Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-11-01
Go, See, Investigate, Under
stand, Consider and Vote.

This is the closing sentence ofan edl-
torlal In the Signal Of Oct. 18th, under
the following heading: "Deplorable con-
dition of the finances Of Henry county"
We will follow the advice of the Signal
and investigate. We remember that
years ago 1t was common argument
that there should be one Republican on
the Board of Co. Commissioners. We
remember that majority Of the good
people of Henry county believed in this
argument and twice in succession elect
ed Mr.. Daniel YarneIl to the Office of
County Commissioner. Mr.. Yarnell was
Republican and there is no more hon
est Republican in this county to-day
than the late Mr.. Yarnell was. We de-
fy the Signal to prove that the present
Republican candidate for Commissioner
VIM. Abbs, is more honest or compe-
tent man than the late Mr.. Yarnell was
during his life.
The commissioners journals and the
record-book of the tax levies show that
the following tax levy was made for the
general county fund during the last
three years of Mr.. Yarnell's official term
as Republican commissioner and by
his vote: In 1879 4 mills, in 1880 3.9
mills, and in 1881 81 mills. The tax du-
plicate for the year 1881 shows total
valuation of taxable property In the co.
OF $3.50, ,279 90. Sec. 1928 of the revis-
ed statutes of Ohio limits the tax levy
for general county fund to 81 mills in a
valuation exceeding five million dollars.
Here is Republican commissioner,
whose personal honesty has never been
disproven, who after an experience of 5
years as county commissioner, and as
the then President and the Oldest mem
ber of that board, by his vote taxes the
people of the county CLIO of a mill, MAX
ing "a sum of So 1925 SO more than the law
allows for the general county fund!
FIVE follow the arguments Of the Sig
nal this must have been right, because
the Republican commissioner voted for
it.
Again, referring to the commissioners
journals and the record of tax levies in
the Auditors Office, the following taxes
were levied for the general county fund
during the last three years when no Re-
publican acted as President or was q
member of the board of commissioners:
In 1886 81 mills, in 1887 81 mills, in
1883 81 mills. This is 6-10 mills less
than Mr.. Yarnell levied in 1881 in vio-
Iation oflaw.
We will follow the able (?) argument
of the Signal for a while and sny ''if'' or
"supposing" the Democratic c0mmiss-
toner's had made the same levy for the
general county fund that was made in
| 1881, would this fund be overpaid or In
debt to other funds now? Let us see. The
valuation of taxable property in the
county is shewn by the various tiupli,
Gates, as follows: In 1882, $685., 1866;
1883, $685., ,2T0;sy 1884, SIS, ,703. .1l2; 1885,
S., ,688, 40; 1885. s.. .S96, ,239. 1887, So, ,97S, !.
517. The amounts that would have
been collected under this CLIO mill levy
would have been as follows: In 1882,
So, ,4l0.61; 1883, S., All. .16; 1884, So, ,42l .86;
1885, $3,413.08; 1885, So, ,537.74; and in
1887, So, ,5S4.11, or Q total of $40, 0,784.56.
The tax payers would have been bur
dened illegally, but of course the conn
ty fund would now contain the sum oi
$3.4S0 O6, instead OF being ovcrpaid.
The commissioner Journal, vol. 4, pg
539, shows that on Sept. z, 1881, the gen
eral county fund was overdrawn 81 $3.50.
13; that on pages $40, SAL, $40, 543 and
544 bills were allowed to the then coun.
| ty Auditor, Mr.. Ennes, amounting to
81, ,139 08, that on pages 562, 563 and 564
of the same journal bills were allowed
on Nov. Z, 1881, to the same gentleman
for services amounting to $4 ,558 28, or a
total of 81, ,697 36 in the two last months
of Republican President of the board
of commissioners, whose own signature
verifies the correctness of these allow
ances.
The commissioners journal, vol. 4, pg
539, containing the settlement with the
county Treasurer, shows q balance of al
the funds in the treasury on Sept. Z, '8l
amounting to SIS, ,S05 "a. Within the
next two months not only was this
amount all paid out upon allowances
made by Mr.. Yarnell, but the then Co
Treasurer, G. III. Gidley, to keep up the
credit of the county, had to borrow from
the bank Of e. s. Blair & Co. up to No
vember %, 1881, the sum of $l2,582 So
and from the bank of Sheffield & Nor
ton the sum of 81, ,276 SO. This money
was borrowed for the county byauthor
/ ity aud with the consent of the Repub.
lican President of the board of com
lnissioners, and the sum of SILT 40 was
paid as interest for the use Of the same
(see docket bills Nos. 1889 and l047 com
missioners, journal, vol. 5, pg. 34.
i We find then that Henry county haC
q good, honest Republican commission
er for six years, and that, when his time
about expired there was not one cent o.
money in the treasury, hut the county
II was In debt to the local banks in NapO
leon for SIG, 85S SO, for money borrowed
to keep up the running expenses Of tn,
county
"These are cold, solld, unvarnisled
4 iron-clad facts,n touse the language o
the Signal.
aHenry county il carrying an inn
mense bonded Indebtedness reaching uy
into the many thousands says thl
Signal, in advocating the election ofon,
Republican commissioner. Well, how
was this debt made?
| Commissioners journal, vol. 3, pg. 55l
| April 8, 1879; $4,000 Napoleon rive,
bridge bonds, Issued by Reiter, Yanell
/ Horning, 2 Blaine republicans, demo
crat. #
Commissioners journal, vol. 3, rg. 554
$6, 600 Napoleon river bridge bonds iss
ued on April s, 1879, by Reiter, Yarnell
Horning, 2 Blaine republicans, | demo
crat. III A,
| Commissioners journal, vol. 8, pg. SO.
May 5, 1879, $4,000 Napoleon rivel
heiI,ya hnv.de icas,.,1 h., TatkAr v.s.,.ti