Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-03-16

HOt KNOW, tudt uuucI Iudt lo5olul1oa ouolo
is in The II .nus 80 5uier to-day
80, los As Ia part of WHICH, v z: $439 81, L.
in the SHAPE OF cash ccllectt q, and which
can at any time be placed in sinking fund)
the auhole of which, is Ged Gated to said
sinking fund, and which when collected
and transferred Will make said fund over
So, 600 in excess of all legal requirements,
and pay that little $50 also?
But the greatest slip he made was in his
assertions and conclusions in regard to
the following items. He says: Now in
connection with the question of finances,
Councilman fails to make any reference
to the fact that the council, since it went
into office, has derived from others than
usual sources, very large sums OF money,
viz:
1. Jno. M. Carroll, late Treas
urer,. ...................S o,Ooo 81
2. Cushing tickets, over-esti
mated value, ............. 3,loz ~
8. Delinquent land tickets. 3,432.40
$l4 ,67401
4. Actual resources Of 1857
over estimated resources, 5,l74.5O
$19 ,84S.51. d
1 answer, he knows very well that IN
the year l8S6-87, and at the same time
provide for all appropriations. the old
council put in the schedule of revenue to
be derived by the city that year, the sum
of $40 COO asserted to be due the city by Its
late Treasurer; and he likewise knows that
in making up the tax bill for the same
year, 81 900 of the above sum was appro-
priated for a new pump and pump-house,
the remainder going to the credit of other
appropriations. He himself shows, that the
present council has never realized but say
$4,000 from that source, leaving the ap-
propria!ion's account short by $4,000. AS
the tax bills are printed and circulated
each year, both Mr.. Cochran and the pub
lie are in a position to know what they
contain. Why should he not as we'll ask
me to give list of the other unusual
amounts asserted as due to the city, viz:
The Gushing tickets estimated, in same
tax bill, at 81 600. and in fact all sources
of revenue for the same reason? No one
disputed the fact that 81 600 was appropri-
ated as just Indicated. 1t was simply as
serted that the money collected for that
purpose, had been properly accounted for.
In regard to the second and third Item,
above, he knows full well-and each OF
the city papers so quoted me at the time
these items were SET apart for the purchase
Of The electric lights for streets, and were
so used. Now, what comment does Mr..
Cochran make upon the three items above
referred to. He says: Inns large sum vi
money over and above the ordinary and
usual resources of the city, councilman
has spent every dollar of, whereas if 1t had
not been spent in 'COuncilman'S' numer-
Gus enterprises, it would have diminished
the bonded Indebtedness by that sum, H.
90 A No q nj
BY like argument he might prove that il
the council wouldn't spend any of its owl,
appropriations for a few years, the city
would get out OF debt entirely. Evidently
it's bad couucil that will spend its ap-
preparations,
In the name of common sense, why does
he abuse his own record in this Way!
Has he Iors often that he helped by his
recorded UOteS, to use the very money he
is referring to, in the purchase OF pumps,
electric light plants, &c.
In regard TO the Item of S. ia 50. if be
bad taken the trouble to Inform himself
properly, he would have found that
although the revenues for the year 1887
foot up on the books, an amount IN excess
of the estimated revenue, equal to the
sum named, still it is at this writing
Standing on the Treasurer s books as IN
collected taX-tlckets, and is included III
the sum of $S, ITO SO uncollected taxes as
appear that this sum of So IVA 81 has teen
scent IL "Councllman's nuu erous en-
terprlses, when it might have been used
for reduction of the city's debit" when he
knows full well, that it Is simply III the
shape of uncOllected taX-tickets.
Mr.. Cochran tells Us he always favored
the market-h0use lot as suitable location
for the colJred schools; he Ibid not wish
to drive the colored children out into tue
suburbs ike rabbits as Was recommended
by Mt. Tams from special COMMITTEES,
&C., &c." Did he overlook the following
action taken by the council on April 10,
'o7, set out as follows: the Committee
on Public Grounds ard Buildings, having
been instructed to recommend One loo In
each Ward as suitable locations TO- color-
ed public schools, suggested the lot on N.
W. corner of Caroline AID Sunnyside SJs. ,
and lot No q s. Green ST., (the latter
about 800 feet from Main street, where
upon resolution empowering the Finance
Committee to purchase said lots for The
purpose named, was tssed Without a dis
senUlng voice." (so far as the recOrl
shoWs), and Mr.. Cochran was present at
said meeting.
Mr.. Editor, you requested that cOmmu-
nicatioas on the above subject should be
BRIEF and mine necessarily has grown too
long already, although | have not touched
upon severa. questions of minor import
ance, with respect to city finances. Ii it
is any pleasure to Mr. Cochran to venti-
late his personal record in the public
prints, giving his reasons for the voses b e
cast, be is of course free to do SO. For
my part, have no apology to make for
any vote have cast. / have from the first
aimed only to defeud the financial status
OF the city, by saowing its true present
condition; and being Chairman of the
Finance Committee, felt called upon to
prove the falslIy of the many ru mors that
mad been put into circulation to the detri-
ment of the city's interests.
w. ?. TAMS.