davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

have the benefit of all they can col.
lect from the $50, 333.3S, which is the
amount returned as delinquent and
insolyent taxes.
Before closing this report we de-
sire to say we have endeavored to
discharge our duty impartially in
the premises. We have had no de-
sire to reflect upon any one. We take
occasion to say that there have beer
many transactions which in all prob.
ability were correct, but the records
have been so imperfectly kept that
the books themselves clothe these
transactions with suspicion, and we
feel that the very best suggestion
that we can make, after having gone
over all the books, papers and &C.
counts Of the last seven years is, that
you see to it that all your transac-
tions on behalf of the county are re.
duced to writing and made matters
of record, so that the people may
know how their business is conduct.
ed, how their money is expended.
We know you cannot please every.
body; that is impossible; but if you
discharge the duties imposed upon
you, according to law, the people, af-
ter their experience of the last seven
years. will have great reason to re-
joice. We can assure you we have
no desire in this connection but to
use our best endeavor to tighten the
burden of taxation and build up the
prosperity of our county; and we
beg to assure you that you may corr
fidently rely upon our cordial co. OBJ.
Grafton in all your efforts in this dr.
rectiOn.
All of which is respectfully sub
mitted.
PEDDICoRD & COMBS.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

Judge Carey. of the Baltimore City
Court, has decided that laws signed
by the Governor after the adjourn-
ment of the Legislature are valid.
The case in which the question was
raised was one involving an act of
the Legislature of 1874. Judge Carey
said to the power of the Governor to
sign bills after the adjournment of
the Legislature, his lrin,a .fdcie opin-
ion was favorable to the exercise of
the power by the Governor. The
Constitution of the State of Mary
land on this point is not in all res.
poets similar to that Of the United
States, as to which indifferent con-
struction prevails. There is pro-
vision in section II. article 2, in the
State Constitution against partial and
hasty legislation. The provision of
the Constitution, taken in connection
with the g-established practice in
this State for the Governor so to sign
bills, with the endless ligtigation
which would ensue on a different
construction, and the overturning of
many substantial and vitalIy impor-
tant rights which had been acquired
under the practice, would cause the
Couri to hesitate, on grounds of pub.
lie policy, to take any other view
than that maintained by the plaintiff.
Exceptions were taken and the case
will go to the Court of Appeals.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24
SATURDAY, APRIL "a, 1880.
Republican Primary Meetings.

The Republicans of Garrett county
are requested TO meet in the various
districts, at the usual places for hold
ing such meetings therein, on Satur-
day, April oath, 1880, between the
hours of and 6 o'clock P. NJ, for
the purpose of electing .fUe delegates
to the County Convention to be held
at the Court House, Oakland, Nd, on
Saturday, May 1st, 1880, at 2 O'Clock
p. M, which convention will select
Three Delegates to attend the State
Convention, to be held in the city of
Frederick, on Thursday, May 9th,
1880.
A. G. STURGIss, Chairman.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

the award upon his bid has been
made. Under the law all taxes i'm
posed at the June levy bear interest
from the first day of the following
January, and the collector is liable
for interest on claims against the
county when he does not discharge
by payment on or before the first day
of January after they are leyied. A
custom has obtained in this county,
of allowing the collectors credit on
their accounts for interest thus paid.
This is manifestlv wrong, because
the collector collects interest from
the tax payer to meet any interest he
may have to pay, and he should not
be allowed for interest thus paid, for
if he has collected the taxes he ought
to have paid the claim and allowed
no interest to accrue, and if he has
not collected the taxes they are draw
with which he pays the interest on
the claim against the county. Sup
pose by way of illustration that the
county owes 500 which was levied
at June levy, 1377-this money was
due January 1st, 1878; the collector,
however, does not pay the claim I'M
til July 1st, 1878, at which time he
pays the principal. 500, and the in
terest, $500. making SOB. Now al
though he, the collector, would have
voucher for SOB, he would be emit
tied to a credit of but 500, because
he is only charged with $500 on ac-
count of the levy to A, and he has
collected interest on the taxes from
January lst to July 1st, with which
he is not charged. All the interest
allowed to collectors has been clear
gain to them and clear loss to the
county but it is utterly impossible
to determine how much the county
has lost in this way. We advise that
no interest be allowed collectors here
after in their settlements.
We feel it to be our duty to call
your attention to the gross careless
ness manifested by the late Com mis-
sioners in making a contract for the
bridge over Castleman's river. Mr.
Guard and Mr.. Riley, two of the
Commissioners, las we are inforn3ed(
visited the spot where the bridge
was to he built, and after making an
/ examination, made a contract for an
Iron bridge 63 feet long, at $500 per
lineal foot. When the bridge was
ready to be placed in position it was
found that it required only AZ feet,
and that the bridge which was built
on Messrs. Riley'5 and Guards judy
ment was just q feet too long of
course they never measured the
space at all. Through this piece of
inexcusable carelessness the county
lost $l90.60.
The following amounts have been
levied from year to year as contin-
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

The above S145.64 we have paid to
Mr.. Hamill on his levy for 1879, and
passed the voucher to the credit of
Jasper Guard. We have thus far
discovered claims amounting to So
2l8.55, which had been paid, but for
which Garrett county had no credit.
These sums we have credited and
charged up in the contingent fund.
There are large sums still due the
county on account of delinquent
taxes. We are of the opinion that
some of these amounts can be collec-
ted, but can form no correct estimate
OF the amounts that can be realized
from this source.
The accounts Of the present collec.
tors stand as follows on general ac>
counts:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

The law requires the Commission
ers to publish annually statement
showing the expenses of the county.
The manifest intention of the Leg
lslature in passing this law was that
the people should know how their
servants expended their money.
With singular unanimity the Com
mlssioners of Garrett county have
neglected and refused TO obey the
aforesaid wholesome provision of the
law. No publication has ever been
made showing how the said sum of
S29, 1880 has been expended, and
the people are just as ignorant of the
manner in which it has been expen-
ded as it had been,wholly unaccoun-
ted for. They may assume. if they
please, that it has been properly ex-
pended, but they know absolutely
nothing about it. In this connection
we would advise that in addition to
publishing the levy list you also
publish annually an itenized account
showing how the contingent fund
has been expended.
We find that some of the Presi.
dents of the County Commissioners
have kept bank accounts with coun-
ty funds. In 1877 the President of
the Board kent an account by which
he deposited the sum of 81 ,9O5. This
sum seems to have all been paid out,
but we cannot find any checks or
vouchers for some of the items, and
we are unable to say whether they
have been actually paid out and prop
erly expended or not.
The President OF the Commission
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Special Correspondence to The Republican a
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. April 90, 1885,.
The Democrats finding popular
sentiment so completely against
their attempts to starve the United
States Marshals, the Army, Execu.
tive Departments, &C., are backing
down as fast as they can, gracefully,
But they must give vent to their
rage and disappointment on some.
body or thing. They now propose to
starve the friendly Indians, or those
indians who have staid on their res.
ervations and conscientiously kept
all their treaty stipulntions. When
the government made treaties with
these Indians it was agreed that they
should receive specified amount of
clothing per annum, and rations.
Under Republican rule, the amounts
recommended by the Commissioner
of Indian affairs TO carry out treaties
was not cut down, and of course the
srnes,nr'ts received what was promised
them. OF course this has not siwayS
been the ease where there were ras<
cally agents. But the Democrats,
with utter disregard of Government
promises, go to work and cut down
these absolutely necessary amounts.
and as co sequence the Indian is
compelled to leave his reservation in
search of food, and thus get into ~
war. When the bill comes to the
Senate it is to be hoped that the In
diaT's wrongs will be righted that
the friendly Indians be kept friendly
and not starved into war.
Tho famous Exodus Investigation
has come to a sudden close. The ax-
penses of it have exhausted the con-
tlngent fund Of the Senate. and, in
fact, ran that dignified body some
what in debt. About one hundred
and fifty witnesses have been exan,-
med, of which number only twenty.
one were summoned by the Repub-
leans. But the Republican do not
complain because of the unequal
sharing of spoils. Some of their most
important testimony has been given
by Democratic witnesses. But what
has it all amounted to? Everyone
knows what the Committee was or.
dered for, and all know that it has
failed in its object. But it is a fair
of Democratic legislation.
VS., 900 have been spent by the Dem
ocrats, and for no good whatever.
Senator Voorhees, don't know any
more about the cause of the exodus
now than he did before, or, at least,
he knows what he didn't want to
know, and many people know many
things about Southern brutality they
didn't know. 1t will all work up,
into nice campaign material for the
next fall.
But l ought to say few words
about Society" Society, which has
been remarkat ly gay here this win
ter, is breaking up for the season.
That is. many of the leaders of fash.
on are n aking preparations for tho
summer. and arranging for flight to
ne seaside and the mountains fur.
her North. The first of May is the
BEGINNING of the season which is not
popular in Washington, even when
congress fingers, and the social Cos
Up will be duller than the proceed
nSs OF Congress after few DAISY.
LOGAN.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

Secretary Sherman has sent to
Congress report of the operations
q the revenue service. Over 5000
stills have been seized and destroyed
and 6,l5S persons have been arrested.
twenty five revenue officers were
Killed and 40 wounded in making
these arrests-all of which happened
in the South.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24
amounts credited twice /:

Total amount twice credited -. s5lS 81
We have also settled with Mr.. G.
>. Hamill, who had an account with
the Commissioners. He received
from the Franklin coal company, as
attorney for the County Commits
mlssioners. S2,8ll.45, which is ac-
counted for as follows:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

ers in 1879 appears to have deposited
at sundry times and in divers
amounts, the sum of $8,497.73, but
as to where he obtained the money |
or by what authority he claimed the |
eight to keep such an account and
check out the county money without
a levy or even an order of the Board
directing 1t, we are at a loss to know.
One thing is certain, and that is that
various sums have been checked out
of these accounts to different persons
which had never been levied to said
persons, nor had orders been passed
in favor of such persons by the
Board. Perhaps the gentleman who
gave these checks can explain them
satisfactorily. The books and bank
accounts do not explain them further
than we have stated, and we are left
to mere conjecture, which oay or
may not be correct. We trust that
the gentlemen referred 10, have some
private data which will throw light
upon thess transactions, inasmuch as
the public records which they have
left ehind them, are anything but
satisfactory. OF the,aInount deposited
in 1877 on account of the county. to
wit: the sum of $4,000, we can
only find vouchers for S6,Sl7.47,
whilst here are no cheeks or vouchers
for the balance of Sl,0S7.53.
OF the amount deposited in 1879,
to- wit SIS, 497 .73, we can find vouch-
ers for only 81, 1888, whilst there are
no vouchers for the balance of ST.
BAH, we presume. of course, that it
has been correctly expended, but the
books and vouchers in this Office do
not show when, how or for what pur-
pose.
The balance due the county from
Charles Bill, collector for 1873, has
been settled in full ty Mr.. Veitch.
although he had not collected the
whole amount from Bill. and we
have entered the judgment against
Bill to Mr.. Veitch's use. The fol-
lowing is IA statement of the whole
| transaction 4:
Amount of Judgment and interest, ...S SO
Collected before Judgment..... 10000
motto, su72 20
Accounted for as follows:
Paid shatzeI per order E. c. Tilson, IS 79.e0
per cent .t to Mr. veitcn, f0r cog qsS9
Credited on levy of 1873 and lS79,,.......e. 5i54
The amount of S543.l4 is charged
to Edward Margroff in his contin-
gent account and the voucher from
Mr.. Veitch has been passed to his
credit on his general account.
In 1878 the sum of 80, 800 was levied
to cover delinqueDts for 1876 and 1877.
This sum should not have been LEVIED
because the delinquents for these
years had been paid off by money
borrowed from bank by the Commits
'----- rs.~'sr rttc contingent Iund.
This sum is therefore in the collec.
tors hand subject to the or der of the
Commissioners.
We have charged this amount to
the collectors in their contingentfund
accounts.
The aforesaid sum of S79. 7S paid to
John Shatzer by Mr.. Veitch was
levied ShatZer at June levy 1878 and
although paid on the Sd of July 1878
has meyer heen credited to the county
until now. We have charged the
amount to E. Margroff in his contin-
gent fund and passed the voucher to
his credit on his general account.
The following is a summary of
amounts credited twice:
j.; c. Dunham, Pages and 2......s 80 90
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24
A. G. STURGIss, Chairman.

When the present county commits
sioners entered upon their official
duties they avowed their determine
ton to conduct the affairs of the
Office upon business principles and
in business-like manner. In order
to do this they found it of the utmost
Importance that they should know
the amount of assets and Liabilities
of the county. Having the above
object in view the commissioners
ordered their attorneys to examine
the books and papers in their Office,
and all bank accounts kept by or on
account of the commissioners, and
all else necessary to enable them to
report the financial condition of Gar
rett county. The attorneys to the
commissioners made their report at
the last meeting of the Board ac
.cording to their Instructions. We
publish this week the report in full
for the benefit of eur readers. We
believe that the county commission
ers are actuated by no motive in
this matter save an earnest desire to
discharge their duty faithfully, and
thus protect the interests of the tax
payers, which have been committed
to their hands for brief time.
lie orcUnu fcs0TuTT0TT III r1e IJenI-
ocratic State platform of last fall
reads as follows:
"It will be the duty of tie next
General Assembly to Tighten the
burden of taxation in this State by
abolishingall offices not necessary for
the public service; by reducing all
salaries and fees subject to its control
to the limit of the compensation of
persons engaged in similar employ
ment in private life; by compelling
the practice of economy in every
detail of State, county and municipal
expenditures, and by enforcing the
observance of the constitutional rule
that every person in the State, or
person holding therein, ought to con-
tribute his proportion of public taxes
for the support of the government,
according to his actual worth in real
or personal property"
How well were these pledges full
filled? How much has the burden
Of taxation been lightened What
unnecessary offices have been abol-
ished? And what salaries have been
reduced? The late Legislature pre-
sents a sorry spectacle when we con-
slider the pledges made by its MEM
bers during the campaign of 1879.
That they were made for the purpose
of catching votes-aod for het p,n'-
pose only-is now most transparent,
and the people who voted for them,
believing they were sincere, have
been deceived most Shamefnllv
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24
CONTINGENT FUND LEyIEs :

In addition to this large sum the
Commissioners have on several oc.
casions borrowed from bank on
the credit of the county, and have
given the sums of money thus bor-
rowed to the collectors, as a reward,
we suppose, for his negligence in
falling to collect the taxes to meet
the liabilities Of the county. The
follow Ing amounts have been Dor
rowed in this way:
Oct. q. 75,from Queen City Savings
I1dih So 2iS IL
July Is, 1913, from National Bank of
fleumont..... .................. 20S0 SO
1898
Out of the taxes returned deIin.
quent the sum of S2,537.4 AZ has since
been collected.
REHABILITATION.
contingent funds S22 25l 46
borrowed from Banks...... ............ 432ya7
Dellnquents Collected ................... 1857 AZ
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

The marked fact that more than
500, 1000, OF the taxes levied in Gar
rett county have been returned de-
linquent and insolvent, accounts for
many of the eInbarrassments under
which the County Commissioners
have labored from time to time. This
money having been levied to meet
the liabilities of the county and not
having been collected, ofcourse left
the county in debt. These delinquent
lists increased until in the year 1877
we have the enc rmous sum of ST.
$3.50, whilst in the following year,
with a change of co lectors, only
S449.28 WAS returned in this way.
The Commissioners have not only
allowed the collectors to return the
large sums above specified as delin-
quent and insolvent, but the collec.
tors have received the same per cent.
upon them as they did upon their
NOAlCNtlOHo. HI tlllS way TIE OOIIlIlilS-
sioners have paid the coIlectors 81 900,
in round numbers, not for services
The fact that collectors were allowed
per cent. upon tax bills returned
delinquent and insolvent, fully ex.
plains why the lists were so large.
The only thing in this connection
which surprises us is why the coIiec-
tors did not return their books de.
hnquent as whole, and claim their
commissions, and save themselves
the labor of making any collections
whatever.
We propose now to show the
amount of commissions which have
been paid to collectors upon delin-
quents and insolvents, thus losing to
the county, not only the taxes but
this additional premium on the losses
thus curtailed.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

Whist engaged upon this branch
OF our report, we beg to call atten-
tIon to method which has been
adopted in the appointment of col.
jectors. In 1875, Ira f. Friend ESQ,
put Ill bid to collect the entire as
sessment for 81 per cent. The con.
tract was awarded to MIN and at the
end OF the year he claimed addition.
al compensation, which was compr0-
missed upon the payment of 500 ex-
ira, and for the next year he was
paid per cent. In 1876, A. Miller
offered to collect for per cent. and
was appointed at that rate, and aft
erward was paid per cent. for the
second year.
We think this method of appoint
ment has been of no advantage to
the county, and we are equally sure
that it is not authorized by law. The
Legislature in providing for the an.
pointment of collectors never de-
signed that the collectorship should
be set up for sale and auctioned off
to the lowest bidder. The appoint.
ment must be made in the manner
provided for by law, and after the
collector Is appointed. the COUNTY
Commissioners should fix his com.
mission. Under the auction system,
The collector fixes his own commits. |
sion, and his only effort is to make
his bid low enough to secure the
coveted prize, trusting to luck to
nave his commission increased after
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-24

were not levied until 1874. You win
also find the same orders credited ON
Mr.. Ira Friends account in 1874.
This latter credit we presume Is cor.
rect, but how these orders found their
way into Mr.. Browning's account for
1878, is mystery to US. There are
numer0us.instances Of this character.
but we will not refer to them here.
but will give you summary of them
at the end of this report.
One OF the greatest abuses which
has arisen is in the matter of delin-
uuent taxes, so-called. Under the
system which has been pursued the
collectors have been allowed to re.
turn large numbers of tax bills as
delin0uent, while there was ample
property in the county out of which
these taxes could and should have
been made. These returns have been
allowed whenever there was the
slightest difficulty to make colec-
tons, all that was necessary was fora
man to object or refuse to pay his tax
bill, and it was returned delinquent,
ana he could go scott free, while his
neighbors had to make up the taxes
thus lost to the county. No attempt
has been made by the collectors to
enforce the payment of taxes with
one or two exceptions, and so far as
Garrett county is concerned, her col
lectors might as we'll not be rlothed
with the authority to enforcethe COL
lection of taxes
DELINQUENT AND INsOLvENT RETURNED I:
I'm / { nl,op . g.,
Blount County democrat. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 1879-1883, 1880-05-12
AROUND TOWN.

Next Saturday morning the train
will leave the depot at Maryville at
instead of s o'clock. A Knoxville
picnic party will be brought down to
Eaglcton's grove that day.
The spring Quarterly Meeting at the
Friends Church came off last Satur-
day and Sunday, and was well at
tended by the Friends of this county.
The public exercises, held in the
College Chapel last Friday night, by
the Animi Cultus Society, were well
attended. The most interesting and
successful part of the programme was
the Grafton by c. T. Gates, Jr., OH the
Variability of Human Grandeur"
the subject being ably and eloquently
handled by the young orator. The
debates of Messrs. C. Z. Ensign and
j. d. Orumley, and the Grafton of Mr..
j. f. McNutt, were the next best
efforts, as we thought.
T. Quarterly Meeting at New Provi-
dence Presbyterian Church was held
last Saturday and Sunday.
Mr.. Thos. Lillard has opened his
Ice Cream Saloon for the present
season, and is prepared to fiji orders
promptly and satisfactorily. BE sure
and give him a call.
John Kelley brought two fine fish
to town-last week, weighing, respect
lively, thirty-tive and forty-tive
pounds.
See card of Mr.. Charles Z. Wallace,
the well7known and popular Mary
vile barber. Customers always find
him polite and attentive, and his
charges are reasonable. Give him a
call. l