The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-14
DEMOCRATIC FINANCIERING.
How Cumberland County Manages Her Do.
mestic Affairs.

The following, from the Carlisle Herald, shows
the peculiar qualifications of the Democracy to
manage the money affairs of the people,
At last the investigation is over. The auditors
have adjusted the accounts of the county trea-
surer and made their report. We will give
resume of the matters developed as far as they
have been reported to u.s.
Lett be known, then, that during the trium-
virate of Messrs. Hale, Floyd, and Harris, men
who were selected by that grand old Demo-
cratic party, for their integrity, prudence, and
capacity, to manage the affairs of the country,
it became necessary to build bridges over the
Conodoguinet. The commissioners had at first
promised the woodwork of these bridges to
Messrs. Jacoby and Gracey, of this county, but
they afterwards concluded, for substantial rea-
sons, to give it to the company which was to
furnish the iron. Messrs. Jaeoby and Gracey
then employed counsel, and proposed to bring
an action against the commissioners for dam
ages on account of the unfulflled contracts. In
the meantime the board changed, Rhoads taking
the place of Mr.. Hale whose term had expired.
In order to get rid of the suit, Rhoads and Floyd
signed orders on the treasurer of the county for
$1400 in favor of Jacoby and Gracey, in satisfac-
tion of their claims.
This was the origin of the trouble that has
kept the happy family in hot water for some
time past, and which made the developments
which we now rise TO explain.
When this matter came to be Investigated,
the proprietors of the Democratic Club-room
and their clerk, one James Armstrong, were
called and sworn. The auditors held q loose
rein, ana the u6VelOpmenLb D6caIn6 'ol6gaQJ
entirely" 1t was shown that the commissioners
had commission of two dollars per foot for the
iron bridges that were to be built over the
crooked and raging COnodoguinet, which the
contractor was to pay them as soon as he re-
ceiyed his money. So when the iron bridge man
drew his funds from the treasurer, he handed
over to the amiable Mr.. Armstrong, who was
the financial agent of the concern, somewhat
over $500.
Mr.. Harris, when he was examined, was asked
as to this matter, and said that Mr.. Armstrong
had handed him a roll of notes about that time
but he never supposed there was anything wrong
in the matter, but thought 1t was in the regular
course of business. He didn't at the time ever
count the money, so much was he engrossed anC
his mind distracted with his official duties. Th
was what came out OF single bridge-buildinI
transaction, in the investigation of single item
A more astounding development of ohicia
misconduct never before came out in any com
munity. The fact that set of commissioners
who are paid for as many days as they can fin,
excuses to come to Carlisle, should make tw
deliberate attempts at robbing the county trea
sury In the same transaction, is Incredible an
would hardly be believed on any other tina
their own testimony. This imposition on tn
tax-payers of the county merits the severes
rebuke and il doesn't matter whether 1t aros
from corruption or want OF official knowledge
or from what cause. The commissioners al
supposed to be elected to guard the funds in th
treasury, and not TO squander or steal then
We will continue this sort of official adVerti
ing gratis on all proper occasions.