The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-02-08
For the GRAND Haven NeMs.

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to see if portion of our funds is not in
Guided in the amount of moneys loaned
by the State Treasurer!
On the first day of November last, the
State of Michigan was indebted to the
county of Ottawa for the sum of $4,000,
mostly in money paid into the State
Treasury. When the County Treasurer
made his returns TO the Auditor Generals
Office, of the tax sales of October, 1859,
he had conversation with Mr.. ID. l..
CASE, the present Auditor General, about
the finances of our county, and claimed
the right to retain for the use of the coun-
ty all the moneys derived from the tax
sales. He was told by that gentleman
in reply that he could not settle with him
unless the Treasurer paid over every dol
lar arising from the sale-when, bear in
mind, the State was indebted to us rs
above stated. The Treasurer truthfully
represented to him the extreme poverty
of the County, and the absolute necessity
for money with which 10 pay county or
ders. But all TO no purpose. Yet when
he was told that tho Treasurer had not
the full amount of money arising from the
tax sales, that he had expended six or
seven hundred dollars in paying Jurymen,
Witnesses, Board of Supervisors, &c, and
had paid some on county orders, he con-
cluded to take the balance, and let him,
as Treasurer, receipt the amount that had
been paid out. The tax sales amounted
to t,0enty-ta0o hundred and Mirty-ttree
dollars and ninety-three cents. The Co.
Treasurer paid over, under these circum-
stances, to the State Treasurer, by direc-
ton of the Auditor General, sixteen hun
dred and ta0enty-one dollars and .ffty-
four cents, which left him with barely
money enough TO pay expenses of home
journey.
Now, Mr.. Editor, if our county had the
amount of money now under the control
of the State Treasurer, that justly belongs
to the county, it would have lessened our
county taxes one half, and saved us the
trouble of answering every day The ques-
ton, what makes our taxes so high y
In short, we should have our money tc
pay outstanding county orders, in the
hands of poor men, who have worked
hard for their money, instead of it's be-
ing where it is, in the hands Of the State
Treasurer, who, it is well known, is now
specializing upon it. And one half Of
the money now paid in taxes, for the
county, could be retained by the tax pay.
er TO support his family, had not the State
, Treasurer thus wrongfully absorbed anc
! misapplied it. Can any one deny it?
An examination of the official state
ment of the Board of State Auditors
! relative to the accounts of the STATE
c Treasurer, fully solves the mystery of thu
: enormous State tax, apportioned not only
Z to this county but every county through
i out the Slate, also the enormous county
t tax that the Board of Supervisors wa
r obliged to assess at the October session
: 1t is well known to every man in tn,
h county that for the last year county or
t ders have flooded the different towns il
the county and no money to pay them
+ 1t is also true that the county is largel,
o indebted to many of its townships
The State Treasury also holds twenty
+ six dollars and twenty-four cents, Prima
! ry School money for 1859, which is with
q held, although it has frequently been ap
piled for. Again, in several instances
where government land has been solo
through mistake, after the taxes hav
o been paid, and where the State official
y themselves have made an error and issue
= deed after land had been redeemed, the
o have refused to cancel or set aside tn
: deed or sale and refund the money, there
o by retaining a great amount of mono
. belonging to individuals within the cour
> ty, for tho State Treasurer and Auditc
8 General to speculate upon, or with whic
g to accommodate their friends.
l For the truth of the above statemer
= any one may question the Treasurer {
8 the county. CITIZEN.
, Ey We are in receipt of tho Ladie
g Repository, for February. We considc
= it the best Magazine extant. For Ii
,,ro on1 oIovaf 1o0o - o,t,a1oo