The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-26

same is situated statement showing in de-
tail the actual Indebtedness the amount oI
funded debt, the amount of the floating debt
thereof, tue valuation of the iaNabl. proper
ty therein, Toe assets ct the corporation, with
The character aud nature thereof. Tue pen.
alty for neglect to publish in the newspapers
such Il statement is fine of one thousand dbl.
fars. The object Of this law is plain. 1t is
to bring to the knowledge of all the people
interested, at least once year, the actual fl
nancial condition Of the borough, township
or district and il as much for the benefit OF
the taxpayer as for the creditor or creditors.
1t is law made in the interest of the whole
people, both rich and poor who have taxes
to pay, and it is for the interest of every tax
payer to sec that it is carried out to the let
ter for it gives everyone an opportunity to
know what the officers elected to do their
public business are doing with their money
whether they are laying it out judiciously
or not
On the l2th day OF April, 1870 the Gov
ernor approved an act which wa. npplemen-
tary to the act Of 10th OF April, 1874; dcclar-
ing that the statement to be published in at
least two newspapers must be at tic end OF
the fiscal year, and not in January. Il, re.
qured 10y said act Of 10Th April, 1874 The
new Constitution requires the borough on
township officers to be elected annually, il
February. The law, in pursuance of that
constitutional provision, requires such Off
Gers elected in February to lie sworn into of
flee on the first Monday of April. Conse
quer y the fiscal year ends at that time an,
! all annual statements have to be made ou
and published as soon MS possible thereafter
except school accounts, which must be pub
lished in June. We therefore sum up tn
whole question as follows:
First-Fhe auditors are required in cacl
borough and township to settle the annua
accounts thereof, and publish the same no
only in newspapers, but also by written o
printed statements, put up in the most pub
lie places in the respective boroughs an
townships as soon after the close of the lisca
year, which is on the first Monday in April
as possible.
Second If the borough or township is il
debt, has funded or floating debt, this mu,
be included in the statement, together wit
the valuation Of property, ETC., and publish
ed in at least two papers, and embraced j
the written or printed statement also
1t will be readily seen by what we hay
said that it is necessary that the auditors
the several boroughs, townships and distric
throughout the county should go to work
once and settle the accounts, as they are
duty bound to do, and have them publishe'
not only by posting written or printed NJ
tices, but also by publishing the same in ii
newspapers, as the law directs. A failure
perform this duty may subject the officers
trouble; tor, as we have stated above, if I'll
corporation is not in debt they are subject
a fine of twenty dollars apiece; if it is
debt, to fine Of one thousand dollars.
is hardly worth while for the auditors of an
borough, township or district in this coun
to incur the risk of this penalty by a ncgle
| of this plain lawful duty If they do, an
| suffer by it, they cannot plead ignorance
/ the law as an excuse, for we do not suppo
= there are any persons in this county electt
= to this responsible position who cannot rea
, -BeHetonte Republican.