San Andreas independent., 1857-08-29
For the independent
r n e G A N v A S S !.


there seems to be but one general impression
with regard to State policy, viz: a general re-
form of the abuses which have crept into our
government-the great struggle is, for office
That a thorough and radical reform is ncces-
sary is so evident to all parties, that taking up
this as the war cry-the rallying shout--they
have each imprinted it upon their banners. and,
with the zeal and energy that should be devel-
oped in its accomplishment each party is act
lively engaged in the canvass. In most of the
counties they have all made nominations and
the excitement is, of course, intense. In ours,
a full nomination has been made by but one
party-the Democratic. In it considerable dis
satisfaction has been shown that dissatsfac
tion has finally ripened into an outburst that has
given, and promises to give some startling de-
velopments as to the management of our coun-
ty affairs.
A communication signed " Scrip Holder"
temperate in its tone, and asking questions that
any tax-paying or voting citizen uqnuestiona-
bly, has right and privilege to do, and point
ing out (without any personalities, as far as
can judge,) certain deficiencies in the attend
ance to the Orders of the Supervisors, brought
out Mr. S. L. Magee-our County Treasurer
who seemed to deem the attack personal, and
replied to it in the same spirit. Among other
things, which good taste, ON the part of Mr.
Magee, would have suggested, should be left
out, he says
T11a firor asy1t- into &I,o
sury for last year, applicable to general fund
paid by George c. Tryon, the County Assessor,
on poll tax account, and all in county scrip,
are only S460.50 All the fines and moneys
coming from Justices of the Peace of this coun-
ty have been paid in county scrip with but
single exception. The Sheriff of the county,
Chas. A. Clarke, Esq, has paid into the county
treasury since December l6, applicable to the
general fund, only the following amounts, and
in the manner following, to wit The property
tax amounting to the sum of Sl,l05.00, and
this amount was all paid in county scrip. At
another time, within the last eight months, said
Sheriff paid into the treasury the foreign mi
ners' tax, amounting to S5,3l7.l2; of this last
amount, $4,4l3 was all paid in county scrip,
and by the Order of the Board of Supervisors
AT another time, within the last eight months.
said Sheriff paid into the treasury as the for
last sum was all in cash. At another time said
Sheriff paid into the county treasury, as proper
ty tax the sum of $743 62-all in county scrip;
and near the same time, the sum of So, $3.50
being for foreign miners tax, and 900 of this
last amount was paid in county scrip.
From the above it will be discovered that
the amount received into the treasury for the
last eight months, from the sources above hdi-
Gated, excluding that received from Justices of
the Peace, amounts in round figures, to about
Sl2 900 and of this sum about SIS, 900 has been
paid in county scrip"
This shows sad deficiency somewhere, and
if we take the statements found in the Sacra-
mento papers, with regard to the payments into
the State Treasury, presents indeed a startling
record for our burdened and tax paying citi-
zens. Our county is one of the richest in mi
ming and agricultural resources of any in the
State. The amount of taxable property is i'm
mense-our receipts for taxes licenses, &c. &C.,
should, if properly conducted, free US from the
incumbrance of the debt under which we have
so long groaned; and yet Sacramento paper
says, and seems to have good reason to say
The amount of revenue paid into the State
Treasury by Calaveras on the June settlement.
as reported in the table published short time
since In the Union, was S9ll.30. AS some
doubts have been expressed as to the correct
ness OF this statement, it may be proper to re-
mark that the figures were derived from the
offices of the State Treasurer and Controller
and are strictly correct. 1t may be that during
the last preceding six months that county paid
into the Treasury $4,000, as asserted by the
Calavcras Chronicle and if the county officers
have the receipts, as stated, there can be no
question about it. Our table showed that for
the quarter ending June 30th, Calayeras paid
in S9ll.30, whereas, during the same quarter
Amador paid in Sl6,6SG.sS. The question ne
cessarily arises, how is it that Amador a smaller
county than Calaveras, has paid into the State
Treasury over S4 900 moro in three months
than Calaveras paid in six? The truth is, we
have reason to believe that the rich mining
county of Calaveras has been. from some cause
or other, greatly delinquent, and that this de-
linquency will form the subject of a serious in
vestigation. We fear the officers in that coun-
ty are far behind in other respects, and unless
they pay up better than they have been doing,
1T will be necessary to report to the next Legis-
lature deficiency of some t,centy-eigh thousand
dollars, now accrued or unaccounted for in the
simple item of the collection of Foreign Miners
Licenses
How is this? How can it be that such an
exhibit is spread throughout the State. Our
standing and our credit destroyed; and yet no
one from our county is able and willing to take
up the Treasurers books and refute it. Is it
because the above exhibit is one of facts !? Is
it because we fear to invite close invcstiga-
ton? Is it because the statements are true
If SO, then should the citizens of Calaveras
rise in their might and administer such re-
buke to those who are the cause of it as will
make them forever cease their malfeasance.
But to return to the county official quarrel.
In answer to the card of Mr. Magee, Mr. Clarke,s
our present Sheriff, just about retiring from
office, in lengthy address to the citizens of
Galaveras county, exposes a system (if truc) of
fraud and corruption that calls for orr serorast