The Placer herald., 1856-10-18
13,247 %
2,2l6 80

Credit on the above amount, re-
deemed in scrip from June 2, 1856.
1856, to October lst 1856, $540lS sc
Interest on same, SOB II
Paid on Jail, 800 90
The Treasurer estimates he
will be able to redeem. after
making up his account for
Sept, 1856, 4,SlS 81
66.140 65
Leaving the audited debt Oct l, 56 slO6,O75 65
Now. we know there is a large num-
ber of accounts outstanding against
the county to the lst of October, inst,
in an unaudited state, at least 10000 90
Making the present Indebtedness 126.075 65
This item of $40. 900 is based upon this calcula-
tion and we place it far below what we believe it
to be:-From the lst Of June to the 1st of Oct.
1856, were accepted S76,502 nearly all of which
was accepted about the middle of August
when the Supervisors adiourned-,hey allowed
all the accounts and ordered scrip to be issued for
that amount. Now, if this large sum accrued be-
tween the 2nd of June, 1856, and the 18th of
August 1856 two months and half. how much
will have accrued, at the same ratio. from Aug.
5th. to October lst. 1856. one month and half
Why, exactly S45,70l "a i! From this it will be
seen that our estimate if erroneous is far too low,
for it is we'll known that during this last one and
a half months the greatest amount of business is
generally transacted. and during part of this
time the Court of Sessions. the most expensive in
the County has been in session.
Let us now deduct the debt on the 2nd of June.
1855, (S6S.S2l,) from the present debt above,
which every one must admit to be correct, (Sl26,-
075 65,) and we have an increase of the county
debt under the present administration, from the
2nd June, 1855. to the lst of October. lS56-one
year and four months-of S57.254 46. If they
proceed for the remainder of their term at this
rate what debt will we have. Let us see: If in
sixteen months they have created debt of $57-
- fe hot ril l,a tha Il olt cd Inv thaIOo
the end of their term eight months hence--eXactly
the sum of SS5.SSl 90, which. added to the debt
of June. 1855, will make the pretty round sum of
Sl54.702 ssh!
The Placer Press says, that on the 2nd of June.
1858, the County debt was .......... S5,735 90
We think we can add to this little
larger sum. The first term of the Court
of Sessions then acting as Supervisors.
was held short time after the officers
elect entered upon their duties in 1858,
and nearly every cent allowed then
was for services rendered prior to the
lst June. 1858. the sum of ......... 1900 90
For one quarter Co Judges salary $50 90
Amount of Jurors and Election Off
GERS fees. due for services prior to lst
June. 1853, and issued after 1000 90
Which makes S1l,9Sj 90
and which we admit was the then existing debt
Now take this sum from S6S,S2l ~ and we have
$50, 836 ~, the debt created by the democratic
administration, which are willing to admit
We might. following in the footsteps of the Press,
charge upon the first administration OF the county
the cost of the present Court House, about S22,-
900. and thereby increase it to S33,9s5 90. and
decrease the debt of 1853 and 81 to $50 1886 10.
but we will not. but willing to shoulder it,
and can prove that this debt created not by
fault of officers, but by fault of the law by fault
of the Fee Bill under which accounts against the
County were charged. But not of this now, but
let us compare our debt with yours We made
debt of S56,S36 19 in two years. and built good
Court House. You, in sixteen months make
debt of 1884 46 and build Jail Our Court
House cost $4,000 and your Jail you say cost
Sl6,525 81. "Dost like the picture"
In 1855, the people of this county paid
tax Of 81 So on the one hundred dollars
worth of property, but this amount was not
enough to satisfy these Know Nothings, they
wished to grind down the people and require
them to pay higher and greater tax If it
had effected any good the people would not
complain, but our showing above proves
beyond doubt that it has not
About the lst of March, SO, special Act
was passed by the Legislature, providing for
levying an additional tax Of 81 90 on the
10000 worth of property. 1t provides that
half Of the amount shall be applied to the
payment of the contingent expenses of the
County, and the other half to the General
Fund. Among these contingent expenses
are included printing, board of prisoners,
fuel, lights, stationery and books, and it was
contended that by paying for these items in
cash, the expenses therefor would be reduced
materially. Let us see how this has been
done In 1853 and 1854, S. G. Astin charg
ed the County for board of prisoners at the
rate of so each, per week, and received his
pay in County Scrip, although it was then
worth only about sjrty,fye cents on the dol
lar. In 1856, w. I. Henson receives $40
per week, for board, for each prisoner, and
receives his pay in cash.
In '53 and "a, printing, per square, was
charged against the county at Three Dollars
the first insertion and half that each subse-
quent insertion, and payment was taken in
County Scrip. Now, the same prices are
charged and payment had in cash. Has this
benefited the people of the county! No
sir.
We now pay tax of 1925 on the dollar
instead of what we in 1854 and 80 consider
en- extravagant 81 ,65; and instead of finding
your debt decreased it has been increased
$57,25i 46. Then as it has not benefited
the people Of Placer County let us see who
it has benefited: The present Know Moth
ing candidate for the Senate has rece we'd
and claimed the distinguished honor of being
the autAor, defender and og-rolIer for this
Special Act" He is and has been the
County Printer. For his bills against the
county, prior to the passage Of the special
Act,' he had to receive scrip, worth on ly 65
cents on the dollar; since then he has been
paid in cash. This is quite an item to him,
and accounts for his deep interest in its pas
sage lie, and w. T. Henson, Sheriff. are
really the men who have been benefited by
it. They are paid for certain services in