The Placer herald., 1857-03-21
For the Placer Herald.
Citizen, and the County Debt.

Citizen, and the County Debt.
Mr.. Edifor:-A very lengthy article appears
in the columns of the Placer Press of the l4th
inst, intended, no doubt to be financial crusher
but which can have no other effect than to mstify
the mind of the reader and render it as much
befogged us that of the writer. Citizen forgets
If he ever did know, that all great financial minds
estimate receipts and expenditures from different
data than that which he employs. 1T Citizen had
desired his article to have been believed by any
one, it seems to me he would have drawn his de-
ductons from at least common sense basis-
Now l submit will any man Of common sense con-
tend for moment that because the revenue OF
Placer county was, for the year 1856. S64.000
that per consequence it must be S64, 600 in 1851
The rate vf taxation being the same this year as
last the revenue must increase at least twenty
five per cent. The reasons for this must be OBJ
vious to every intelligent mind. The annual in
creased value of property in Placer county. has
been more that twenty-five per cent for the last
five years. and is Citizen stupid enough to believe
or to attempt to make Others believe, that Placer
county will not o:.TTTue to increase in population
and wealth for years to come? l think not The
more charitable conclusion is, that Citizens in-
tricate mathematical calculations were too much
for his mental calibre, and he ''weakened' in his
deductions thereirom.
IT, as above stated. the revenue of 1856. going
to the general fund was $4,000, (and take Citi-
zens own fgures-they suiting my purpose as
making a fair calculation for increase of popula-
tion, and the enhanced value of taxable property.
that the revenues going into the County General
Fund for the year 1857. will be SS0,000. But be-
fore going further let the basis from which
Citizens principal deductions are drawn, and if
they should prove to be false. all will agree
that his entire article will turn to waste paper.
Nov, upon the basis that the revenue for the
year of 1851 for county purposes (and it will not
be materially different the rate of taxation is
the same,-i. e. 50 % on the 500 for all pur-
poses.) this as for the last year. and upon the
basis that the accruing expenses will be the same,
(and there is no reason why they should be ma
terially differently how will stand the account for
the year 1857
l have shown above that his first basis is false
to the tune of $4,000. Now let us see whether
the second basis is correct or not. He says: land
upon the basis that the accruing expenses will be
the same, land there is no reason why they should
be materially differently | am sorry Citizen
could not even with all his astuteness find
reason for supposing that the expenditures would
be reduced the coming year. If he would examine
the subject carefully, a good citizen ought to.
| think he would see where the reductions and
will be made.
The Bill recently passed concerning the Board
of Supervisors, will make reduction of Sl500.
The reletting and reorganization of the County
Hospital will make reduction Of $1,000. There
is fair chance of reduction Of the salary of the
Jailor making saving on the salary Of that
officer of S1200. There will be saved on board
of prisoners $1,000, calculating a reduction of
one third on the price paid for the past year--and
it should in my opinion. be reduced one-half and
believe will be. There will be saving of $4,000
on the amount paid the County Clerk for the
business done for the county add to these amounts
the sum of $1,000. paid to Murphy IL Holmes. and
we have the sum of $4,000. proper and al
most certain reduction upon the expenditures of
tba ,st wi tnl. inf tnD
the sum OF one thousand dollars paid to the County
Judge for being absent from the State--and Citi-
zen will not dispute but what that gentleman's 5
services is worth to the county. at least $1,000 per
quarter. The above reductions are within the
bounds of reason, nay they will most certainly
be made. if the Board of Supervisors do their
duty, and have every confidence that they will.
Now we will take the estimated reductions from
the amount OF expenditures. as given by Citizen
for the past year, viz: $50 900. and we have the
probable expenditure for the coming year S3S 600.
with an estimated revenue of $4,000. Now de-
duet the accruing expenditures from the estimated
revenue. and we have a surplus of receipts over
expenditures of S12 600. Now deduct the Re
demption Fund S24 900 from the excess of reve-
nue. and We have SlS000 more money in the
General Fund than is necessary to meet accrung
liabilities, and yet Citizen is shaking in his
boots. for fear he will be robbed Of some of his
hard earned county Scrip. | regret that Citi-
zen should have gone off f-cOcked-indeed Il
would not have snapped him if | had known that
he was loaded Before Citizen discourses so
faHy again of his honor and Reputation, would
advise him to adjust his glasses and cast his eye
over the statutes of our State. He will then find
that the principles contained in the Redemption
fund Bill Of our county, have been ndorsed and
adopted time ami again, for our State. for a large
portion of the counties Of this State and for near
ly every city and incorporated town in the State.
and when he makes this discovery he will feel
H,t+o hat ~, =, l,,,
for having first, of all the citizens of this State,
discovered that this class of Legislation is dis
honorable reputation, Il beg pardon OF the editor
Of the Press, if fail to give him proper credt)
Lest some may be deceived, will here state, that
the exact sum. taking the figures of Citizen as a
basis drawn from the General County Fund.-"
by the II dcmpton Fund Bill is SIG 791 49,
The creditors of the County have no legal or
equitable claims against the funds derived from
the operations of the so call, Redemption Fund
Bill. This is special fund raised for special
purpose; and it would have been as competent for
the Legislature to have repealed it as to have
amended it; so with the money derived from the
sale of Foreign Miners Licenses, it is an extra
source of revenue and can be given in whole to
the State to the Counties or abolished altogether
by the Legislature.
As to what citizen says about the sentiments of
the good citizens and taxpayers of the County.
in relation to the Redemption Fund Bill, | have
only to say that have talked TO more Of the tax
payers OF the county on this subject, than any
other man in the county, and they have ndorsed
it almost unanimously as a just and much needed
law. And would say to Citizen, if he has any
serious fears in regard to the depreciation of the
price of scrip. that the undersigned will buy all
that is for sale at rates ruling the day previous to
the passage of the law.
TAX PAYER
CLEANED OUT by BURGLARs.-Mr Itch
ner, who lives in a small tenement in the
500, by having his house entered on Mon
day, the 10th, and robbed of his wardrobe,
books, and household furniture. The unteel
ing thieves left him nothing but the bare