Bell County Democrat (Belton, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 59, Ed. 1 Friday, July 10, 1908 Page: 6 of 8
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the butt. rmrrvty democrat
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JUST ARRIVED
Large Shipment
FASHIONABLE FURNITURE!
We Have Just Received a Very Large Shipment of The Latest Style
added to our Already Splendid Stock, makes a most interesting
display. You may now find anything you want to make your
hdme look pretty, at prices that will astonish you. The new
goods will be on display the early part
of^next week and for a few days we
will make special prices in order to
advertise our Furniture Department.
YOU WILL FIND PRICES RI6HT
Furniture, which,
MAY & SON
Belton
Texas
W V Vf >Sf If V ** V V llf Kfi If V •Si" V tf Vf
JUDGE W. R. BUTLER
Issues an Address to the People of Bell County
Splendid Record Shown.
lb the Citizens and Voters of Boll County:
\
j^'The many and pressing official de-
mands upon me as County Judge have
|F#pt me closely confined to my office
Belton during the progreaa of the
npaign, and have prevented try
king that personal canvass for re-
tion that I would have been
iaaed to inake. i have considered,
fd do now consider, that my first
ty was to attend to the people's
siness. In the short time that In-
tarvens between now and t>e 25th, of
July, it will be impossible for me to
aee but a small proportion of the vo-
ters of the County, and I therefore
take advantage of this method to
state to you that I. earnestly desire
your active support in this campaign,
«nd your votes at the Primary Elec-
tion.
My record is made and is an open
book to all, and upon it I come be-
fore you for your political favor.
What I shall have to say will doubt-
lees be of Interest to you, showing as
It does the condition of the County
Jkffatra, which you are entitled X.6
•aow. I am of the opinion that of-
fices are for the benefit of the people
tad not to aid the officers—not to
enrich or honor the man. but that
(he public business may be properly
«*red for—and if I am right, and I
Jfelnk It not a debatable question,
:tl on each rote for a public officer
furald be cast with the end In view
securing the best man for the
all things considered, and Iook-
at from the standpoint of the peo-
e's interest. Since I have been
mr County Judge I have given the
office my entire and undivided at-
tention and I am proud of the things
-accomplished during that time, and
'Of the present condition of the Coun-
*ty affairs. \
I came Into office November 80th,
1904, at which time Bell County was
'Indebted as follows:
♦On outstanding County Warrants
bearing 8 per cent Int.. .$84100.00
Due on County Farm bearing 0 per
cent Interest $7900.00
On unpaid Bills In County Clerks
office something over... .$$000.00
Total floating Indebtedness
$$6000.00
Upon which accrued an annual in-
terest account of $2400.00. The
County tax rate was then 50c on the
9100.00. In 1005 the County tax
rate was reduced to 40c on the
$100.00, which has been the rate ev-
•r since. Besides the debts above
the County owed $114400.00
oa Its outstanding bonds.
During my administration the
lestS £,*£• gs&s -
IJurliig this time alTcuirrent expen
of ths Ooanty.hase boon paid In
ul the County now owes no
will come up for payment at tmr reg-
ular term in August. We have am-
ple funds In the Connty Treasury in
the Common County and Court House
and Jail Funds to pay all Bills in
full against said funds as they accrue
until this year's taxes become doe.
You will notice a grand total of
$70000.00 of old debts have been
paid since November 20th, 190'*', In
1907 the County borrowed $2000*0.00
by sale of 8 1-2 per cent Bonds, wftb
which to repair and paint the Bridges
of the County—and counting in said
$20000.00 bridge repair Bonds, the
Cpunrty now owes only $101000.00 on
Bonds, a net reduction of $ 15400-.00
of the Bonded indebtedness of the
County, and a net total' reduction of
the Indebtedness of the County of
$50400.00 during my administration
as County Judge. Besides, during
this time the Cfcnnty has had some
extraordinary and unusual expenses
which have been pafd in full viz.:
Repair of Jail $1500.00
Repair of Cburt House $1400.00
Five Years Insurance or Court
House, Jail and County Farm
building $1002.00
Publishing Tax records.... $1400.00
Total $5302.00
By economy and the strictest
watch over the finances of the Coun-
ty, we have saved enough out of the
current Income of the Connty. and
at a reduced tax rate, to pay said
1135000.00 and said unusual expen-
ses, and atffl have enough toft to
pay all current expenses, and there
Is now In the County Treasury avail-
able for the purpose of meeting ex-
penses not Including JuTy expenses,
the sum of $10630.57. The last of
said old debts was pafd this year out
of the 1907 taxes.
Compared with what they were at
tht beginning of my term, we have
reduced salaries or County Officers
the total sum of $2450.00 a year.
The County Judges salary was re-
duced at the beginning of my term
from $1800.00 to $1100.00 a year.
During the four years next pre-
seedlng my administration, as shown
by the County Treasurer's books, Bell
County paid for Books, Blanks, Sta-
tionery and printing the sum of
$19893.71; while during the time I
have been in office a little more than
years and 7 months, as shown by
said Treasurer's books, the County
has paid out for the same kind of ser-
vices and supplies, the sum of only
$10384.49, a difference of $9670.88;
but $8479.60 of the Bills paid dur-
ing my term for Stationery and etc.
as above menUoned, were old and un-
paid Moounts contracted prior to thfc
beginning of my term, thus leaving
only the sum of $7$48.89, spsnt for
said purpose and suppllss purchased
taring my Urm of office. The County
$100
w '<"£i i ■*". vl. * Jfe
will purchase all Stationery etc,
needed by the County during this
fiscal years ending November 20th,
1908, thus completing my 4 years
and making a total of $8643.89 for
said four years, as against $19893.71
for the four years immediately pre-
ceeding—a difference of $11249.92
or an average of over $2500.00 per
year. I set oat below the statement
furnished me by the County Auditor
showing these facts which is as fol-
lows :
"Statement of Money expended n
Bell County for .Printing and Station-
ery from November 20t&, 1900 to
July 1st, 1908:
From Nov. 20th, 1900, to Nov.
20th, 1901 .$4021.61
From Nov. 20th, 1901, to Nov.
20tb, 1902 $5793.fl
From Nov. 20th, 1902, to Nov.
20th, 1903 $5,1*82.37
From Nov. 20th, 1903, to Nov.
20th, 1904 .$4186.32
Total $19983.71
Accounts allowed after November
20th, 1904, but contracted' prior
to Nov. 20th, 1904 $2479.*0
Grant! total $22463.31
From Nov. 20th, 1904, to Nov.
20th, 1905 $3894.40
From Nov. 20th, 1905, to- Nov.
20th, 1906 $2450.75
From Nov. 20th, 1906, to Nov.
20th, 1907 $2876.39
From Nov. 20, 1907, to J"uiy 1st.
1908 $995.95
Totar $10323.49
Less amount paid after Nov. 20th,
1904, contracted and used prior
to Ncnr. 20th, 1904 $24T9>.60
Total amount nsed from Nov. 20th,
190# to Jniy l*t, 1W8. . $7843.83
Estimated amount from July 1st,
1909, to NOV. 20th, JWS. .$*00.00
Total $S643.83
I, W. E. Hall, Auditor for Bell
County do hereby certify that the
foregoing statement to true as shewn
by the Treasurer's Books of Bell
County Texas, except the $800.00 es-
timated from July 1st, 1908, to Nov-
ember, 20th, 108. W. E. HALL,
County Auditor.
Other retrenchments in the expen-
ses of the County, In tbe matter of
feeding the prisoners in Jail, stamps
for officers, phone bits, keeping road
and bridge accounts for the Commis-
sioners etc.. have been made, which
amounts to $400.00 or more a year.
I summarise above mentioned reduc-
tions tn the expenses In the County
as follows:
Annual Interest account...$2400.00
Annual salary account $2450.00
Average yearly saving on station-
ery accounts $2500.00
Annual saving on other matters..
$400.00
Making a total sum of $7750.00 a
year Bared to the public In the said
matter.
There has been added to our an-
nual expense, $2400.00 for County
Auditor, which before the year 1907
we did not have, the law compels
Bell County to have this officer and
fixes his salary at said price. Dur-
ing my term the salary of County
Farm Superintendent has been In-
creased $300.00 a year, Including
therein pay for a guard, and we pay
our Court House Janitor an Increase
of $$0.00 a year, making a total In-
srsass of $$$0.00 a ysar not Includ-
ing Auditor's salary, which leavee a
net decrease In County expenses as
above shoWn of the sum of $7390 a
year.
I believe the large saving in sta-
tionery matters has been made by the
policy adopted by this Court of re-
fusing to bny deeds, deeds-of-trust,
bills of sale, etc., for free distribu-
tion, and buying only those things
necessary and upon compnfcitive bids.
The comparison made wth any
other administration Is not made by
way of criticism, but solely for the
purpose of developing the fact in an
Intelligent way that we have been
economical, and careful' of the peo-
ple's money.
At the beginning of the term of
my office the road and bridges of the
County were in a very bad condition
and the County owned no teams or
;road machinery except plows and
scrapers and one or two old graders.
Since then the County- has become
the owner of 18 good mules and 3
fine grading machines, all paid for.
Many miles of road have been grad-
ed and ditched and equal to like
character of roads in orher Counties.
Much splendid road work has also
been done with scrapers in the Bel-
ton and Killeen precincts, and I un-
hesitatingly say that the roads and
bridges of Bell County are now in
much better condltonr than ever be-
fore. During same time 15 new
SteeT Bridges have been built in the
County which are firity paid for and
3 more are now under construction.
We have purchased 20 acres of
timber land for use fn conection with
Connty Farm and 4 mules for use
thereon which have been paid for.
My record as Judge of the County
Cbnrt Is known, as many of you have
served on juries in said Court, r have
tried cases, civil' and criminal with
out fear or favor, according to the
law and evidence only and to the
best of my ability.
The above record I snbmtt for yonr
information and consideration.
The County tax rate for 1908 has
been fixed at 24 1-2 cents on the
$100.00, just 1-2 of last year tax.
The road and bridge tax remain at
$15c, and the 34c that was levied
last year for all othjir County pur-
poses, has been retfueed to 9 l-2c. It
Is my opinion that said tax rate will
bring in enough money, when sup-
plimented with the money derived
from poll taxes and other sources to
meet all necessary expenses of the
County. The occupation tax takes care
of all the expenses Incurred by the DIs
trlct and County Courts. This Coun-
ty Is now In splendid financial con-
dition. It shall be my constant en-
deavor to keep It so. I believe that
a 'County like an Individual, should
keep Its ordinary expenses within its
Income and not create an Interest
bearing debt—except for permanent
improvements, and not then if avoid-
able.
I believe any officer or body of men
who collects ons dollar more from
the people in the way of taxes, than
Is necessary to pay the expenses of
the Government when honestly and
economically administered, perpetra-
tes a wrong upon the people. I fur-
ther believe that when a County owes
an Interest bearing floating debt
that It Is good business policy and
due the fair name of tbe County, that
said debt be paid at maturity and
the interest stopped.
I believe that a public office is a
public trust, and that the public
funds should be handled with fidelity
by the officers controlling them. I
favor the strict enforcement of the
laws, of the State and believe that of-
ficers should obey the laws as well
as other people.
I am making this race solely upon
my merits and' my record. 1 ask your
support upon no other grounds. I
make no extravagant promises. If
elected I will do the very best I can
at all times and under all circum-
stances for the people and their in-
terest. A man should be judged by
his acts rather than by his words.
By my record as a private citizen
and a public official I.am willing to
fie judged. I believe my every act
stlown by my offcial record has been
to lighten the bprdens on the tax
payers and not to increase them. If
the Legislature has enacted some tax
laws you do not like, do not blame
me for them. I had no more to do
with their making than yourselves.
T shall always be found using my
best efforts to protect you from any
bad effects of those or other laws,
|so far as I can do so consistently
with my oath of office, and my duty
as an honest man to obey the laws
as written.
If you honor me with the office
another term, I offer you my record
in the past, as an earnest and pledge
of what I will do in the future.
Whether elected or defeated, I shall
always carry with me one of my
chlefest treasures, the recollection
of the honor and confidence reposed
in me by the people of Bell county,
and it shall be a possession which I
shall transmit to my children's keep-
ing with greater pride than any-
thing material that may descend to
tbem.
Respectfully submitted,
W. R. BUTLER.
Coal I Coall
I am told by the dealers that
coal will advance very soon. I
have bought on a low market and
am prepared to give you the ben-
efit. Remember my motto:
Good quality, honest weights and
a fair deal. ' 58-8t
E. Embree.
Will Deliver Free.
All parties east of the Leon
river buying goods from us may
have them delivered at Midway
free of cost to them. This is to
convenience our customers on
the east side of the river.
T. W. Cochran & Co.
Don't sweat over that stove.
Let Smith & Dockum do your
cooking. Bakery next door to
Wells Fargo Express office.
Do not SELL YOUR COTTON
until you see us. We pay full
market prices any day.
Smith ft Peyton Hdw. Co.
Opportunity of a Lifetime.
Scholarships are on the market
for ninety days at the lowest rate
ever offered by any high grade
business college in America. Our
$100 unlimited scholarships in book
keeping,, wholesaling, banking, pen-
manship* business arithmetic, busi-
ness law, letter writing, shorthand
and typewriting, are now $60.
Scholarships in all departments for
six months, heretofore $75—now
$50. Scholarships in business and
typewriting, formerly $65—now
$50. Regular $50 life scholarships
in business or shorthand and type-
writing, now even $40. Scholar-
ships in any department three
months, formerly $45—now $25.
Scholarships in telegraphy and sta-
tion work, formerly $50—now $35.
If you knew the sort of work we
are doing, you would jump qu^ck at
our proposition. Hill's Business
Colleges stand at the head of the
list of business colleges in the south
for practical and up-to-date meth-
ods and high grade work. At Hill's
Business Colleges you get the very
cream of busines education. A
three or four months' course with
us means more than a five or six
months' course elsewhere. . Our
new shorthand system is the best,
the easiest and the quickest learned
on the market. Our teachers are
men of high educational attain-
ments, who have wide experience
as practical bookkeepers in retail
and wholesale houses before taking
up the work of teaching. A course
with us means a good paying po-
sition. Address R. H. Hill, Pres.,
Waco, Texas, or Memphis, Tenn.
This is what Hon. Jake Moore,
state warden of Georgia, says of
Kodol for Dyspepsia—"e. c. DeWitt
& Co., Chicago, 111—Dear Sirs—I
have suffered more than 20' years
from indigestion. About eighteen
months ago I had grown so much
worse that I could not digest a ci*ust
of corn bread and could not retain
anything on my stomach. I lost 25
pounds; in fact I made up my mind
that I could not live but a short
while, when a friend of mine recom-
mended Kodol. I consented to try it
to please him and was hetter in one
day. I now weigh more than I ever
did in my life and am in better health
than for many years. Kodol did it.
I keen a bottle constantly, and write
this hoping that humanity may be
benefitted. Yours very truly, Jake C.
MoOre, Atlanta, Aug. 10, 1904. Sold
by Belton Drug Co,
Buy your bread, buns, cakes,
etc., from the Smith & Dockum
bakery. It's just as cheap and
saves you all that trouble.
Are You a
BUSINESS
IF YOU ARE A MERCHANT ' •
You want to sell all the goods
ypu can.
IF YOU ARE A REAL ESTATE MAN
You want to make all the real
estate trades you can.
IF YOU ARE A MANUFACTURER
You want your product used
by as many people as possible.
IF YOU ARE A CONTRACTOR
You want all the contracts you
can get.
IF YOU ARE A
COMMISSION BROKER
you want to handle all the ac* 4P1
counts you can get.
EVERYBODY
,Knows the above facts, but
everybody don't know how to
accomplish.these results. It is
the wise fellow who has discov-
ered the fact that newspa-
per advertising accomplishes
these ends quicker, and at
less cost than any other.
THE NEXT POINT OF INTEREST
is the newspaper that can
reach the greatest number of
people who are likely to be
interested in your line.
THE BELL COUNTY DEMOCRAT 9
has the largest sworn Bell
county circulation of any pa-
per or periodical published in
the county. Every name on
its subscription list is paid in
advance. Circulation books
open to all present and pros-
pective advertisers. It has no
secrets and you know what
you get when you buy space
in its columns.
J1 HINT TO THE WISE
IS SUFFICIENT
iw'.
** ■ mum*. «««•>«• « ,
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Bell County Democrat (Belton, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 59, Ed. 1 Friday, July 10, 1908, newspaper, July 10, 1908; Belton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth232331/m1/6/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.