Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-03-25

will % observed mat there are
large balances in two ~funds-county
revenue and compromise. The taxes
are nearly all collected in the month
previous to and the month following
this report, therefore these balances are
large at the December settlement; but
the county roads, bridges, poor. GRIM
inals, &c, are, like Oliver Twist, con.
stantly crying for more. and the semi
annual interest on the compromised
bonded debt, which amounts to about
100000, must be met each January and
July. II it were not for that relic Of
Judge Ambrose, taxation would be redu-
ced ' 9 one-half. But why not reduce it
now, in consequence of the large oollec.'
ton of back taxess our critic asks. The
taxes will probably be slightly reduced
at the next levy; first, because they
we're kept up, last year. in response to
an unusual demand for. bridges, and
second. because by frugalltY and care
the poor house fund has accumulated a
surplus large enough to answer for one
year. But how much IS the county tax,
since it IS here spoken Of as being large?
For all county expenses, roads, bridges,
poor house. criminal pros .cutions, &c,
It is 40 cents on the 800; for interest
and principal OF the county debt it is 60
cents on the 500; total county tax,
81 on the 500 valuation. Lot US zee
how this looks as compared with the
years OF republican rule, from 1871 to
1874. when there was not q dollar OF de-.
crease of the public debt. In 1871 the
levy for county purposes, was 81 90; in
1872, So 10; In 1873. $s 20; In 1874.
% 10. In 1875, the first year Of demo-
cratic administration 1t was reduced to |
81 GO; in 1876, it was 81 60; and in
1877, 81 10; in 1878. 80 cents; in 1879, |
80 cents; in 1880, 81, the extra 20 cents
having been added to increase the COM
promise fund in order to begin a sys-
tepatic reduction of the debt; in 1881 It
was retained at 81 for the same reason
30 far as the compromise fund was con.
cerned, and, as we have stated, for
bridge purposes. The people generally,
90 lar a. we have heard them express
themselves, desire the compromise levy
to remain at its present rate, with
which, if the county finances are mana
ged with as much decretion and honesty
tor the next twelve years as they have
been for the past seven, the county debt
will very nearly have disappeared. SO fsr
as the levy for county purposes is con-
cerned we are in favor OF making it as
low as possible, in order to reduce the
burdens OF the people as much as may
be; but as it is only 40 cents On the 800
Valuation, it will be readily seen that
but slight reduction can be made, To
convince our correspondent. who ought
to be aware of much more than he
affects to know, that good use has been
made OF the taxes collected during the
past few years. we will remind him that
when this administration Tor practically,
the same one, the book-keeper and
financial officer being the same) took
control, the county bonded debt was
9 ST.. l00, 900. while now it is less. old
bonds outstanding included, than $780,
600. Something over 5000, 900 of this
reduction is due to the compromise but
placing this at the outside estimate,
$3.50 OOO, and we still have a reduction
in the principal of the debt of $3.50, 900,
when there has been special provision
for such reduction only two years. Some
OF the reduction took place, however.
before that time, but it was effected
through the care taken to protect money
in the railroad fund by the gentlemen
whose throsts our correspondent would, !