Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-23
TALK WITH A SQUIRE.
Important Matters to Come Before
the Next Court Of Claims.

the Next court OF Vlalms.
A KENTUoKIAN reporter had a talk
this week with one of the most intel
ligent magistrates in the county con-
corning some important matters
which will come before the Court Of
Claims next month. In answer to u
question as 10 what would be the
most important matter TO consider,
he said:
"The subject of taxation is always
the most important thing TO engage
the attention OF the court at the May
term. There are now $4,000 of out
standing bonds, $4,000 having been
redeemed. These bonds mature in
1893. The interest on the bonds yet
unpaid will amount to $3.50. On a
property valuation of about Sc, Co., 900,
the rate of taxation necessary TO raise
this will have to be about 16 cents on
the 500. Besides this the tax to raise
a sinking fund Of say about $4,000
will have to be fixed at about IA cents.
This fund is used for the redemption
of bonds, about eight or ten being
called in each year. The limit fixed
by law for the tax for county pur-
poses is 7 cents. 1t generally takes
all of this and the poll tax of 81 to
pay the current expenses of the coun-
ty. Taking all of these rates togeth-
or, it will be seen that the county can
get along with a rate of 81 cents oil
the 800. The present rate is AN
cents on property aud the poll tax ~.
Now the question comes up: Shall
the present ratelbe reduced l0K cents,
or shall it be left unchanged and the
surplus be used TO redeem more
bonds? 1t is matter that the justices
should think about before the court
meets. / think IL would be better in
view of the hard times 10 reduce the
rate 10 some extent anyhow"
What do you think about hiring
convicts for building turnpikes with
the surplus2
~ do not know the provisions Of
the Feland Bill, which authorizes the
state to hire convicts to the counties.
1t may carry with it the authority to
permit the counties to levy tax to
defray the necessary expenses, or 1t
may be necessary to have special
act of the Legislature passed, to au-
thorize the Court of Claims to make
an appropriation for this purpose, it
Christian should want to hire con-
victs to build turnpikes. Of course
it would take money to maintain and
guard the convicts and 1 don't know
where this money would come from.
The sinking fund cannot be touched
for any other purpose and the tax
for county purposes is barely suffl-
cient to pay necessary expenses and
cannot be increased beyond Z cents
without a special act authorizing it.
This question in all its troublesome
features is liable to come up next
month and the magistrates might as
well begin TO formulate opinions and
prepare themselves to consider it.
Then there is another question that
will prove troublesome. The Legis-
lature has passed an act authorizing
county superintendent to borrow
money to pay public school teachers
their salaries monthly. Where this
money is to come from, what rate of
interest shall be paid and how is the
interest money is to be raisedp This
complex problem will come up for
, solution and my opinion is that the
Court Of Claims will politely inform
the State that she can borrow her
} own money and pay her own debts.
, There Is still another matter of
| less Importance that the magistrates
ought to think about. The Court has
allowed itself of late years to fall in
to the habit of exempting large num-
|, hers of voters from paying poll tax.
This should be stopped and the ex-
emption should be withdrawn from
many who now enjoy its benefits"
The magistrates would do well to
consider these matters aud ascertain
the will of their constituents as far as
possible before they are called upon
to act. The gentleman whose views
we have given to our readers is one
7 of the best and most substantial citi'
Q zens Of the county and justice whose
' opinion always carries with it much
: weight in the Court of Claims.
I'll -ss~~z>ss.---