The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-07-23
Harrison County.

Of th" uuty. found In another column show to
be IN prosperous condition. There have been some
expenses incurred this year over and above those OF
former years and which will probably not be demanded
AGAIN but such necessary for the security
the comfy, as purchasing SAFE trsnScrbng old Rec
oTds, &c, but including all these We ind that the
county Is $3.50 81 nearer out OF debt than she the
commencement Of the fiscal year-having debt Of only
SO3l.7l, with delinquent tax County tax aone) Of
sSon5 US-A!OIe than triple The Gebt.-MGyn oHa Re
publican.
Fortunate, indeed, have been the people
of Harrison County in their selection of
public officers. Well may the Republican
say that the county affairs have been judi
ciousl y managed, "and that few counties in
the State are in more prosperous condi-
ton" What a contrast the condition OF
aslirs in Pottawpttamie couaty affords -
Without having made any improvements
worth noticing, the county debt has increas-
ed almost mlraculous'y, during the fiscal
year-the swamp lands have been squan-
dered-County Warrants have deprecated
more than fifty per cent-and oppressive
taxation, FOR many years, if not general
bankruptcy. staTes Us squarely in the face.
There is no lodging it-"grin and bear it''
we must. That this state of things is en-
sire!y owing to the reckless profigacy and
native dishonesty and scampishness of our
county officials, no citizen Of the county
need be told, for this fact is too palpably
self-evident to escape the observation of
any one, no matter how blind partizan zeal
may have fashioned him. If this lesson has
not been wIshoutiss uses to the people, they
must now agree with US tina. a reform in
the present system of County Adminis,ra-
ton is impera,ivsly demanded. A system,
which so readily admits Of abuse, as does
the County Judge system, should not, and
We hope will not, long be tolerated. With
honest, capable and judieous officers, the
system is economical enough, and good
enough; but once 10 a while, dishoporabls
and corrupt men get into Office, and there j.
nothing to restrain them from robbing tn,
people, and plunging the county in deb. to
such an extent, that it will require many
years OF "judieious management" to res,or.
it to anything like solvent state. Po,,a.
wa''aFale, is not, By any means, the only
county in the State, that has suffered from
the depreciation of County Judges. Score.
OF other counties have been paudered b,
and through this same petty desposism. In
fact, this County Judge system ha. becou,
destructive OF the ends for which j, VA,
instituted, and therefore it is the rieh, O.
the people TO alter or to abolish il. and
institute new system, laying i,s soupda
ton on such principles, and organizing il,
powers in such form, az to them shall ss.u
mos; likely to effect their safety and hsppi
mess Prudence, indeed, will dictate. tina
governments, long established, should no
be changed for light and trsus;eu, causes
and accordingly Nil experience. bath shown
saas mankind are more disposed to suffer
shifs ee'l' are siderable, than to RICH
themselves By abolishIng the form. to xhicl
'aeE are accustomed. Bat when a lon,
train Of abuses and a.arpssion.. pu-suin,
in'as'aoiy The same object, evinces a ds.ic,
70 'eaacs them to absolute bankrupsev, i
" their right, il is their duty, 10 throw oil
saeh government, aad to provide new zaurd
i'r their future security. Sush hs, bee,
'hs patient 'assranes Of these counties, IN,
s1ea - 40" the necessity which .con.,r.;a
them to seek an alteration in .h. system o
'Son'! Aan'E'ssrAsion- The history Of tb
present Judge Of Po,sawss,snis cou,,,- ;
"a ass'ory Of repeated injuries md ussra