The Nevada journal., 1854-02-24
MIR. McDuflie'S Bill.

the COLLECTION OF moneys uue to couulieS, py
process of law. This is well enough, as the
difficulty of collecting taxes, licenses, &c, is
greater than in other parts of the world. But
why should the smaller evils be looked to 50
scrupulously, while those of much greater mag
nitude-that render this evil almost virtue,
are entirely overlooked. We mean the faithful
disbursement of the money, when in the treasu-
rv. 1t seems the Courts Of Sessions have not
only the exclusive but the unlimited control of
the county treasures. Were these courts COM
posed of something better than men--or were
they composed Of men destitute of the passions
and desires which govern the actions of other
men-such powers might be granted with per-
feet safety, and We could pay our dues in con-
fidence believing they would be appropriated
for the public good. But while these courts
are composed of men, like others and while
she most corrupt beings stand the same chance
Of getting into this place that the best men
have, we feel warrented in saying our legisIa-
ture had better give some attention to the safe
keeping and disbursement of the county funds,
as well as for collecting them.
1t is matter Of fact, that most of the coun-
tics in this State cannot raise by fair taxation
sufficient funds to keep their treasures well
supplied The persons composing the court
doing county business are among the largest
claimants against the treasury, and consequent
ly they feel interested in keeping out as many
others as possible; and carrying this to an
excess, they commit a much worse wrong than
for individuals doing an honest business to re-
fuse to contribite to fill badly managed treas
ury Let it be remembered that those holding
the power to open the treasury are apt to carry
their conscenccs in their own pockets. Cases
have recently occurred in this place, in which
the writer of this among Others has suffered
For instance some two months ago the Court
ordered the publication in the Journal of an
election notice for the town officers of Nevada.
About the same time they ordered one for
Washington township. We published both
given to us and attested by the County clerk,
and during the session last week, we presented
our bill for the same, confidently expecting, OF
course to receive an order for the amount on
the treasury. But much to our surprise, and
we think, to the dishonor of the men compos-
ing the court, they positiveis. refused to pay
one of them, that Of the Nepa1s own election.
Again, the school commissions, who have la
bored assiduously, for the last four or five
months by which they have established the
school system in this township, and so arranged
this department as to entitle the township to
about $1,000 per annum, or more, and nearly
completed good school house very naturally
expected to receive something for their labor.
The law provides that the Court of Sessions
shall allow, out of the county funds, a reasona-
BILE compensation. But when their account
was presented land it would not pay them, If
allowed, more than SO per day for the time
they were actually employed,l the Presiding
Judge sneeringly remarked, /" This is pretty
bill to be handed in for the county to pay. =
The Marshal appointed by the Commissioners
TO take the census of the township, secured to
himself moiety of his claim by hard fighting.
The excuse made for this kind of conduct is
that economy should be observed. So it should,
and no system of economy, however rigid, would
over be complained of, at least by the writer of
this, were it system and carried out as such
in all their transactions. To the eye of the
superficial observer, such may appear to be their
object but by those who scrutinize them a
little more closely, or who have been some
time resident of Nevada, this is doubted. IN
For instance, Judge Caswell recently abb
sented himself for six mouths from the state,
during which time his place was filled by
another man, who was of course paid out of the
county treasury for his services On the return
of the official he laid claim to, and received, by
order of the court over which he presided, some
81 500; for what ? Not for honest labor done
in any department of the public service; not
even for imaginary services done the county,
for he laid no claim to having done such; but
it was wholly gratuitous-for his own grati6-
eation-money flched from the treasury, with
out any equivalent, real or imaginary.
Again, in August last, the Court Of Sessions
over which he presided, paid him over Sl75O
for ''services" for which he had already been
paid out of the treasury, that is, paying him
that sum in increase of his past salary. By
constructive services he has thus received thou
sands of dollars out of the treasury, above what
was due by actual service, or by law, and thus
the public have fair rule by which to Judge
Of his economy"
The county officers. who do the work of the
county are begrudgingly presented with orders
on the treasury for their claims. But this is
mere hush money; and to make it more potent
in securing their acquieseence bargains are
made that the accounts Of their farorites shall
have precedence in the order Of their auditing,
even though they are not presented until the