The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-02
The County Debt.


There is no question in which the
interest of our people is SO deeply in
7o've' or imperscCtIy understood as
that of !hepast ard present indebted.
ness Of the county. Most of our citi-
zcns simply know That the county is
burdencd by q past Indebtedness Of
about $1,000, and deficiency from
last year Of about 5000, making a
total Of about 1860, and imagine
chat the old debt is largely due to a
few Radical leaders or others who
came in possession Of tho claims by
very uhqueslionable methods nr un-
just spcculations On original holders.
Entertaining this opinion they very
naturally look upon any measure to
raise money by taxation for its pay
mcnt rs a prostitution2of the taxing
power aud an imposition upon the
citizens. OF the old debt the follow
ing amounts are due to the persons
named on various kinds Of claims ::
Mr.. Geo. Boliver, $500; Messrs. j.
II. Livingston and George ,Bolivcr,
500; Mcssrs. Bull &, Scoville, S235
Mr.. llarpin Riggs, $3.50; Dir. George
II. Cornelson, $40; Dr.. A.. G.
Dukes, s275; Messrs. D. Louis and
5. Dibble, $3.50; Mr.. j. G. Pike,
Sl40; Mcssrs. Izlar &. Dibble, one
claim Of sl75 MIR. Jas. f. Izlar, in
Ills official capacity rs Trustee Of A.
Fischer, S2,40O; ap,l host of other
citizens, white and colored, in every
section of the county in small claims
TO the amount of S9,1SS, mostly in
the hands Of original holders still,
1t will be seen from this exhibit that
Messrs. George Boliver and j. II.
Livingston, Radica! leaders, hold
claims against the county, to the
Of $4,000, and that the next
largest claimant is Mr.. A. Fischer,
whilst few of our leading merchants
are claimants TO the amount of q few
dollars each, ag
For The liquidation of this debt, TO-
gcthcr with the deficiency OF 5000 |
from last year, the Legislature nj its
recent session levied tax Of three.
fourlLs of q mill which, when collect
ed. will he pnid out 10 tho lowest bid
lcrs, according to the plan originally !
devised by Hon. S. Dihblc, that is, to
such parties as will take the least
amount Of money for their claims.
1t is expected that this tax which will
yie'd about 81 800, will cancel about
S3 200 worth Of claims Al this rate !
it will require the same levy for seven
or eight years to wipe out tho whole
Of the present Indebtedness OF the
1t might be stated in this
that the large bulk or the
clnims, which constitute the debt,
were acted upon and reported as valid
claims by the commission appointed
by the Governor, composed of the
late w. M. Hutson, ESQ, j. S. Afoy-
ward, Esq, and Major l.. r. Beck
With. In every case where a claim
was reported on adversely by this
commission the County Commission
ers have refused payment.
So much for the old debt, but what
Of the deficiencies. We are informed
that tie deficiency of the present fis-
cal year will be greater than, proba-
bly, double, that of last year. If such
a system be pursued there will DO no
end TO debt. There must he O radi-
cal error some where. Either o sunl- |
cicnt assessment ought to be made,
with reasonable contingent fund, TO
meet the necessary expenses Of the
county Or the expenses ought TO be i
kept within the limits of tho assess
mont allowed by the Legislature
great or small. It. is said |
that the roads and bridges cost Tue |,
county annually from $4,000 to
S3 900, nearly one-fourth Of tie en-
tire expenses, and the poor bouse,
81 900. Other necessary and unfor-
seen contingent expenses increase The
ton sum beyond that allow
cd. The pt oplo should understand
The circumstances Of this debt in or
der that the proper steps might be
taken for lis liquidation.