The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-03-27

J
other peoples money is being expended,
men generally allow ample margins.
Boards of County Commissioners are
never-at least hardly cver-eXceptions
to the general rule. 1t is not a fair infer
ence. then, that this habtual misappro-
priation was unintentional or accidental.
1t was done for purpose. And for
what purpose? The most charitable con-
struction to be put upon the practice, or
rather upon this systena-if it can be dig
nified by such terln,-and into which
the practice seems to have grown,
is to say that it was blind to the
people of the county. and intended to
cover up heavy partisan expenditures,
under the partisan cry of economy and
light taxation. We need not remind the
tax payers of Cecil county that they have
been groaning aloud under the oppres-
sive levies of the last ten years. Their
clamor has been heard. The successive
Boards of County Commissioners heard
it. So did their manipulators. This
was the plan adopted of soothing them.
But, asks the incredulous tax payer:
To what use were these monies thus
annually levied by special authority of
the legislature for special purposes-viz:
the liquidation of the Jail debt and the
indebtedness of the County School Board
-aetuaUy applied?
Presumably to current county expenses
in each and every year since 1871, the
first year Of the special levy.
(Mr. Reese thinks that vouchers could
be found, if the cuddy-holes be very
carefully searchcd.)
But by what authority?
Was there not in each and every year
regular levy made for each item Of
county expense-for bridges. expense of
circuit court, for roads, &c.
Did not the County Commissioners
publish annually tabulate,l statement
embracing each item of county expense
for the current year?
We're not all these different items
charged against the amount of the an
nual levy for county expenses, and the
balance struck, including five hundred
dollars charged as salary Of the Clerk to
the Board?
When the taxpayers complained of the
81
years, were they not told that the notice
able increase in the annual levy was by
reason of the Crtrd special levy to be
applied to the cancellation of the bonded
indebtedness?
Were not, then, these annual exhibits
d"ceptious, in so far as they did not en-
brace true and accurate statement of
the transactions of the Board?
Were they worth, indeed, the paper
they were printed on, SO far as they iurn-
ished any reliable information of the true
financial condition of the county?
In nine years, sol, 100 i'll principal,
and s1S, 100 to meet interest, have been
levied upon us. Out of this amount of
$50, 100, but s23. 800 of principal levied
has been legally appied'
Figures do not lie.
Then has it come to this, that Rotrith-
standing this lecy of $50, 100, there is stu
a county bonded Indebtedness Of $50, 50o3
Yes!
How is that to be met?
By other levies in addition to those
already made, and that, too, in excess OF
the amount of bonded Indebtedness
We shall see!
But having already exceeded their au-
thority under the special acts OF the Leg
isature, how can the Commissioners
make additional levies, except by addi-
tional special authority of the Legisla-
ture?
Again:
Suppose that the holders of the out
standing Jail bonds, Which now past due
and unpaid amount to $24, 300, and to
redeem which the money has already
been levied, should demand their redemp-
ton percmptorily, and at once how could
the County Commissioners meet such
emergency?
Or, in other words, suppose that these
bondholding creditors of the county, see
ing that the monies levied under special
authority Of the Legislature to meet this
bonded indebtedness had been diverted
and misapplied, were to avail themselves
Of their legal right, and ask that a writ
Of mandamus issue out of the Circuit
Court, compelling the County Commits
sioners to make further special levies for
the redemption of these bonds, would
not the answer of the County Board,
"that they had al,'eady ercteded Meir an
Morty granted by the tire acts Of Tie Legis-
latnre In lerying naor6 MGR the amount OF
tic bonded county Indebtedness" (misap-
piled though it had been) be good and
sufficient answer in the premises?
We are not prepared to say that ii
would not he.
Then the mere indulgence Of the bond.
holding creditors of the county, and that
based upon the proverbial good faith OF
the people OF Cecil, is all that preserves
the county credit.
What else?
The county creditors loaned the money
upon the good faith of the taxpayers Of
the county. They were assessed to meet
the bonds. The levy has been collected
and misapplied. The County Commits.
sionerS have 10 further authority under
those acts.
But, is not such system Of county
tinanciering damaging to the county
credit?
Most certainly. Almost any solve mt
municipal or other corporation can to-day
fund their Indebtedness at low rate OF
interest-four per cent. But capital is
suspicious, and investors must be assured
that legal obligations will be recognized
by borrowers.
The legal and moral obligation is just
as binding upon the Board Of Commission-