Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-10-25
litOr Of the Republican:

Editor Of the Republican:
SHIN answer to my request Of the
18th inst, you in last weeks issue of
THE REPUBLICAN, put the several charges
made on sundry occasions. by certain
anonymous contributor To your columns,
under two different assumed names in tan
gible shape; and in a manner indorse
them. now cheerfully respond 4
think, however, have answered some OF
the charges on former occasions, and
those not answered were in my estimation
not of sufficient importance, to claim any
astention, or il there were there are par
ties in Marshall county of whom inquiry
could be made and satisfactory answers
obtained by any one really DESTROYS Of
knowing the facts in the case You
charge first:
1.-You are charged by "Tax Payer"
with levying an unnecessary and exhorbit-
ant tax on the people of Marshall county,
so that large balances have accumulated
1 reply by presenting the following
figures: Scan them closely: The tax
levy made in 1875, by the county commits
sioners was for county revenue 40 cents !;
sinking fund 10 cents: bond interest .
cents; bridge fund cents; total levy So
cents IN each 500 valuation. The levy
made in 1876 by the commissioners. tthc
undersigned was on the board at that
time) was: County revenue 30 cents ;
sinking fund ) cents; bond interest B
cents; bridge fund 5 cents; total levy on
each 800 valuation ~ cents. The levy
made in 1877 Qast June, and Of which we
have heard so much latciy) was: County
revenue 20 cents sinking fund 10 cents !;
bond interest nothing bridge fund moth
ing total levy on each 800 valuation 30
cents. This was all the ievy made by the
commissioners except 80 cents on each
poll each Of the above named years. for
county revenue, This statement of facts
showing = reduction In levy at more than
onc-half in two years will be "a satisfactory
answer presume to charge No. l. The
board of commissioners claim no credit
for this large reduction. They have only
performed plain duty they owe the tax
payers Of Marshall county. Second
charge:
2.-The tax levy was so great that there
was money on hand to pay bonds not due
for years 10 come.
answer, the outstanding county bonds
are drawing ten per cent. annual interest
which Is higher rate ofintcrest than the
farming and business men can afford to
pay on any Indebtedness unless 1t Is for u
shsrt time only, TO bridge over" and the
sooner they are relieved of il the better it
will be for them. IL il can be done without
any excessive tax levy. There was 900
OF the sinking fund applied this year to
the reduction Of this interest bearing debt
Tor which there was paid &c., 900 premium,
which was just equal TO the intrest that
would have to DC paid on the $4,000 next
year had IL not been taken up. This bond
\ was due three years hence, and the county
| will avoid the interest oftwo years at least
amounting to $4,000 Sinking fund is a
fund that cannot be used for any other
purpose, than the reduction ola debt, so
long as debt exists. Third charge:
! 3.-You have not seen to it that delin
quent taxes are collected, and the Auditors
report shows an immense amount uncol-
lected, which is due to the people who do
pay taxes, that il should be collected,
Reply will say that il is the duty of the
! county Treasurer, to collect taxes, and
were the Commissioners TO interfere in
the manner you suggest IL would be :" mani
testing personal interest in the manage
mcnt of the Trcasurer's office" surely.
Fourth charge.
4.-"All of which implies gross mis-
management of county finances"
From all the light and information |
can get, am lead To believe that the finan-
cial condition of Marshall county is fully
up to the standard Of other counties in
the state, and in much better condition
than some of the neighboring counties.
A Fifth charge.
5-"You are charged with having sug-