a year and a half the
county has had a net expense of $4,-
973.64 greater than it had under
Hoops for two whole years.
Similarly, under Davis ns sheriff
for a year and a half,up to June 30,
1922, the county has had a net ex
pense which is only $38.52 less than
it hnd under Barber so rtwo whole
years. January 1. 1919, to January
1, 1921. This does not include the last
6 months during which sheriff Davis
still will preside.
This article carries this compari
son a third step farther.
On the basis that the costs of the
above described functions of the
county govenment resting in the of
fice of sheriff, county clerk and proe
(Continued on Page 8)
AND THE PARK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
•" e- J 1 ’ ■ 'J* ■ •>'
wwWkMk ■ - sggaEfMhg
•'
Above is the picture of the Republicans’ choice for governor.
We will print it again next week when he is elected, for we are
confident that the voters realize that plain John Hay of Rock
Springs is badly needed just now by the State of Wyoming.
Retrenchment and economy in state as well as county affairs is
an imperative neeesity: thi he has promised. John W. Hay is not
one to give his word without seeing his way clear to make it good.
The Republican candidate for this high office has risen through
his own efforts. He will apply the same principles to the affairs of
the State which have brought him success in his own business.
He is shrewd, economical, honest. ‘ He is human, sympathetic,
understanding. He has not only the respect but the affection of
practically every man, woman and child in his own community. A
man could have no better recommendation.
He is independent and courageous, sincere and outspoken, with
out pretense, or frills, or furbelows. The Golden Rule is his religion,
and he lives up to it.
Vote for him—-help elect to office the man who will give Wy
oming the best business administration she has ever had.
SHERIDAN HEARS
HODGE'S VERSION
OF STREET BATTLE
The Sheridan Post prints the fol
lowing interview with Galen B. Hodge
under the headline, “HODGE BAT
TLE HAS CODY MEN IN TOILS.”
liruce Hodge, federal prohibition
agent, who was beaten up in a con
flict with Harry Wiard, town marshal
of Cody, and a party of his support
ers, recently, is in Sherld a n, where
he makes his headquarters, recuper
ating from his injuries.
“He wao the victim of an assault
by forces opposing the federal prohi
bition officers, he said last night.
“In the fight with Wiard, in which
Hodge shot Wiard in the leg, Hodge’s
injuries consisted of numerous scalp
and facial wounds, and the bre a kfng
of his upper jaw and six teeth.
“Hodge declared Wiard and several
supporters meant to kill him in an
out-of-the-way place, and did succeed
in having him fined for drunkenness
and getting the story spread through
out the st a te, after he had escaped I
from them. His reputation with the
local officials, however, is said to be
clean, and the report that he was
drunk was declared as “absurd” by
M. C. Wachtel, deputy federal prohi
bition director for Wyoming.
“The final round in the story is yet
to come with the arrest on federal
warrants of Wiard and Rex Spencer,
his assistant The men are to be tak
en to Cheyenne for trial before a fed
eral court on a charge of interferfgn
with a government officer. In addf-|
tion, Spencer will be accused on evi
dence obtained by prohibition agents
at Cody.”
Earl M a rtin came down rom Holm
Lodge on Monday to remain or the
winter.
Dr. O. B. C. Kinney has leased;
Duly’s rooming house next to the En
terprise and will remodel it to receive
patients.
Frederick Morris was in from the
ranch the end of the week.
J. J. Doors of Sunlight was in the
week for the winter’s supplies. [
HIGH COST OF LIVING
DOES NOT JUSTIFY
COS. EXPENBITURES
An increase in the cost of living is
one explanation offered for the 30 per
, cent advance in the cost of maintain
■ ing government in Park Couty during
the administration of the present
board of county commissioners of
which S. A. Watkins is chairman.
There is no foundation for this
statement, as can readily be shown
by a comparison of prices during the
periods which were used as a basis
upon which to estimate the advance
in cost of county government.
The years 1917-1918 were war times
and the farmers were receiving war
time prices for their commodities, and
prospering. Today they are working
for nothing and borrowing money at
10 per cent to pay their t a xes.
These flgures*speak for themselves,'
and say plainly that there is no jus
tification for the disproportionate ex
penditures under the administration
of Messrs. Watkins, Pease and Web- :
i ster.
1918 1922
Wheat —.s 3.00 < 1.25
Oats 4.00 1.25
Hay 20.00 6.00
Potatoes 2.00 .50
1 Wool : .62 .35
Steers 90.00 50.00
Sheep 14.00 5.00
Sugar beets 12.00 6.00
Walter S. Cash, who said goodbye
to his friends about two weeks ago
and left for Portland, Oregon, never
to return, came back on Monday, beat-;
ing his trunk and other belongings
into Cody. He explained that there |
was not enough going on in Portland
to amuse him so he will shortly re
sume his duties as postmaster at Val
! ley.
Charlie Enoch returned from the'
1 Yellowstone Park the first of the week
where he has had charge of a road
crew.
John L. Fowler and Kermit Erick
, son expect to leave soon for Old Mex
ico. They will attend the races a t
Tia Juana and the City of Mexico
t during the winter.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 1, 1922
TIME FOR A CLEANING OF EXPENSIVE
AND LAX OFFICIALS NOW HANDLING THE
BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF PARK COUNTY
Neither Sheriff, Treasurer, Nor Commissioners Entitled To Re-
Election Upon Their Records —Changes Are
Needed At The Court House
For County Commissioner—4-year term—P. E.
Markham of Cody, Dem.
For County Commissioner—2-year term —David
Powers of Ralston, Rep.
For Sheriff—W. H. Loomis of Powell, Dem.
For County Treasurer-Frank Herrington of
Ralston, Dem.
(Caroline
The Enterprise is a republican pa
per, believes in the principles of Jn
republican party and heartily endors
es the entire State ticket, but when
it comes to L. L. Newton’s hand-pick
ed candidates for county offices,
whose nominations were secured by
unfair and characteristically newton
ish methods, that is another matter.
Mr. Newton, while State Committee
man and presumed to bo neutral be
fore the primaries, endorsed and sup
ported through the Herald, the offi
cial paper of the organization in Park
County, certain candidates whom, for
obvious reasons, he wished to see
nominated.
He collected money from republican
candidates and used it to defeat them;
he permitted sample ballots to go out
from the Herald office before election
marked with the names of his candi
dates ; he named his ticket in the of
ficial paper of the organization; he
| left no stone unturned to roll up votes
for the candidates of the little county
machine he has built up chiefly to fur-
I ther his own interests.
The Enterprise, like many others,
I believes that in local affairs it is the
man. not the party, that should be
considered. It is for this reason that
we come to the parting of the ways
when we are asked to support three
of Mr. Newton’s candidates, namely,
C. A. Davis, S. A. Watkins and G. A.
Holm for the offices of sheriff, county
commissioner and county treasurer,
respectively.
The people are asked to re-elect
these three candidates upon their rec
ords.
The Enterprise does not believe
they are entitled to re-election upon
their records.
C. A. Davis has been the most ex
pensive sheriff that Park County has
I ever had and has done more harm to
the cause of law and order by reason
of his methods of enforcing prohibi
tion and his fanaticism upon this sub
ject, than any other man who has
j ever filled this position. He has less-i
ened respect for the sheriff’s office,
made himself a joke and a byword,
and accomplished little or nothing.
S. A. Watkins is chairman of the
most extrav a gant board of county,
commissioners in the history of Park;
county. It was he who was largely,
responsible for the letting of the coun
ty. printing to the highest bidder, L.
L. Newton. It was he who wa-. insist
ent upon the special session of Curt
which was called to try liquor viola
. tion cases at a cost of $2500, with no
| convictions save where the defend
ants pleaded guilty.
I It is he who has permitted an in- 1
i crease of 30 per cent in the cost of
i maintaining government in Park
; county over war-time figures.
> 1 G. A. Holm, the present incumbent.
of the county treasurer’s office, is
i also asking re-election upon his rec
ord. His record is that he has done
exceedingly well by the Holm family
since he has been in office, paying his
i young daughter a man’s salary of
SISOO a year as deputy and in 18
months increased the cost of his office
: $2,420.25 over what it wac for a cor
responding period during war times —
1917-18.
, The feeling has long been growing
among the taxpayers that any fairly
intelligent person, who applied him
self conscientiously, could do the
work of this office without the assist
lance of a $125 a month deputy for
i twelve months in the year.
. . I
| For these and other reasons wmcn
we could give if we were put to it, '
the Enterprise refuses to support '
Messrs. Davis, Watkins and Holm for
: the offices they seek, but recommends '
i to its readers In their places the fol
lowing democratic candidates: W. i
H. Loomis, P. E. Markham and Frank
Herrington.
I Mr. Loomis, who has a wide ac-p
The policy of this paper lei
to uphold the standards B
and perpetuate the spirit |
of the old West. |
—■ I sssE
ISSUED EVERY WEDNESDAY
s Lockhart)
acquaintance throughout the oounty
and is familiar with conditions, prom
ises a fair, forceful and businesslike
administration, if elected. He pledges
himself to conduct the office to the
best interests of the people and with
all possible economy.
P. E. Markham, pioneer sheepman
of P a rk county, has made a success
of his own affairs through sound judg
ment, by close attention to business
and a habit of getting value received
for his money. Mr. Markham, If elect
ed, may be counted upon not to O. K.
the bills of the county without look
ing at them. His name is a synonym
for integrity and a blunt honesty of
speech is one of his chief character
istics.
Frank Herrington is not so well
known in this vicinity, but he h a s the
respect and confidence of bis neigh
bors at Ralston and of the Powell
coupntry. In addition to a good repu
tation to recommend him, he has an
agreeable personality. He declares
that. If elected, he will conduct the of
fice of county treasurer in an econom
ical and efficient m a nner.
Mr. Herrington has no relatives
whom he wishes to make a place for
at an unnecessary cost to the tax
payers, but will handle the affairs of
the treasurer’s office alone, save for
the few busy weeks in the ye a r when
ar assistant is needed.
David Powers, of Ralston,, republi
can candidate for county commission
er for the two year term. Is another
whom we can unhesitatingly recom
mend to the voters of Park county.
Mr. Powers is a practical, successful
farmer, well educated, a nd one of the
most highly esteemed settlers upon
the Shoshone project Like Mr. Mark
ham, Mr. Powers is the sort who will
see that the taxpayers get what they
pay for and that the expenditures of
the county are kept within its in
come.
If you want to see an end to the ex
travagance which has obtained dur
i ing the administration of Davis, Holm
and Watkins, and the cost of main
taining county government reduced
to somewhere within reason, vote for
these persons regardless of politics.
SPENCER- WILKINSON
Rex Spencer is no sooner rele a sed
from one set of bonds than he delib
erately takes on others.
He and Miss Daisy Wilkinson sur
prised their friends last week by an-
I nounclng their marriage in Red Lodge
I on the 24th of October.
Both are well known and popular
young folk of Cody. Mr. Spencer has
j qrown up here, while his bride, whose
parents reside near Clark, Wyo., has
. been attending high school in Cody
for a year or two. Mrs. Spencer is
one of the attractive young women of
| this section and has much talent as
lan artist The many friends of both
wish them every happiness.
Judge Fred H. Blume, who Is a can
didate for re-election as one of the
justices of the Supreme Court, haa
rendered faithful and efficient ser
vice to the people during his term of
office. He went on the bench after
23 ye a rs experience in his profession
in Sheridan, and, having given up his
practice, it is felt that he deserves
election for at least a following term.
He is the only candidate from the
I Northern counties and the Supreme
Court judgeship should be equitably
I divided over the State. The office is
I non-part I san, so republicans and dem
ocrats alike should see that Judge
Blume is kept on the bench by giving
him their vote.
W. L. Simpson left for Thermopolis
on Saturday to be gone several days.