Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-01-11
County Finances.

In compliance with the call published
in the REPUBLICAN, a meeting of the
citizens was held on Tuesday evening.
Jan. 3, to consider what course was best
to relieve the county Of it's embarrass'
ments.
Mr.. J. C. Mayo, was chosen chairman,
and R. X. Carleton, Secretary.
On motion the bill as published in this
paper of Dec. 14th was read: Gen. Smalls
remarked that the bill is now before the
finance committee of the Senate. Sincehis
return he finds there is division of opin-
ion on the subject of funding the debt
among those that signed a petition to
that effect; he will act as the people may
desire-his own objections being subject to
the will of the people.
On motion of Mr.. Crofut, the chairman
of the county commissioners who was
present was called on for statement ofthe
condition of the county finances. Mr..
Hum stated that the total amount OF
checks and certificates issued during the
year amounted to S32,6O4,92.
There had been paid by the county
treasurer during the same time $31, ,434 ,S6,
leaving deficit for the year of s., 9,S4.
The old board acknowledged a deficit OF
S2S,O0O at the close of the previous year,
so that he now thought the debt cannot ex-
ceed $4,000. General Smalls inquired
why the present report differed from the
one forwarded to the Legislature as pub
lished in the REPUBLICAN of Dec. IA.
MFR. HUM said the trouble was
with the. clerk, and the commits
sioners repudiate the report. Mr.. Cro-
fut stated that the clerk had served in
that capacity ever since the county was
organized and it was strange that if he
was faulty it had not been discovered be-
fore.
Gen. Whipper for the sake ofdiscussion
moved that the bill be recommended for
it's passage. He was far from believing this
was the best way of relieving the county,
The bill is too general and not explicit
enough in it's provisions; it looked danger
Gus; he feared the consequences. He said
that as the bill was at present any amount
of bonds could be issued; he favored tax
of one mill extra, as safer, better and
quicker to pay the debt.
Mr.. Collins stated that the last court
cost the county S42OO-if three more terms
were held during the year the expenses
would absorb two thirds of all the taxes
collected.
Mr.. Crofut thought it pest to issue
certain amount of bonds to those who
would sell their claims the cheapest, many
of those who held claims had bought them
at large discount or had received them
for contracts when due allowance had
been made for the deprecated credit OF
the county. Mr.. Whipper then withdrew
his motion, having succeeded in drawing
out the opinions of the meeting.
Messrs. Crofut, Whitman and Bellows,
smoke in favor of the bill. Mr.. Robertson
favored the one mill tax, and claimed that
the county commissioners shonld order
Jury and court expenses to be paid in pre-
ference to other claims.
Mr.. C. H. Wright spoke at length and
moved that thesense of the meeting be
taken in regard to the bill. Upon vote
being taken the meeting unanimously en-
dorsed the funding bill. Mr.. Crofut then
moved that it be left with our representa-
tives in the Legislature, to frame such a
bill as they deem best for the interests OF
the tax payers of the county, which was
carried.