The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-04-26
WHERE THE COUNTY DEBT CAME
FROM.
Let the Responsibility Rest Where Id
Belongs.

The quidnuncs of the Inquirer are
seized with periodical spasms at the
thought that the clique to which they
belong cannot get into their clutches
the management of the finances of this
county. Their palms itch most intol-
erably for the handling of the peoples
taxes and the very idea of the Demo-
Gratis controlling the affairs of the coun-
ty, operates upon them, at times, like
an attack of hydrOphobia. Then it is
that they fume and fret about the
''county's Indebtedness" and subjects
of a kindred nature. AS we under
stand the pathology Of their disease
pretty thoroughly, we hardly ever fail
in trying to check it. Just now they
appear to be threatened with rather
violent seizure, but their friends need
not be alarmed, as we have few pills
which we will administer in due time,
the effect of which will be most charm
ing. Nay, we will take the disease in
its incipiency and give them a dose at
once. So, here goes, and let US have
no wry faces!
Whence came our county debt ?
That's the question. Let us take the
records and trace it to its source. We
find that in the years 1854 and
1866 the County Commissioners assessed
S1OO9, 30 less State TGtr than the quota Of
the Co,oatyf.red by the Board Of Rece-
nue. Commissioners. We find, too, that
during those two years, the amount of
the State Tax assessed in Bedford Coun-
ty was $14, ,164, ~, and that of this sum
only 50, ,457. Al was paid into the State
Treasury during those years, leaving a
deficit of $4706,71. Add to the last
sum S10O9.29, not assessed, and there
will be found, at the close of the year
1855, the sum of S5716O0 due hesitate.
Noac, let H6e Observed that this deficit oc-
cured oChen the opposition to the Demo-
cratic party had control Of the COnln1js-
sioners' office, Vim. milestone and ID. g.
Long being Commissioners, and A. S.
Russell, Clerk. In 1856 the Democrats
obtained majority in the Board OF
Commissioners and they found the
county burthened with this debt to the
State. The opposition had left them this
legacy ofa debt Of $5716.0O and what
was worse, there lCas 81 1,OO9.29 of that
debt uhich could not, for q long time, be
accounted for, as no one but the Oppo-
sition Commissioners themselves knew
of the trick by which that amount OF
the State Tax was repudiated. Hence
a dispute arose between the County
Commissioners and the State authOri-
ties, as to the amount of tax really due
the State, dispute which remained
unsettled for years. Now, let us COM
pute the compound interest on the
above sum of $4,000 from January
l, 1856, till January l, 1867 (for, be it
remembered, that the State COM
pounds interest annually on all taxes
unpaid, that is, it adds the interest for
the first year to the principal, and then
charges interest on the whole sum, and
so on from one year to another). 1t
will be found that at the rate of inter
est charged by the State, the above
sum of S., 1900 had increased to near
Iy $l2, 900 Oh the first of January last
Now, it was this terrible incubus
which the opposition County Commits
sioners of 1854 and 1856 fixed upon the
County that the Democrats were called
upon to shake off. Besides, when the
! Democrats cameinto power they found