The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-10
Figures Do Not Lie.

Under the above caption there appears an
article in last weeks Sentinel, which con-
tains great many figures 1t is very true
that figures do not lie, unless misplaced,
and we propose to show that the author OF
the article in the Sentinel. in making one
statement, at least, got the wrong figures,
and made an error of more than S12,0OO.
Says the Sentinel, I'm 1867 when the
Republicans went out of power, the debt OF
this county was S69, AIS" This is very
great error. When the last Republican
Board of the County Commissioners went
out of Office there was not a cent IN the
treasury, the bank account was orerdroo",
there was debt owing to Joshua Smith
of s6.OOO and bounty debt of s74,4lO,
making total of SO,610 showing an er-
cess of sig. 1876 over the amount of indebt-
edness as given by the learned fnancier of
the Sentinel
If the author of the article in the Sent'-
mel will examine the levy book for 1866,
in the Commissioners office, when the Re
publicans were in power, he will find 1t
there stated that the county certificates out
standing then amounted to S19,2lO. Ii
he will then turn to the levy of 1867 ne
will find that $500 of those certificates
were redeemed, leaving $74, 40 outstand-
mo when the Democrats came into power.
Ry further reference to the levy books he
will find that the sum of $4,000 was Dor
rowed from Joshua Smith, in April, 1867,
for nine months, which sum, with $50 IN
terest. was paid by the Democratic Board
on March 9th 1868.
In the book labeled Receipts for inter
est on County Certificates, the writer Will
also find, several leaves from the back, this
entry-.N. B-When the Democratic
Board came into this office, namely, Decem-
Der ,. 1867. there were outstanding Coun-
ty Certificates issued for county and other
purposes. to the amount of SsO,6lO.
The last county statement gave the county
indebtedness at 1905, on July 30, 1881,
and the assets at 81 .5631S, showing liza
bilities above assets at S12,53l.o2, which
is the actual debt of the county. Since
the Commissioners made their Inst state,
ment S.. ZOO more Of the county debt has
been paid off, and the outstanding debt to-
day, as will appear by the books In the
Commissioners Office, consists OF SIT ,49l
in County Certificates, due the Daniel Bush
estate 81 200, and $500 due Geo. W. Ar
understanding a total of $40 95. The
debt of SS0610, therefore, has been re-
duced to S49.095,-a reduction since the
Democrats came into power Of 81 800.
The Democratic Boards of Commission
ers. it is true, have levied in those years
500. 900 to pay off county indebtedness
According to COL Longwell, President OF
the late Board. in his speech on retiring on
Monday, there are due from taxpayers and
collectors. for the levies of 1881 and pre-
yious years. the sum Of S66,SlS This
sum then. if it were collected, and it should
be at once as far as possible, would pay of
every cent of the county's debt and leave
balance of $17.723
This failure to hold the collectors to the
prompt performance Of their duties, Is the
worst that can be said of Democratic Com
missioners and consideration for the stralgh
tened circumstances of taxpayers Is the
only excuse that can be plead III their be
half. \ search of the Commissioners OF
fee from December 2, 1867, until the pres
cnt time will discover neither robbery no
.more than mismanagement, and the ohl.
extravaganza that can be alleged, as far a
we have any knowledge, or as far as ha
been charged, was i'll connection with TIL
Aims House. The Board elected III 1879
promised to effect reform i'll this, and
reduction of neorly three ho"so"d doHa''
in the expenses of that institution the pas
wear is their answer to the pledge
It is thus as clear us sunbeam tina
nothing crooked or covert can be alleged II
truth against the Commissioners in all thes
wears Of Democratic supremacy. But, non
are so blind as those who will not see, ant
in that category are the writers of the mis-
representations with which the Sentinel ma
teemed for several weeks past
The only importance of the charges made
is that they find their way into prlnt-no
the source from which they emanate; ant
we have thus again shown their fallacy, a
we have ever done heretofore.