The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-02-26

1..l.......a.sl
the County Records has created a
great deal of, f,confusion in the Office Of
County Commissioners We could
not ascertain what the debt of the
Countyis, but enough .is known to
Justify rs inthe declaration that the
County finances are not in a very
healthy condition. With Q view to
ascertain the County debt, the Com
missioners have called upon all hold
ers Of claims against the County. to
register them before the first day OF
Earch. Already. $4,000 have been
registered, and tho Chairman thinks
at least 81 900 more will be registered,
making in all $4,000 the supposed
am mount of outstanding claims. Be-
sides this the Commissioners have
borrowed six thousand dollars at 20
per cent. interest to pay tor the
Court House.
With all the debt, a deprecated
credit, and an empty treasury, how
are the current expenses af this year
to be met? The County so far as
finances are concerned, is in a deplor-
able condition. 1t is almost impossi-
BILE to get work done for the County
except by paying exorbitant prices,
and the checks are now selling at
about two-thirds of their faces.
Something should be done to bring
about u better condition of things
Suits have been commenced against
the County by certain holders of
claims. In the judgment Of the
Grand Jury it would be far better to
guarantee interest at the rate of sew
en- per cent per annum, to holders of
past due claims, than to subject the
County to costs in perhaps hundreds
of cases. The Legislature has, au-
thorized the County Commissioners
to levy a special tax Of two mills. II
in addition to this, the taxGto be col
lected at the end of this year for
County purposes should be as much
as has just been collected, the County
Commissioners say there will be am.
pie provision for the payment'o Of all
outstanding claims But we. repeat
how are the current expenses Of this
year to be metz The treasury il
empty and will continue so until an
atner tax shall be collected. The
law forbids County Commissioners tc
draw checks whensthere:is no money
in the Treasury. How are the pau
pers to be fed? How are the prison
ers in jailito be cared for? How are tht
expenses Of the Courts to be paid
we can see no other remedy, excep'
in the borrowing of money by TIT
Treasurerfor the purpose of defray
ing current expenses. We art
brought, with great reluctance, to {
reco nmendation Of this policy, bu
we regard it the less of two evils. Il
appears to the Grand Jury that the
indebtedness of the County woulc
not be somuch increased by the amount
of interest paid on Sorrowed money
as it wonld be by continuing the
credit system. Because in this case
provisions can only be obtained BY
paying the most .exorbitant prices
and work only secured at the most
enormous rates.
The borrowing of the money il
not, in our Judgment. exactly, in &C
cordance with law, but we are not
prepared to condemn it uncondition.
ally, inasmuch as were assured it was
absolutely necessary in order to get
possession of the Court House.
The new Court House has been re.
ceived by the County Commissioners,
and the contractors have been paid
in full. The original contract for
building the Court House was $16,.
$50; the amountof extra work done
as per-account OF ;contractors, $2,412
making the total amount received by
the uDntractors S48 662 I Butsthis is
not the entire cost of the Court
House. To this amount must DO ad.
ded 81, 200 the amount OF interest on
$4,000 at twenty per cent. per annum.
This amount Of interest has been ad.
ded into the checks issued to the par.
ties from whom the six Thousand dol.
lars was borrowed. To the above
amouDts add the cost of plan say,
SaQ3 IS and we have the whole cost
of Court House, S20,265.75. We
here insert the account for extra
work done on Court House for the
benefit of the tax payers Of the coun'
ty.
Amount charged for Brick
Cornice ...........................S425.Ot .Ot
80 Rock Lintels for windows. 225.0C
2 Flues ........................"... 1000
Water Closets. ..................... 1000
2Outside Windows, ............. 10000
q Inside Windows, ......".... 5000
l Front Step, .........,.......... 5000
ID Locks, ........................... $500
2 Door Frames and Doors, ..... 12.U(
Insurance, ................... 5000
Drains in rear Of Building, ... 1900
Rent in December '72........... 37.0C
" January, '73 .,,,,,,...... 10000
7Cases with pigeon holes for
Officers. ,..... ....,,..r..,,,..l,l lay, w
| Table for Court Room, ...... 1000
Insurance for February. .,u.. 30.OU
Total amount of extra work, $2,5l20O
In this connection we earnestly
recommend that an order be taken