The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-10

The Board Of Supervisors Of Rsmsey Coun.
ty, consists Of ten persons, four Of whom are
members Of the City Council, and by virtue
OF that ONCE, represent the city in the
County Board. The other members are
from the c0antry, and represent the town.
ships and fractions Of townships outside Of
the city. The representation 10 very une.
quail. 20 Tar ~ numbers are concerned, but
in point Of TACT, the city ID supposed TO be
a. fully represented as the country for coun-
ty purposes.
The Board Of Supervisors organized in
June last, 10 accordance with the Township
Act, passed in March, 1858. About the
first business, after their organization, was an
examination into the Affairs Of the county,
which examination resulted in the knowi-
edge Of great Encouragement OF the county
affairs. With this evidence before them,
the Supervisors went TO work apparently
with the determination 10 straighten up the
old business, and by rigid system of econ.
omy, and strict examination VI all claims, to
relieve the financial endorsements of the
County Treasury.
But how far they have carried out, and are
disposed to carry out this intention, can be
gathered by attending one meeting OF the
Board.
Having attended one entire meeting OF
the Board--the meeting on last Saturday
VIC are satisfied. 1t has never been our for
tune TO note the deliberations of public
body, wherein less regard was given to Or
der, or u proper method Of doing business,
than in the County Board. Seated as the
members are, around table Of about eight
feet in length, all that is required to give to
outsiders the belief, that they are met to-
gether for Il social bout, is liquor and glasses.
Claims, petitions and reports are scatter.
cd promiscuously upon the table, and as
the respective committees examine the vari
Gus items Of bUsipess. ia.theis. cAaxSs.-~..os
the committees apparently do their business
during the session OF the Board there is
constant buzz OF conversation, and when the
Chairman announces any business to be
transacted, some ambitious individual rises,
and ~ his ambition is leading him to
ask that be may serve the State in legis
lative capacity, in loud tone OF voice
belches forth his opinions and perhaps, be-
fore he sits down, is told by one or two
quiet members, that no don't know what he
is talking about, and that he had better re-
main quiet until he does.
In this manner the business progresses
The claims against the county are generally
placed in the hands Of the Finance Commit
tee, and reported upon before they 90 before
the Board ut all, as was the case last Sat
urtiay, when claims amounting to nearly
$4,000 were ordered 10 be paid, which had
probably not received one hours direct at
tention for the whole forty claims presented
One painful fact connected with these claims
was that the county was paying for every
article purchased by order OF the Board Of
Supervisors, at least oue-half more than il
was worth Taxpayers may think they
are personally saving money when they buy
County Scrip ut 60 cents on the dollar, but
when they reflect that in return, they pay
81 so for every dollars worth OF work done
for tho county, they will find the account
IL about equal.
And this leads US to the question, how can
the county be relieved from the difficulty
II was stated that the Supervisors had
authorized au indebtedness Of over $50 900,
since they had come into Office and judging
from the disposition TO create an indebted.
new for u poor farm and additional poor
buildings, the end is not yet. As We have
remarked, regarding the city, so long a. the
County Board go on increasing their ex-
penses Just ~ long will the county treasury
remain empty. The pledges Of the mem
bers Of the County Board, Us regards re-
trenchmcnt, have, up to this hour, been vio-
lated There is recklessness about their
way Of doing business that is appalling to
the taxpayer.
The public really had hopes that the Su-
pervisors would relieve the county OF its
financial embarrassments but these hopes
have not been realized, nor do We think they
will be- until this Board is superseded by
other men. The character and actions Of
the present Board leave no hope for re-
form unless the affairs Of the county
excite the indignation OF the people to that
extent. that the Board shall be forced into
adopting measures Of rctrenchment. We
have no faith in the Board Judging from its
manner Of doing business since its organiza'
ton But ss there is no telling the future
Of the Board. there may be change for the
better in their deliberations We hope So,
and will endeayor TO be present, when that
change will be manifest. And will have
pleasure in noting the fact for the encour-
agemcnt OF the public.