Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-17
rm oounrY courr.


THE COUNTY counT.
Il l. known, not only It houe,bue ahroad,
that Lafayette county IL overwheludngty In
debt. This immense deb. every dsy suenn-
lating In Its proportions, resh iks mort
gage upon zeal estate, frightsus sfnfsrznts
from our county ,discourages the people, and
paralyzes their energies in every department
Of industry. With all the taxes that are
yearly paid into the county treasury, the
debt Is still increasing at such an alarming
rate that the people have not only just
grounds for the complaint, hut the very best
reasons for resorting 70 somc method that
will c y better administration OF our
county affairs, and thereby save the people
and county from speedy and hopeless bank
ruptcy.
The people OF tho county have the best
evidence for believing that a larger portion
Of this debt has been incurred by the ex-
~travagance Of our county courts, and by the
COLLISION of some Of the judges with rail-
road cliques and other parties. In other
words, they believe that the county court,
instead of fulfilling its object in guarding
the interests Of the people, has been, in the
past, an instrument in the hands ofmen used
to Cypress them and squander their money.
It cannot be denied that the conduct OF the
presiding justice of the present court has
been such, that as an officer, he has forfeited
the confidence ola large majority Of our peo-
pie. For this reason, and because they
believe from his superior intelligence, that
he will be the controlling power~of5he court,
they have no confidence in the court o Ut
present organized.
Hence, alarmed at a state of things that
has long prevailed In our county, with no
prospect Of a change for the better under
the present court, the people have appealed
to the State Legislature as the most direct
way Of redressing their grievances. A bill
is now before that body for the purpose of
ousting the present court, and organizing a
new one by an election Of the people. We
are familiar with the sentiments OF the peo-
that three feurths of the people Of the county
are in fuvor Of the move.
Petitions, praying the legislature for the
removal Of the present judges,a are now being
circulated, and generally signed all over the
county. No move has ever been sc,
OH foot, in our county that has met with more
hearty and general appreciation Of the
people.
One Of the strongest arguments urged by
the people against the court and In favor Of
the measure proposed is the extravagant eX'
penditures, and the alarming increase Of
our county liabilities. The exhibition OIL
facts and figures given in another part of oul
paper are damaging and convincing proofs o.
thu want of economy in the administratio
| of co unity affairs, and are sufficient to con.
denn the court On that score.
According to the certified report Of TIT
county CLERK, our county debt proper, hs'
increased from, ss4,4eO, in March 1859, to thu
heavy sum of $50, 800. in December 1871
making an increase of S2l7 ,339 in the space
of two wears and nine months. This il ex
elusive of any and sll railroad debts. VIVA
has become Of this large amount In what
manner has it been appropriated for the ben
eft Of the people, There, is nothing In tn
way Of permanent improvements In tn
county to show for it, for we are taxed 10
bridges, roads, county interests, county ex
penses, poor house, &c. The above is 10 in
considerable sum-, and surely something
should appear to explain the rapid incceaH
of the debt. Again, in 1870, = tax of slS,0N
was levied and collected for the poor house
Every intelligent man knows that it would
not require this large levy, together with 6
farm Of " hundred acres ef land, to sup
port the few paupers, the inmates in tht
Poor Hoesc. Nis believed that less than hal
the sum would have supported them at the
best hotels in the county. In 1871, the tax
for the same purpose was 1904 which il
believed to be far in excess of the amount
actually required. Again then county is tax
ed 81, 1872 for railroad interest, exclusive o
towsshiP r.ilroad nIarastA-~hA tina i,,aA-
est, according to thu calculations Of compe
tent men who have investigated the matter
amounts to about O .425, making the exces
of taxation over the amount required, nearl,
$4,000. Taxes for county revenue, county In
~tcrest roads and schools, amount to Sl40, 933
and to this is to be added county and town
snip interest and poor house tax, making
the entire levy tor the year 1871, the ex
travagant sum of $3O6. s9O-all to be wrun,
from The honest, toilins people Of our count
, in one short year. Is this not enough to urg
} the people to demand a change Of financil
agents of the county. The entire debt OF til
} county is now 81 ,4i0, $50, or nearly one an
u half millions dollars. Should the L.. L. NJ
r. X. Il. pass through our county and city
there is u probability that the debt will b
enlarged to nearly g, zoo. 900.
> In view then of these facts, and of man
others that might be shown by the exhibi
! given; in view Of the enormous liabilities {
j our county, which exceed the indebtednes
. OF some States Of the Union in view
! their rapid yearly increase, is it any wonde
that the people shudder for the future, an
loudly clamor for n change. BY far the Ial
u gest portion Of them in every township
the count, are anxious that our represents
" tives should urge the passage of the bill no
before the House, with all the talent and il
fuence at their command.
With q new county court organized und,
" the provisions Of this bill, and with sue
!" men as Judge Plattenburg OF one disiri
and Judge Carr of another, with a good pr
u siding justice, the people would rest in eal
anu oSSuiiIs III ieSalu W the management
" our county finances. With such men
! these upon the bench-men whose honest
ilmncss and capacity could not be question
y ed-i7ublic confidence would be restored, ar
we might expect a return to the good ord,
of things that prevailed before the war.
p STOCK ITEMS.
A few dayl ago, Chanslor and st. Cha
u bought of Amos Green $40 head Of hog
. averaging 2s2, Al $40 per HUNDRED.
!. The same firm shipped to st. Louis Ia
y week l2o head, ayerae ing $50. The averai