The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-21

murder trials.
Perhaps the amount OF tax for the last eight
years will illustrate this point as well as anything:
1876............ $71 ,OOol1SS ........... $4,000
1877 ............ $1,000 1881 .........,. $4,000
1978............ 6S,Oo0j jlSS2.........., $4,000
lS79........ $4,000 1888. .......... 10000
The Legislature Of 1879 authorised tho appor-
tionment of tax of s35, 900, which was less than
the estimate made by the Commissioners, and was
insufficient to pay the expenses for the year ensr-
ing, and the Commissioners were obliged to hire
money to carry them through the succeeding year.
1t would be well to remark here that in any
emergency the Commissioners cannot hire over ten
thousand dollars, unless authorized by a majority
vote of the voters of the county and this vote must
be taken at the next annual meeting for the choice
Of State or town oficers,-hed after notice by the
County Commissioners of their proposition to hire
money.
The amount of money hired by the Commission
ers in 1880, to meet the deficiency Of 1879 was
six thousand dollars.
In 1881 there was still deficiency although the
tax was increased to S55, 900 and the Commission
ers were obliged to hire five thousand dollars
The next year the tax was increased to $62 900
and had he receipts and expenditures remained as
they we're the amount would have been very nearly
right, but the receipts from the courts were more
than ten thousand dollars larger, and the expendi
lures less so that surplus was created In 1882
more than sufficient to carry the business through
the summer to September when the succeeding tax
became available.
Then the tax was reduced to $4,000, which 1t
was thought would reduce the surplus but still
there WAS more money than actually necessary
and in December. 1882, our last estimate was
made for 1888 and 1884, to go before the Legisa-
ture of 1885,
1t was necessary to make an estimate for two
years ahead, on account Of the change in the law
to conform 10 biennial sessions of the Legislature.
In this estimate further reduction of $500
was made aud only $4,000 for each year wa.
| called for.
1t is pos ible that the buslpess of 1884 might bt
| carried on without the apportionment Of the tn1
authorized by tie Legislature but there is too mucl
uncertainty about the recep to make such thing
safe, ami failure to get through without larg.
| deficiency would be exceedingly vexatious and to
certain extent costly. 1t is somewhat doubtful
tco, whether the Commissioners may set aide the
tax which they are authorized II not required BY
the Legislature to apportion to the several to wns
Tue Commissioners do not assess tax but simply
oRportion it.
The management of county affairs being eeonom
and pr en-, rendering the expenditu es
lighter than usual, and the amount received from
the courts being unusually large, there is it is true
quite la ge surplus in tse treasury lying idle.
gradu reduc ion of the will correct this In two
or three years however but in the mean time the
money cannot be put at interest was suggested,
as the law will not allow such risks to be taken
with the county money.
very slight change in the laws, or the admins
tration of the same specially the prohibltory Law
might soon use up all our surplus.
The ha ance found In the traasnrv ar tha and of
each year does not remain the same through the
entire year as Argus Republican puts it, for the
balance is generally smallest in the latter part of
the summer.
The receipts from the courts are heaviest from
the September term and are usually available in
October.
On the last day OF December, 1879, the balance
In the treasury was s22 ,O09.48 and on the last
day December, 1880, it was SIT, ,9s4.40, and yet
during the year the Commissioners obliged to
hire $4,000 to get through the year.
Sothat surplus Of S28,UO0 was actually nee
essary the first of that year to provide for bills
falling due through he summer.
Is for support Of prisoners and expenses OF the
Municipal Court only paid semi annually, and
these with other bills audited by the commission.
ers the first week in January, amount to nearly a
quarter part of the expenses for the entire year
Bills against the county are examined by the
commissioners on Friday after the first Tuesday OF
each month, and If approved, are allowed and or
dered paid.
These bills SO audited are entered in book kept
for that purpose the entries being numbered to
respond with the number of the Dil, and these en-
tries are copied by the Clerk of Courts In book
which goes TO the treasurer from which the treas
urer derives his authority to pay such bills.
Ia Cd
elapse before they are paid, SO that it is almost
always the case that some bills audited before
the first of January are paid after that date, and
list of all the bills audited In given year would
not be the same, as list of bills paid during the
| same time.
If larger amount appears as "bills paid'' than
bills audited in given year, it only shows that
of the bills were audited the year before OF
properly before the day OF the date of the re-
| port
| For convenience, the commissioners divide the
| account into several branches ana alter commenc
ing the accounts fer any term of record" il 1t i:
found that there are legal charges against the
ty by bills presented which do not beosg to either
of these accounts. they put in general or mis-
cellaneous account. Formerly, these accounts were
divided according to materials furnished but more
recently they divided as to show ths expense
of each Office, thus making the officer in charge re
sponsible to certain extent, before the public for
wastefllness, or extravaganza, In the management
| of the affairs of his office.
If anybody desires to know what the items are In
these accounts he can examine the files and books
| which are public property, and a few minutes will
most likely satisfy him that he will hardly n6 any
body who will make list of them even in reply To
his questi OF what are they for" in the Argus
for should think that there are at least twenty
thousand items in the account of single year. Ii
should be remembered that all the record books
stationery, printing, and materials used in the sew
eral offices are not bought for the officer In charge
but on account of the public convenience or neces-
| sity.
| If were to answer Argus "Republcan's" ques-
tions ca'egorically, should say in reply to the
question, what these charges for" referring to
the "ofice accounts they for books stationery,
printing and materials generally which remain in
the offices go to benefit the public and nothing
| for the personal BEN ft of the officers answer
this thus because it is the substance, II not the
act words, Of a rule adopted by the commissioner
| In relation to supplies furnished
As to the salary paid in the four offices enumer-
ated, including the Register of Deeds, Argus, IRE
publican" conveyed wrong impression, for the
Register of Deeds has no salary.
AS to more bills ''paid" than "audited,"a part Of
them were audited tn preceding year.
AS to the expense of the bridges" there is man
in charge of each bridge who is to be pa d. and the
annual wear and tear is considerable which may be
better understood when it is stated that Il takes
very nearly half million feet Of plank TO cover
them once, and one covering of spruce or hsmlock
plank viii last on an average only four Ave ysarS
hoet