The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-02-21
COUNTY EXPENSES.

G. w. E. Griffith, one of the county
an old resident of Kansas, writes the
following sensible letter to Col. Plumb,
in relation to Court expenses, etc. We
suggest to members of the Legislature
who are attempting to do something
in the way of decreasing taxes,,. that
this letter suggests fruitful field for
their genius in that line :'ts 'fs.4 - : :, +
80. LAWRENCE, Feb. II, 1868.
Mr.. p. b. PLUMB-My Dear. Sir:
I see YOU propose to limit the amount of
county tax the county commissioners
may levy. / am one of the county COM
missioners of this county, and consid-
er. such law as you propose perfectly
proper, yet unless you do something to
relieve the commissioners from the OBJ
legations which they are under by law
to allow accounts, you place them in
very awkward situation-very much as
man would be were his house set on
fire and his hands and feet tied SO he
could not move, and yet blamed for not
putting the fire out The law as it now
is, virtually compels the county conf
missioners to allow most all that
is allowed, for if they don't allow
it, an appeal is taken, and the judge al
lows it in judgment against the county.
It is true there is provision that moth
ing in this act shall be SO construed as
to compel the commissioners to allow,
&c, but we are Informed that the pro-
viso only operates to protect the COM
missioners from Weand0mus, and hence
amounts to nothing, for the commission
ers had better allow the bills first than
to have them allowed by appeal.
What want in addition to what you
propose, is exclusive jurisdiction in a
certain class of claims, and law leav-
ing it optional with the commissioners
to allow or disallow-then they can re-
ject great many claims they E110,c the
county ought not to pay. There are a
great many cases before justices of the
peace that originate through neighbor-
hood quarrels, &C., and the costs are as
sessed against the county, when the
prosecutors ought to pay them, and in
many instances it goes much against the
will of the commissioners to allow, but
we are told we have no right to reject,
as the law settles it. Can you do moth
ing to protect US against these awful
judicial expenses? The commissioners
estimated $4,000 for the judicial expen-
ses of the county for 1868, and put that
amount in the tax levy, and we have al
ready allowed $4,000, and see no end
to it yet. What are we to do? What
can we do but allow these court bills.
&c. Then we are to furnish all the off,
GERS with wood, Office stationery. &c.
even though they be attorneys, CARRYING
on other busincss-and other items
amount to an enormous sum IN this
county.
always thought the law allowing
fifty per cent. interest on tax sales was
just and proper, and operated to reduce |
taxation by insuring the prompt pay
ment. Four years ago, when our pres
ent county treasurer was elected, he in
formed me that there was no delinquentI
taxes due on the sale book, to amount |
to anything, and now there is the awful |
sum of $4,000 delinquent taxes on the
sale book, mostly at % per cent. inter
est. This deficiency. is certainly in
ere sing at an awful rate, and those who
pay their taxes have to pay these def
cient taxes each year. If the fifty per
cent. law had continued in force, may
safely say 1t would have reduced the
levies the last four years, forty thous-
and dollaas. A great many men are
foolish enough to think they can afford
to pay % per cent. interest. / would
repeal the 10 per cent. penalty law and
charge 5Oper cent. interest from day of
ale, as fear that penalty law may mott
be regarded as constitutional. Our
county levy this year is 15 mills, and all
axes from 3 1-2 to 4 "a per cent.
throughout the country. l feel very
anxious that some legislation may be !
had to protect the people of. this State
rom so high taxation if not, i fear it !
will drive from us emigration, capital {
ind business, and result seriously to
,ur injury; aud know you feel the :
anne way, and / have addressed you
his hasty letter because noticed you :
we're taking an active part in the dist
.ussion Of this subject, and because be- 9
ng well acquainted with you, believe !
&c glad to have You show this to any