The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-06-12
Discrepancy-Ir No,hinsiworse.

There are some dtscTet ancNs, dpp3T-
emily. in the financial exhibit printed
Yesterday of the receipts and disburse-
ments of the county for the year ending
October LIST, 1851.
The total receipts reported hy the
treasurer tOT county purposes are 81, -. 4
Prom this 'riuc, the lice nss tax coi-
trCtet Lib 4.
LsaVeS Is county tax proper. per
trea>urvFs report SHE, "a
But. on the other hand, the tax dupli-
cate shows that for 1851
The county tax proper was Ssi.5H %
Prom this deduct thu. delinquent tax
estimated I.-@oa
AMI We have remaining the amount
uf tax that should have hren col
leeted ssioi g
From this dsarwt collections A. re-
ported auo.e $1,000;
I'na,. onutel Ior S..s.s...
I This discrepancy We do not under
stand. The tax duplicate turned over to
the collector " the county assessor for
collection. is very much greater than the
actual receipts reported. The difference
az the deiinquents did not exceed 81, 'JOl,,
is fI,a1s.ss. This does not look entirely
satisfactory tous. We are speaking Of
the county tax proper. The license tax
is separate matter. Our estimate Of
uncolkcted taxes is probably in excess
Of the amount tia. remained unpaid,
when the backs were closed.
This report Of the county officials has
the appearance Of being cooked. Yet
We will not say 81. There is y wide gap
between the tax duplicate and the
amount Of receipts reported to have
come into the hands Of the county trea.
surer. Who can explain il:
n there is collision. pecu'aiion, cor.
ruption, thieving, or any other unlawful
Transaction that men in public office have
been guilty Of, it should be hunted out
and exposed. and the offenders brought
to justice.
The hoard Of county commissioners
ought to take Steps to ascertain the cause
of the discrepancy alluded to above. and
instigate IN investigation for the miss
ing link" The whereabouts of such \
large sum Of money il a very important
matter tn the taxpayers of Putnam
county.
In Orange county the grand Jury ap.
pointed n committee of experts to over.
haul the books. Such course might IN
adopted by our county board. II moth
ing rotten in discovered, no BARN will
come of il. and the board and the tax.
payers will have the satisfaction Of
knowing that all is well. But public
curiosity is aroused, and the comfy COM
missioncrs owe il TO themselves and their
constituents to SEQ that nm investigation
is made. Seven thousand dollars ought
not to le permitted to disappear from
the tax duplicate without the county
commissioners ascertaining what dispo.
sition has been made of IT,
We do not believe in covering up rot.
tcnncss in public affairs. Public office
is public trust" and honesty in the al.
n,inistra,ion Of public affairs is cardi
nal principle in the Democratic party.
At the first attempt to expose to public
view the condition Of affairs in Orange
county. .lefacation Of $35, 900 was dis.
covered. II il well known among well.
informed people that another official in
that county was largely behind in his ac
counts, and IL an investigation had been
made at an earlier day he would have
been caught, and some Of the plumber
recovered. But he was permitted to
escape, and his populations "hushed up"
Tho board of commissioners of this
county should take hold of this matter
In good earnest, and proceed in fear.
less manner until the truth. the whole
truth. is known relative to the admins
tration of our county affairs.