Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-11-19
COMMUNICATED.
CHAKIEsrows, Nov. s, 1881.


MIR. Editor-I take the liberty OF
sending you the following communfea-
ton which appeared in the Spirit OF
Jefferson of last week. 1t recites the
bumiliating fact that the people have
been obliged within the past few years
to appoint committees To investigate and
look into the acts of their officials who
under some miscopcep.ion OF their
rights and privileges, exercise their pre-
roga,iye for their self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
or personal beueft. This Dug ut not to
be so aud would not if due reflection
was exercised in the discharge of mere
delegated powers.
The counsel, Mr. Holmes Conrad OF
Winchester, Va, who was employed TO
give his opinion as 10 whether the b. IL
o. Railroad was bound for the dehcien-
CIV of taxes which is due this county
under compromised settlements made
by order Of the County Court, has rem
dered his opinion in the affirmative. 1t
is to be hoped that Dir. Conrad will be
employed 10y the County Commissioners
10 aid in prosecuting the collection OF
these arrearages-
This correspondent "Tax Payer,
plaiuly states that the Commissioners
suffered the clerk of the county to sad
die debt Of six hundred aud ten dol
lars on the people instead OF requiring
him TO fulfil his contract, namely TO H.
dex those books for the sum agreed to
be paid. lie also hints at some further
defective arrangement, probably the
syndicate, for selling tie county bonds.
Editor Spirit Within the past few
wears, il has become necessary, III order To
ensure more healthy state OF both politi-
cal and financial management for States,
Counties and Municipal Corporations, to
undertake, by the appointment OF commit
tees, an investigation of their affairs, and
to let those holding office know they are
not rulers but servants Of the people, and
in power only so long as they manage the
business intruSted Ia them with due re-
gard To the interests of the people, and
outside of rings and private parties. Our
county does not seem 10 lie IN exception
to this, for articles in your columns some
time ago on the subject of County Courts
aud Railroad Taxes. gave the people an
idea upon that subject; and the appoint
mcnt of Il committee TO examine the sub
ject by the people, brought 70 light
large balance due the county from the
railroad and as the subject is i'll the hands
of an attorney, the peop.e will have his
opinion at the November term of the
Court.
There is another subject on which the
Court acted that is not 50 great in its re-
suits, but shows to the Taxpayer how his
money is gotten rid Of, and does not APP
pear TO be Il business transaction in the
interest of the people, viz: At Il term of
the County Court held May 22d, 1879, lie
following order was passed:
The Court agrees to adopt Campbell's
Patent Index at the price OF S225. The
clerk OF this Court agrees To index the
deed books, according TO Campbell'S pat
ent, for ten dollars for each deed book, or
for the 81 volumes 500. Now the orders
of the Court prove that for this work the
sum of 81 $50 has been paid, or 500 more
than the contract price; ana the last
amount Of $500 was paid February term,
1881, by the commissioners, who TO not
seem 10 have examined the subject. This
seems 10 be over 100 per cent. advance on
Il simple article of writing and is Il hand
some margin of profit for the people to
paw; and rs the clerk did not either do the
work or receive the money, the natural
question would be: how has this occurred
and the reasons therefor?
There are other subjects that could be
mentioned in which the county could have
been benefited financially, aud it is now
time that those having the business OF the
county in charge, should have less regard
for corporations and private parties, and
ifany benefits are to be derived from COM
promises or contracts it should be, rs far
as possible, in favor of those having the
burden to bear, our people now being
sufficiently oppressed by taxes, bad crops,
etc. If our officials would manage county
affairs AS they would their own business,
the probability is these things would not
occur, and they will be held TO a strict ac-
countability for not so doing by the
TAX-PAYER.