The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-05-08


their moneys, wrllng from them under
the plea of public necessity, have been
diverted from their legitimate uses, and
by lily justified official usage, have gone
to enrich individual pockets. Mr.. Reese
has very good reason for abstaining from
any discussion OF the figures he presents.
Considering them, however, more in
detail, what can the most penetrating
and Intelligent aN-payer-eXcepting. OF
course, the editor of The Utm0crdt-ind
in them, except the complete corroborl
ton of every charge made in this paper
relative to the misrepresentation of the
moneys levied to meet the county bonded
indebtedness We have charged oven
and over again, that the books Of the
County Commissioners Office show an
actual bonded Indebtedness of $50. 800.
1t is true that Mr.. Reese's statement
moditics these figures somewhat. That
he makes the deficiency something over
$22, 10000. But we shall show Il little
further on, that one item of assets, viz,
s24, 300, moneys outstanding in hands of
collectors cannot, either in reason OF prac-
tee. be a credit at its face value. Now
Il very simple sum in arithmetic, stripped
of the clnssir"! verbiase which the Clerk
of the County Commissioners has sought
to throw over it. will, as furnished b,
Mr.. Reese, supply the key to tue true
inwartlness of the bonded indebtedness,
of Cecil county.
SCI, 400 have been taken from the peck
cts of Cecil Taxpayers to iiquidate a bond
ed indebtedness of s4s. 900 (note that the
$4,000 of school bonds not yet matured
are not taken into account). viz:
of matured Jail bonds SD. 900
/" school bonds. ..... 800. 5000
Total amount OF maturcd bonds 49,. SIS, 900
Or. as Mr.. Reese states it, excess of levy
over issue OF already matured bonds, $l3,-
100 Now what amount of these already
matrlrvd bonds, both jail and school, have
been paid? BY Mr.. Reese's showing:
Amount of Jail bonds paid So, sec
school .......... 5000
There is, therefore. still outstanding of
matured bonds s24 300. and an expended
and unexplained excess of levy of sl3,-
300
Now against this amount, which is not
disputed, what (hy Mr.. Recess figures
have the County Commissioners availa-
bieo
Why, simply the amount i'll hands of
Collectors, $24. 800. Now. will Mr. Reese
have us believe that this entire amount is
collectibleo How many years has this
sum been allowed 10 remain uncoNected.
and why have the Taxpayers been conf
PEELED to pay interest on this sum, or any
portion of it. year after year, when it, OF
the oldest portion of it. should have here
tofore been applied to bond account and
interest stopped:
How many bonds are to he sued upon
before it is collcctedo How many al
iowances will be made for insolvencics :?
Mr.. Reese says the insolvencics in that
office have always exceeded the esti-
mated amounts We venture to assert.
and with reason, that Mr. Reesc's est =
mated ::24, 800 will not eventually net
more than 81, 600 to county account and
if applied to bonded indebtedness, his
computed deficiency will stand thus:
Amount of outstanding matured
bonds, and excess of levy. So ,:JOt
Probable available sum from collec-
tors and eN-collcctors. ........... 12,O0c
S25,50
.Add to this concealed Gctu1l deficiency S,9Ot
Final deficiency. ................ S:'l, HOO
y very mich more probable amount,
and closely approyimating the sum (s36,-
000) heretofore claimed by u.s.
But suppose that the entire outstand-
ing amount in hands of collectors. as
claimed by Mr.. Reese, he finally availa-
Indebtedness and excess of levy, as stated
by him, viz, So. 200 be the actuol one,
how, and by what authority has it been
incurred?
Hare not tie CoHnty Commissioners been
g"ilty Of q breGch IF trust in lerying, col
lfrti"g, ami diSJursi"g so conSidraJle a
sam, nomin0lly on 6ondcd account, and
"ppropri"fing ii 10 sach othcr uses ard
purposes as do not apFsGr on tie ltsy LIST
Are they not accountable directly t.
the people for every cent of disbursc-
mant? Is not the annual statement OF
county expenditures, issued by them
given TO the people i'll pretended or SUP
posed good faith?
Yet there has been studied conceal
mcnt from the people, year by year, OF
appropriations and expenditures, amount
ing now, by Mr. Recess minimum esti-
mate, to s22, 600, but in all probability to
a finally larger sum.
This brings us to tho consideration of
the most extraordinary part of Mr..
Reese's statement, namely, that this sum
Of 49,, zoo has been leried. collected and
discussed oEfr and abofe Gay and all claims
or dcdts against Me iaunty Mt,L appear on
t5o ,pru LIST" For time we were n