The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1879-04-10
To start on January LIST, 1885, $s,4l9 0

The foregoing statement WAS prepared ON the
9th March, and cover the whole of the year
1878 and the present year up to that day,
period Of say, fifteen months. The figures as
10 the county indebtedness, are doubtless cor
rect, but 30 far as they relate to the income OF
the present year-they are intended to be only
estimates. Whether the county will really have
balance on hand at the beginning of next
year according to these estimates, will depend
upon two important facts, first, whether the I'M
paid taxes of 1873, amounting to 1929 % will
be collected and, second. whether there will
be similar deficit in the collections for the
present year. Should either or both of these
possible things occur, then the financial condl-
ton of The county will be worse at the end OF
the current year than it was at the beginning OF
it. In that event, it will become necessary for
us to materially reduce our expenses, or In
crease our taxes if we expect to meet our ooi-
cations. Any increase of taxes should be
avoided if possible, since the burthen OF taxa
ton already presses very heavily upon most OF
our people.
Before quitting this subject, we would res
pectfully suggest that all county officers whose
duty makes it necessary for them 10 handle the
public funds, adopt rule 10 prepare at the be-
ginning of each year All itemized statement OF
their receipts, expenditures and disbursements
for the preceding year-'that these separate
statements be entered upon their books and
then laid before the Treasurer and by him sum
married., and that this summary, with full
and particular statement of the county indebt-
edness. and all the reports be submitted to the
Grand Jury at the spring term, aud then pub
lished for the information of the people. The
adoption of some such rule as that here indlca-
ted will be protection to both the officers and
the people, by guarding the one against unjust
suspicion and hostile criticism, and by Keeping
the other thoroughly informed as 10 the manner
| in which these trusted public agents discharge
| their respec,iye duties. In one sense these Of
fcers are the servants of the people, and The
moneys they handle belong to the people, and
therefore, as no nest men and faithful stewards
as we believe all of them to be, they cannot
hesitate to render TO their principals once every
year, an account of their actings aud doings.
| In this connection it may BE- well to call at
tention TO the fact that the Sheriff has not been
paid any thing for dieting prisoners, jail fees
ETC., from the LIST January, 1873 down to the
present time. While concurrng therefore, in
| the recommendation made by the Grand Jury
for the first we * of the present term, that the
charge for dieting prisoners shall be reduced
| from forty cents to thirIy-three and a third
cents per day, we cannot but regret that this
Indebtedness should have been allowed TO oc-
cur. The offices Of Sheriff and Tax Collector
were consolidated few years ago, in the hope
that the expenses attending the collection OF our
taxes would thereby be curtailed, but we are
assured that the result does not answer the ex-
pectation, and therefore we recommend thai
these Offices be severed, and that the old law
1 ~.