The Placer herald., 1855-12-15
For the Placer Herald.
County Affairs,
1ICHIGAN BLUFFS.

InT. EuEOT. TOr SOME llIle past, IN 1dct
ever since the commencement of the reign of
whiggery in Placer County, constant spirit
has been manifest on the part of some of the
officers in power, exhibited through the col
umns of their organ grinder, to take to
themselves the glory Of every creditable act
Of interest to the public, and shift from their
shoulders everything that has the least ten
dency to the contrary, which do not think
in keeping with the scratch by which they
were elevated to their honorable positions.
feel no interest myself in the particular
defence Of any set of county officers, but |
think that l can plainly show that, as fnan-
ciers they have shown so far but little supe-
riorty over their less favored predecessors,
although the Placer Press in late issue has
given the distinguished honor to our County
Treasurer Of reducing in one short month
the county debt some $4,000. am not
disposed to take from that gentleman any
legitimate honor that he might acquire, but
on the contrary would find pleasure in award
ing credit for any action Of private or public
utility in him, but when | see him overstep-
ping the bounds of modesty and allowing
himself to be dubbed by his friend the Press
with the honorable rank of being the Model
Treasurer feel disposed to examine little
his claims thereto.
On the 10th of May the Board of Super
vsors of this county, after a long and tedious
session, closed their labors and submitted
their report to the people. They reported,
that they had, then allowed upon accounts
presented the sum of 500, 2,579 81, and that
to that date the Indebtedness appeared to
be S60.624 81. Their report also showed
that the sum of 1862 20 was at that time
in the Treasury, and that certain collecting
officers were in debt to the county to the
amount Of several thousand dollars - on
Property tax some $780, on Foreign Mi
ners Licenses about $4,000; on Poll tax about
$500. Whether any of the licenses or re-
ceipts charged to those officers were after.
ward returned or not am unable to saw.
but | presume some were. However, I think
it not unreasonable to suppose that portion
were settled for in cash. and | think, to say
that the sum of 5000 therefrom should be
credited to the county clear of all commits
sion, and that Of the Property tax the county
portion would be at least 81 100, which to-
gether makes Sl70O; add to this the cash in
the Treasurer's hands and we have 1882 25;
to take this from the debt then found, we
have &53,272 50. The interest thereon and
perhaps portion taken out that might have
belonged to the Hospital fund would likely
increase the debt to about s56,00O this then
was the entire debt to near the time when
with clean hands and combed hair the grand
entry or rush was made by the representatives
OF minority party for the loaves and fishes of
Placer County. We soon find the Board Of
Supervisors in session Ok. n. by the way),
and among their many acts we find them
reconsderlng their past acts and allowing
accounts, which they had once rejected, to
the amount, as they report of some sl4,-
963 IS, and they are very particular to state
that this belonged to the old administration.
not the new. Whether that amount really
had accrued prior to the lst of June | can
not say That learned body would hardly
be guilty | suppose of an act Of injustice;
but | am satisfied that every cent that could
be pamed off upon them would scarcely 90
unappropriated-then add this to the origin
al debt and we have all that can by any pos
sible means be charged to the old admins
tration, the sum Of S72,983. This was large
enough the Lord knows, but think any man
at all acquainted with affairs in this State
will attribute it more to the effect of bad
laws than to any mismanagement of officers
This new dynasty had been in the clover
fields Of Office about four months-everv
hole was filled, yea. chinked and daubed with
*. Ms, when we find debt Of 500, 900
paraded before the people, and this debt
charged upon preceding administration.
"Yes, those rascally democrats, whom we
caught fighting, and from whom we stole
what legltmateIy belonged to them. are re-
sponsble for all this But gentlemen,
think you caught yourselves when you put
down your figures in your lst of October
report With all your interest and old in
debtedness you do not make out but little
over the sum of $4,000 as chargeabe to
the old regime, when your own current en-
penses seem to be $4,000 for four short
months, showing that you had not failed to
learn an important part of your business,
that Of itemizing. This with your Jail of
$4,000, makes up the 100000. Now, |
charge you with having increased the debt
of Placer county, by my figures over S27 900,
by your own Of near $4,000, in the space of
four months, and that too when every source
of revenue was in the best condition: when
foreigners were thick and most likely to pay
their licenses; and when but few had pre-
viously paid their Poll or Property tax. In
one month more we have double-distilled
compound entry report; and the Press says
''our able Treasurer has reduced the debt of
Placer County S20,0OO." This is a pretty
cute trick-can't see through it exactly y-but
supposing it so, we still find the debt of the
county to exceed the debt created by the old
administration some $1,000 1t is true that
the Jail has cost ten or twelve thousand dol
lars and that taking this item out the debt
would be reduced about IS, 900; but for Gods
sake, if at this season Of the year, when the
revenue is better and heavier than at any