The Brookhaven leader., 1884-07-17
Economy in County Affairs.
To the Editor Of The Brookkaven Leader.

To the Editor Of The Brookkaven Leader.
The existing heavy debt envirOning our
County, and which is still increasing and
growing from day TO day without any
perceptiblc reli, in the near future, and
how to bring about a diminr ~ and
how to reduce expenses within the
bounds of our resources and revenues is
the question that has troubled aud agita-
ted the public mind for some time past
We find that our County debt is growing
continuously, and the current expenses
that are actually required are certainly
far beyond the amount that is realized by
taxation and where this state of things
will finally end, is a question in which
we are all co-equally interested, accord
ing to the amount of taxable property
that we own within the limits of the
County. How can we expect any new
enterprises to be developed or to invite
men of capital and means to come and
settle among us when this subject is
brought fully to their knowledgei 1t
will be an embargo aud fair excuse for
them to look for locations where they do
not have to shoulder a heavy burden
right at the start, and where public at
fairs are in a more health condition.
But to bring about this much coveted re-
form is not the work of a day, 1t will
take time, and our efforts to economic
are mainly for the present TO be directed
.far fhav most heavy
and oppressive.
I hope may be pardoned for referring
to the keeping of our County paupers.
We are in duty bound to make comforta-
able provision for them but 1t certainly
could be done upon cheaper and a
more economical basis than the system at
present adopted by our Board of Supervis-
ors, and that is the leasing system. The
cost of keeping paupers at present, as
understand it, is $1,000 per capita per
month. We do not wish to reflect upon
our Board for doing the very best that
was offered in order to make speedy pro-
vision but as this contract is now near
" expired, would it not be advisable to
advocate the building of County poor
housed The County is already the owner
of forty acres of land and lumber and
material can be bought at q very small
the supervision and keeping of it be let
to the lowest responsible bidder. There
might be farm attached and all the
available paupers, who are able to work,
be required to work crop, which might
consist of truck and vegetable patches,
solely for the use and benefit of the insti-
tuition. Some of the females might be
pressed into service to do the cooking
and washing for the rest, who are not
able to labor or who are at work. All
the necessary provisions and supplies
that are required ought to be bought IN
bulk-that is to say, like our merchants
buy their goods, and exclude all avenues
for speculation. Let there be commit
tee or a board appointed whose duty IL
shall be to pass upon all apple cations for
admission, and to look after the general
interest and welfare of the institution,
and then render their report to the Board
of Supervisors, and let them be under
the control of the Board. The special
levy, termed the Pauper Tax, ought to
be paid in cash, although parties may
hold pauper warrants, which 1T may be
insisted, ought to be taken for that ac-
count but by no pauper warrant being
issued under this system, this fund would
naturally be cash, and let the levy be
heavy enough to soon cause surplus.
Our pauper tax VIII feach tne present
fiscal year, nearly $4,000, and under this
system, could he, or ought to be less than
$1,000 and probably much less yet.
l further suggest that propositions
would certainly be hailed with delight by
our legal fraternity that would have a
tendency to reduce our judicial expenses.
Look at the amount paid for State wit
nesses at every term of our Court. Often
times circumstances are such that cases
have TO be continued; the witnesses, how
ever, gracefully march up to the Circuit
Clerk and draw their certificates, and it
often happens that these large bodies OF
witnesses are useless and of no impOr-
tance in the case pending, and without
any question being asked by the Court
or any inquiry made they are retained
| from Court to Court. We simply ask is
there no relief, no escaped
Also in matters of things brought be-
fore our grand jnrors, which are very
often presented with a spirit of malice
and persecution, and upon investigation
are entirely devoid of any merit whatso-
ever.
Can we not enlist the sympathy of his
Honor, j. B. Chrisman, who has proven
himself to be friend to the people, and
rely upon him to give us all tho relief
within his poweri b.