Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-04-05

"Fon" JonN. - Mr.. Autcn, of the Wat
sontown Record, appears to be aggrieved
in his last issue in consequence of his not
having received from The Commissioners OF
tho county. the Auditors Report for pub
licatiou. John has been very unfortunate
in his time. John has in numerous in
stances failed in his political aspirations.
john having failed in his very carly career
as an Office seeker by reason of a want Of
confidence on the part of his party, and by
reason of chagrin in consequence thereof
be has embarked in the newspaper busi-
ness for the purpose Of paying back some
of his partisan friends to- whom he supposes
himself indebted JOHN was once blind
folded, and in that wise led to disappont-
ncnt, in the case of a certain agreement
This occurrence took place at the time his
youthful aspirations prompted him to mo-
destly ask for the Office OF Deputy Sheriff.
and the circumstance seems to have soured
Johns temper ever since. He is now try
ing, since lifs efforts ut vengeance against his
blinfolders have proved abortive, to push
himself into the good graces Of his old parti-
sans, by endeavoring to uslead those
who do not examine our county matters
rs close IA they should, and to prevent
the evil effects of this little deception, we
will answer his matter.of last week.
The editor says that we stated several
years ago, "that the county was S0i, 900 in
debt" The editor knows this 10 be incor-
rect. We stated that the Ring had the use
of S94 900 annually, which they were ex-
pending, and large amount left in the
hands of the collectors upon which they
were Specializing, which should be collected,
and paid on the Indebtedness Of the county,
the interest of which alone last year, was
s2o37 As; (sce Auditors Report.) We de-
nounccd the extravaSant expenditure
of these S94, 900. We had reference to
the exorbitant prices paid on bridge con-
tracts, on road views, clerk hire, fuel the
general management about the Court
House, and the amount paid to lot OF
loungers whc frequented the Offices daily,
waiting to secure q few crumbs, which the
editor knows was correct, us he was one
who solicited small jobs, which were
charged as incidental expenses, or miscel-
laneous items. The editor says he expect
cd to discover some astounding develop
ments." No doubt of it. There was no
one who was better acquainted with the
operations of the Ring than he was, and
that is just what many are afraid Of now
that some of their transactions will be dis
covered and exposed. Every one knows
that the present board of Commissioners
had but small share in the transactions re-
corded in the late report, as the board was
only organized two mcsatlrs previous to the
closing of the report. We can assure the
editor too, that more was accomplished in
these two months towards collecting in the
outstanding taxes, and towards abolshing
the evils that have existed, by cutting down
expenses, than was done for five years pre-
vious. Through the excellent manage
ment of the present board, we have now
every prospect of having the indebtedness
Of the county reduced instead Of increas,
cd, hereafter. Al the different avenues oi
extravaganza which kave been draining
our treasury have been closed. Where il
required two or three clerks to do the bust
ness Of the Commissioners, there is but one
who does all the business, and finds sutfi
cient time besides to clean up the Office,
which was found in very disorderly con
dition he has placed matters in a better
shape. Nor do we see any hangers on
about the offices. The printing of political
documents for distribution in the county,
&C., which the people paid for, has also
been discontinued. We can assure ouI
friend of the RecJ,d that if he will visit the
Commissioners office now, he will find an
entirely different atmosphere from what il
was heretofore. and that business is trans
acted by the officers themselves instead of a
group who formerly managed the board o.
Commissioners, So that each got an acre tc
farm whereon a livelihood was obtained al
the expense of the taxpayers.
AS to the Auditors Report, if our friend
John will glance at it again, he will FIND
that his Democratic friends last year were
not far behind those of previous years. Ht
will notice that several accounts of former
officers are well put ON as well as the eX
penses of other officers. AS "a the expenses o
the present Commissioners during the com
ing year, we have reason 10 believe they
will be much less than Goc,serly, as they
cconomze in every department. w
know that in one ite'n, lately, they saveC
the county some nine hundred dollars
last year the Commissioners were advised
TO have docket transcribed which cos
them $3.50, and the job given to tw'
other officials. Lately the Commissioner
were advised to have another transcribed
but believing that the price was too high
they had the document rebound for s
which is now as good as the one transcrib
cd at an expense of $3.50, thus saving tina
oil TI'l,aro bn