The Van Buren press., 1875-08-10
COUNTY FINANCES.
Letter from Colonel J. E. Cravens.


We find in the Little Rock Gazette OF inc
5th, the following letter from Col. y. H. ora-
yens. Of Clarksvillc, on County FINANCES
His reasoning is very plausible and ms con
struc.ion of the article in the Constitution
bearing on this point, seems to us TO DC llc
correct ote. It certainly points way 10
those Counties, over head and ears III depl
out of the great embarrassment that over
shadows them. The letter Is Timely anu VIC
hope our County Judge and other county Oh
i,ials will give. il due thought and aPpiica-
tion. As we are going on now, our county
Scrip is growing worse and worse every aa''
If il is possible. lei us have remedy
GAINESVILLE, August D.
En,roRs {; ,ztrrg: The financial condition
of the counties of the state is a source OF m'ich
regret. and the mode of escape from IL ue-
mands the attention of every tax pay er III the
state At the time of the adoption OF the con
stitution IL was well known TO the members
of the convention that almost every county
in the state was overwhelmed Win deoI' anu
in providing for county government they GER
tainlv ought to have kept constantly IN VIC"
the alarming fact. and adopted measures OF re-
lief. Did they do it? The greatly deprecated
value of county indebtedness accrulng since
The adoption of the constitution and the
break neck rate at which scrips are issued
would, without reflection. lead us to believe
they did Lot. Il is fact that In counties
like Johnson, and perhaps so in Pulaski. both
old and new scrip have deprecated in value
and keep pace in worthlessness Ought this
to be SOP think not. Section 8. article l6.
Of the constitution. reads thus: mo county
.hall levy "A tax to exceed one-half of one per
cent forall pnrne.es; but may levy an ad,li-
ton one half Of one per cent. to pay indebt-
,dness existing at the time of the ratification
If this constitution. In this provision we
rave full proof that the members of the con-
fention were aware of the then financial con-
lition of the counties. 1t is held that when
he language. E" for all purposes was en-
)loyed. it was used to mean for all purposes of
he future. The fact that past and then exist
ng Indebtedness is amply provided for con-
lusivrly bears ME out in this assumption. A
AK to pay the then existing indebtedness is
most unqaestienahly recognized by the franz
RS of the constitution as distinct cause or
,bjcet for taxation by the counties. The
yrant OF power to maintain their honor and
oay their past Indebtedness, is equal to that
given to preserve their future life, 1t cannot
DC said that the convention was unmindful of
he situation; neither can it be said that they
.cted unwisely. Giving to the constitution
ihiS Interpretation, scrips issued both before
md after the ratification of the constitution
would at once have appreciated in value. In
counties at all able to maintain themselves
new scrip should approximate par value, and
in counties not totally overwhelmed in debt
old scrps should do the same since an ample
fund is thus provided for their redemption
free from the spoliating hands OF profligate
fiscal overseers in the future. Section IL
same article, reads thus: No tax shall be
levied except in pursuance ofiaw, and every
s~.~ .t-It u Isots l..
object oe the same; and no moneys arising
from a tax levied for any purpose shall bt
used for any other purpose. Now. say tht
county court should levy tax aggregatlne
one half of one PER cent. the objects whcreo
are the support of the poer, the building I"
bridges. and to pay current expenses. and ;
like amount The object Of the same 3" bein!
Ito pay Indebtedness existing at the time o
the ratification of the constitution. Z" coult
any one hold that new scrip would pay tn
latter levy? Not without saying that thi
this provision of the constitution is meaning
less. If the latter levy could not be paid witt
new scrip, could the former be paid with oil
scrip? Not without the above section ]
meaningless. Section 10, it is true. provide
that county taxssmay be paid in warrants o
ol,,"rs. but of course they must be such war
rants or oreieiss as sthe levy is made to redeem
1t may be said by some that this view OF TIN
ton meant no snh thing. IL such is tu'
proper constrnct;an. giving to the Language
used its common ihtendment no matter. tn
construction must prevail. Itmay said, again
that giving to the constitution this construc
tion. vested rights of scrip-holders are in
frnged. and it cannot therefore stand, | an
inclined to believe differently, Because | ow
you, | know Of no law emitting you to sucl
immunity as that you cannot righttully con
tract to pay me other funds than my own pa
per for future services. The county credito
is part and parcelof the whole body polite
and his voice is blended with that OF tn
whole people when they speak into eXistenc
the organic law. He, with others, has mad
these provisions. and they can and do stan
without impairing the obligation ofthc con
tract between him and his county. Ampl
provision is made for the payment Of his debt
At the time ofthe ratification Of our constitu
ton ne all agreed to distinct levies of take
for the benefits of county government in tn
future and distinct levy for the benefit G
the past-like men let us stand to the agree
ment, and soon we shall be in state of tirr
financial health.
The county courts should make the ncccs
sary orders when assessments are made t
carry out the foregoing provisions ofthe con
stitution Your servant,
JORDAN f. CRAvENs.