The Placer herald., 1856-10-25
The Press and the Comfy Finances.

The Press and the County Finances.
The Press of last week contains labored arti-
Gle in vain endeayor to explain away the expose
made by the Herald concerning the increase of
our enormous county debt. That they writhe
before the public, is a condemnation in itself, of
these reformors. We are charged with misrepre-
senting the facts, but the Press explanation is
about as plain as the charge made to Il jury some
years ago by the Judge Of an adjoining county.
His Honor not in the habit Of delivering Il
charge when sending the jury out, but the case
on trial was one he desired they should have 4
clear view Of both as to lato and tact So rising
to the acme of judicial dignity, he said, Gentle
men of the jury, this case is somewhat complca-
ted. lut think after | shall have delivered my
charge you will have no difficulty in arriving at
verdict. You will now retire to your ROOM and
if from the evidence you believe the plaintiff
should recover. You will fctcd; but if on the
contrary you find from the testimony that the
defendant should recover, vou will so bring
Sheriff take the Jury
Now this is about the amount of the Press cx-
PLANTATION, it leaves the matter between jetch and
bring In our last we stated the error we had
been led into by the misunderstanding at the
Treasurer's office The Press will find in TIE
adenda to our article. all the amend honorable
feel called upon to make-all the facts will
warrant.
4 certificate of the County Treasurer admitting
that $13,G77 Al worth of scrip has been accepted
at his Office between June I'd and October Sth
1856 is all the official authority they show for
anything they say. Now it occurs to Us, that
having all the Offices in their hands as well as
the Board of Supervisors. that Board being in
session at the time these enquiries were being
made-that if these relorfners could have shown a
clean hand the people of the county would have
had official information to rely upon, rather than
the statements Of either the Press or Rera1d
The importance Of the subject made it neces-
sary, and proper respect for the people should
have enforced it. We will not let them off upon
the plea they make Of being ''grccn hands" for
they did make report some eight months ago.
and for that reason we know they can do il. The
funnyest part of this muddy production, is the at
tempt to berate Us for not going in person to
overhaul the books of the Auditor and Treasurer
when the writer Of the article does not pretend
that he has been at either place for informaton
bat openly declares it to be the statements of a
person in no manner responsible to them, as
friend. and as it is not signed by any person he is
of course not responsible to the public, 1t results
then in this the editor is not responsible. as he
don't speak of his own knowledge. his informant
is not responsible to him nor the public So the
writer can take his quotation from Hamlet (;hc
only sensible thing in the article) back to himself
Whoever will compare the article of the HerolH
with the ouc Of the Press. and of which we are
now speaking, will come to the following conclu-
sons:-
That the chief difference between our account
and theirs: arises about the Interest and the un-
audited debt. The Press allows eight months in
terest, and VIC ten, whilst it does not allow one
cent for unauditcd debt.
Sccondly-lt is admitted that the taxation has
been increased by them from 81 65, to 50 25 on
the 500.
Thirdly-Tbat the payments in cash have not
reduced the expenditures, and that the special act
has only benefited. to any extent. the Sheriff and
Printer.
Fourthly That the fees Of office have been de-
creased zoe per cent and yet the debt has in
creased upon our hands.
The people Will signify by ,heir votes at the
ballot-boX ON hr 4th Of November next whether
they believe Our statement or that of the Press,
the aboYe conclusions are irresistible and no man
from a comparison of the statements referred to,
can dlsbclicye them. So much for county finances.