The Baltimore County union., 1883-01-20
CorTesPosdeHcs Baitimovs CoHHiy Uaion.
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.

BALTIMORE couxTY, Jan. 10th, isss.
Msssrs. Editors The term ofthe present Grand
Jury 10 rapidly approaching its end and Il is hoped
that the committee Of its members appointed 10
examine the condition Of the Trcasurers books will
before the close of tho term, have 80 thorouRhly.
fully aud comPetentiy Investigated them that thcA
report will be many degrees above the reports ol
their predecessors In the ampleness and scope Of
It's details. May not the public expect n correct
statement Of the condition Of the different Ievies
and the collections and abatemcnts made on them
for the years 1875, 1879. 1850 and 1881. In view
Of the fact that the time for making the next levy
Is nearly at hand Il Is the part Of wisdom for the
Grand Jury, the only body having the power TO
make an examination and report Of the condition
Of the Treasurers books 10 do fully, fairly and
impartially. IL Is the only way appointed under,
existing Law by which the taxpayers Of the coun-
~ are able to learn the eounty's true financial
condition, and " the present Grand Jury fails 20
measure up TO what l. expected Of them in their
report 90 the court, their failure will be gricvous
disappointment 10 every citizen Of tho county.
The fact that no FINAL settlement has bcen made
of any levy since that Of 1877 should inciic the
Grand Jury TO examine and report upon the con.
dition Of the levies made for the last four years
and state % the court the result tf their inVestga
tion Of the reasons for their on.scttlcment. A
majority Of the present Board of County Commis.
sioners have been In Office during the years 1873,
1879. lsSu and lSsl. and Il 10 an easy matter TO
summon them before the Grand Jury aud asccr-
tain all they know about the protractad delay In
having the icvies settled. Il part Of their stew
ardship. and they can give an account of Il. The
Law of 1850 enacted that within two years from
the time each levy l. made the Treasurer shall
make final settlement, and all erroneous tag
bills for which credit s claimed by the Treasurer
shall be presented within eighteen months from
the time ~ the levy. but he shall not be allowed
credit fof any Of them by the County Commits
sioneTs unless he produces satisfactory proof un.
der oath that said bills could not be collected In
default Of settlement within the period specified
In the Law the official bond Of the Treasurer was
liable 10 be put in suit by the County Commits
sioners. This. as I. well known, they did In the
case Of ex-Sherif worthington. but there their
own compliance with the Law has apparently,
ceased. The Grand Jury possess the powsF. .sslss.f
the reasons for their delay.
A. the law stands at present the Treasurer
bond l. not liable To he put in suit by the County
Commissioners. for the last Legislature amended
the section alluded {" by omi,iing that part. and
also the part requiring the Treasurer TO give sati
factory proof under oath Of all his uncoilectablc
tar bills for which he may claim credit. Satis.
factory proof without the oath l. all that the
amended Law of lSS2 requires. The Law seeming
To be made for the of the official the Grand
Jury is the only hope ief, where. under oath and
required by law. the public can learn what the
true financial condition of the county aud of the
different cyics really Is. win they lc, the people
know !; u.