Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-27
THE COUNTY COURT.

I'VE know nothing of the matter alluded
to in the following communication, as
between c cotemporary and the County
Court, but place the entire article upon
the footing of any other contribution
that is, in always allowing both sides to
have hearing-ED. LEDGER.
To the Editor Of the Ledger;
A clamor has been raised recently by
some Of our citizens, against those Jus
tice Of the Peace who have received five
dollars per day as members of the Quar-
terly Court; and | regret that much OF
this unjust complaint was produced by
the spiteful editorials in the Appeal,
since the rejection of its printing account
et its last January term. But those who
are familiar with the fact that, after 1t
failed to get the city printing and sew
eral of the city appointments, it trans
formed, in single night, our worthy
Mayor from an indispensable executive
to one of the feeblest and mest lmbecile
Mayors we ever had, will prop
erly appreciate this fierce war on our
Justices. Our County Court has voted
from 81 to s. per day for the last twenty
wears, vet no demand has ever been
made by the real taxpayers for their re-
moyal; not even a protest has ever been
presented to them during that long
period. Other county courts vote this
additional compensation to its members.
/ am informed that such is the practice
in both Haywood and Fayette counties.
The fact is, it is essential to the proper
administration Of the county affairs. 1t
costs the county justices from $S so to
S5 per day to attend our quarterly
courts, to say nothing Of their loss Of
time-about month and half
each year. Now, in all fairness,
where is the honest taxpayer who wsuld
give six weeks of his time each year and
then pay out $40 or 800 a year'for the
honor o / doing so2 None can be found.
Then would you ask of the hard toiling
farmer to do more than yog would do
yourself? Again, if the justices were
confined to two dollars per day. they
could not and would not give the neces-
sary time to the county affairs, and the
result would be many an honest tax
payer would fail to get his assessments
corrected, and in the hurry Of business
many improper and illegal oIasseS like
the 4 npeals printing accounts would be
allowed. anl thousands Of dollars Of the
nublic money thus thrown away that is
now saved. A laborer is worthy of his
hire. and if he is not paid will grow IN
different to his master wants. When
the County Court was displaced, the cur
rent county debt was less than Ss0,epq.
When it was restored it was more than
three.ouarters of million. 1t has been
little over three years since the
County Court regained its control OF
county affairs. and now the current
county debt is less than $3.50, 600; This
Is the more remarkable from the fact
that the rate of taxation for county pur-
poses by the County Court is lsss than
the rate during the period OF Its DIS
placement, and is complete answer TO
the charge of extravaganza and inehl-
cheney in the administration OF the
County Court. The present County
Court has proved eoaplete success IN
the administration of county atiaiTs, and
il would be q sad misfortune u the
"aenny wise and pound foolish two
dollars uer day principle shopld drive
It's members from the bench or force
them to resign. Designing men would
thus get into Office, an1 their Moblller
votes fleece and impoverish the county.
Our Busby and Allen Grand Juries did
their work WELL but they never had the
folly TO prefer such frivolous charge,
although they gave the matter an exam,
ination. Then why such noise nowf
The above gives the true reason.
TAXPAYER
And one of the j. P's.