The weekly Butte record., 1861-03-09
County Affairs. .

f
expenditures, the Indebtedness of the county
will soon become an irretrievable burden
Had every dollar of the taxes for the year
1860 been paid, the expenditures would still
have exceeded the receipts. Such a state of
affairs is, of course. ruinous. and demands an
/ immediate remedy
/ There are very few items of unnecessary ex-
! pcnSe in The statement, and it is evident that
were the expenditures confined to the actual
necessities Of the county, the receipts, under
/ the present revenue laws, would not meet the
demands upon the county treasury. A change
I is imperatively demanded and must be had
/ OF the Sl26,O00 received from all sources, the
statement shows that over $4,000 of that
sum are allowed to officers, as fees This, to-
gether with the State tax $37 GIG l6, makes
! SS42l6 73; add 10 this the salary Of the
i Board of Supervisors and their Clerk, $685.
/ So and it leaves a trifie over $4,000 to meet
the current expenses of the county aside from
the fees and salaries of its officers. The figures
show this fact 3: OF the $61, ,762 As received
/ into the county treasury for county purposes,
/ S46,459 rs have been paid for the fees and
salaries of county officers.
/ In individual business transactions, the man
who gives half of good account for its collec-
ton, is supposed to be excessively liberal TO-
wards his notary; but the county pays more
than fifty per cent. for the collection and dis
bursement of her revenue. The remaining
235 600 is but trile wherewiih TO meet the
expenses of Courts, Hospital, and other Incl
dental but necessary expenses Of the county.
Who believes that it is necessary to pay the
Tax Collector fees amounting to more than
$4,000 per annum? or every other county
officer more than is allowed to the County
Judge? 1t is true that there is more expense
attached to some of the other offices than there
is to the Office Of County Judge; but the
Auditor, Clerk and Sheriff receive fees other
/ than those paid by the county. Were each of
the county officers paid salary equal to that
of the County Judge for doing the county
business, leaving other fees as they now stand,
the county would have about 100000 instead
of S35.000, to meet other expenses. Under an
economical administration of county affairs,
that sum would be found sufficient to meet
current expenses. and to ultimately pay the
Indebtedness Of the county. As the matter
now stands, The county is paying its officers
about $4,000 annually, and paying an annual
interest of ten per cent. on Indebtedness of
over &9l 600, which is over $4,000 annual in
tcrcs, making total of officers fees and in
terest on Indebtedness Of over sos, 900. With
a change of the law, giving officers a fair living
salary for the transaction of The county buSi
Gess, we believe a saving could be effected to
the county of S25,000 Or $4,000 per annum.
While in Sacramento, recently, we learned
from Senator Vance, that it was his intention
to introduce a bill allowing officers a salary for
the transaction of the county business, and re.
quiring fees to be paid into the County Treas
ury. 1t was in contemplation TO abolish the
office of Tax Collector, and require the taxes
to be paid to the Treasurer, turning the delin-
quent list over to the Sheriff for collection
Should the Legislature not pass general reven-
ne law, embracing the above principle features,
we hope that our Representatives will pass
such law for this county. OF course, it would
take effect after the expiration of the terms Of
the present incumbents. Unless something of
the kind is done, the county will be hardened
with heavy Indebtedness for years.
SENATORIAL. JOINT CoNyENTIoy.-T As
sembly has concurred in the joint resolution
of the Senate appointing to-day as the time for
meeting in joint Convention for the purpose of
electing a Senator 10 succeed Gwin. 1t seems
to be the general impression amongst those
who pretend to know, that they will not sue
ceed in elecling Senator. This may be; but
we are under the belief that, there is large
majority in the Legislature, who are favorable
to preservation Of the Union, and the best
thing that California can DO is to go ahead
with affairs as if nothing had happened to in
terrupt the amicable relations Of the Govern
ment. Gen. McDougal, the Democratic NOM
inee for Senator. is for the preservation Of the
Union, and for the equal rights of all sections
under the Constitution. If chosen, he will be
with Douglas and Crittenden in their just ef
forts to preserve the Government in its entire
", and restore the fraternal feeling which has
given us so proud position among the nations
of the earth. a failure to elect is a step to-
wards secession, and should not be thought Of
by those who desire to be regarded as patriots
and Union men. Uuless the majority of the
Legislature choose TO throw the influence Of
The State of California with the seeding
States, and against the Union, it is their duty
to elect Senator Immediately. The prospect
of an amicable settlement Of present difficulties
renders it imperative upon us as Union low
ing people, to elect as successor to the wiley
old secessionist, Gwin, a Union loving, con-
servatiye and able man, such as Gen. McDou-
gal has proven himself to be. We trust our
Legislators will see the folly of being entirely
governed by their party predictions, and
conccde something to the interests of the peo-
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