Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-04-13


THE AUDITORS REPoRT-We give on
our first page the Auditors Report for the
last year. 1t will be noticed that the ex
penditures of 1871 were 1857 AZ; in
1870 the expenditures were S44, ,345 70.
In 1870 there was an excess Of receipts
above expenditures of $o,65s s5. In 1867
we find an excess of expenditures above
receipts of 81, ,270 80. The outstanding
county taxes for last year is S44, ,622 67 {;
for the previous year 1t was $41 ,402 81,
being an increase of several thousand dol
lars. Out of the above amount of out
standing taxes, which should have been
| collected long ago, the tax payers now pay
S2,1S3 81 interest on money borrowed.
The amount, of course, is in the hands of
collectors, running from 1865 to 1872. Had
this money been paid over as it should be,
the above amount of interest would have
been saved. Some of the items in the ex-
pense report will strike every one as re-
markably high. For instance, the prison ex-
penses are S2,253 95; while for 1870, they
were only 1925 81. The bridge account is
something higher. The fuel bill in 1871 is
only 1910 81, while in 1870 it cost S69S 80 |;
difference, 1927 43 or more than double.
How can this be explained ? 1t is gene
raj supposed too, that it would have re-
quircd more fuel during last year than the
year previous. The attorney fees amount
ed to 81, ,260 75, while in 1870 it amounted
to S61S 90. To whom was all this paid,
and for what purpose The tax payers
should know. In the .penitentiary expen-
ses for 1869 aud 1870 there is but few dol
lars difference. Fox, Polecat and Mink
scalps last year cost 81, ,533 50, while the
year previous the cost was $50 70. AS
there is no account of travelling expenses,
it is supposed that the Commissioners staid
at home during the last year. BY COM
pairing the reports of the two last years, it
will be seen that there arc such singular
changes in the figures that one is lead to
believe that some fory transactions have
been transpiring. In the receipt account
we looked in vain for the Recognizance ac-
count. We have therefore concluded that
none Of the money due the county on for
feited rccognizances, by criminals who
never made their appearance at court for
trial. has been paid over as well as to some
others which we shall refer TO in the future.
The former Treasurer's account exhibits
deficit of 81, ,9l0 G2, and as Mr.. McElicce
cannot account for the whole amount, he
has filed exceptions to the audit, although
he had the report examined previous to its
approval by the court but as no error was
found, we presume that another audit will
not change the amount. Since the Audi
tors met collector of Coal township exhi-
bi.ed receipt of 500 from McEliece
which is not credited Oh the books, which
will increase McElece's Indebtedness to
$500 81.
The report shows an indebtedness of
S25,351 %, on which amount the tax pay
ers will have to pay the interest while there
is remaining in outstanding taxes s44, ,622
81.
We are informed that the amount Of tax
levied for the present year is the same as
last, which amounted to $50, $50 &C, which
gives the Commissioners $95, ,603 33.
We differ very much with our neighbors
as to the report being favorable exhibit,
but we shall let the tax payers Judge foi
themselves. The only item which ap'
proaches favorable exhibit" is the fue
account. The defalcation of the late Dem
ocratic Treasurer-thc increased bills fol
attorneys fees, the scalp account, &C., in
our view, present anything but a Favorable
exhibit"