The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-01-09
OUR COUNTY FINANCES,
Some Comments on Some Figures.
A Good Deal of Money Spent With Little
To Show For II.

The publication of the county
finances in yesterdays Historian
shows a condition of affairs that Is
more interesting than prosperous. II
appears that the county is S62, ,72o,OS
10 debt. To Offset this there is a
neager balance OF S2,23347 in the
treasury. so that the county Is S6O,-
'lOO worse of than nothing at all.
Its pity that the county can't get
he state to allow its Indebtedness,
the same way that so many OF the
county's citizens manage to have
| their indebtedness" allowed. The
one is mutual consequence OF the
other. Indebtedness" allowed by
'he county year after year, and now
the county is itself in debt S6O,OOO-
ind what is there to show for it?
Some of the items in the exhibit
are capable OF explanation. An item
ot S2,5377S for six months expenses
of the county court does not Indicate
80 rigid an economy in that august
body as might be inferred. The item
of Sl.5i2.3O foc elections and incl
dentals" also looms up. This is from
June 30. 1888, to December 81, 1883,
hut probably includes the expenses
ut the June election, the bills for
which would not come in before the
lst of July, and would be audited at
that time.
The AsToRIAN has heard a good
deal about economy" in the last few
years. 1t would be glad to note the
active practice of that useful virtue.
Let us have little light on these
matters.
On the top of this 100000 of debt
comes a tax of S54243 that has at
lust been completed, and which is
now to be collected. This is the tax
for 'S8, the items for which also ap-
peared in yesterdays Historian. This
tax will doubtless be collected, and
every one who is fool enough to have
no indebtedness" and has to pay his
share, and good deal more than his
share of it, is interested to know how
it is spent.
The Historian has no fault to find
with officials. The presumption is
that the county court and the county
clerk are doing the best they can un-
der the system followed, but, all the
same, if a mans private business
was run the way the county's busi-
ness seems to have been, he'd be out
of money and everything else inside
of three years.
Business is business, and some of
the items in the exhibit Of the county
finances don't look like business.
This is something that concerns
every body who has dollars worth
of property II the county and who,
not being smart enough to be in debt,
has to pay taxes on whatever little he
owns.
The Historian believes that econ
omy should be practiced as we'll as
preached, and it fails to see where
the economy" comes in in the report
of the county's finances.
County clerk Trenchard's report
deserves consideration for its dis
carding of that former silly item of
delinquent taxes" Heretofore lot
of delinquent taxes" for years from
1849 have been carried as credits" :"
The report prepared by county clerk
rrenchard discards all these fictitious
credits, and gives the cold facts.
Among these cold facts it appears
that there are still outstanding
county warrants drawn in the year
sc to the amount Of Sl0,8l619; in
81 to the amount of Sl9.3S742; in
'8S to the amount of S1l,930.S5. So
that for sc, 'S7 and 'SS the county has
not only spent all the tax collected in
'S6 and '87, but $4,000 besides. The
tax for '89 is not yet collected, the
list being just turned over to sheriff
Smidt.
These figures are very suggestive
and are of interest to common, or
dinary people who have TO pay %
mill county tax and a II mill city tax,
and a 6 90 cent Insurance tax and
who wouii like to know where this
money gnes.
Tnis S62,0G0 that the county owes
is paving eight psr cent interest right
along, Hp / the sooner "economy"
! comes IN and cnts some Of it down
the less interest will have to be paid.
If there was anything TO show for
this money it wouldn't be so bad; but
where are oar county buildings?
where are our roads? where is any.
thing except an old court house
built when Geo. III was king, and q
Jail that one cant look at withou,
laughing. We have 4 debt Of $50, ,O0C
to begin the new year with, and ouI
worthy friend, the tax collector, was
last Monday handed a tax list OF
S5i,243 79, taxes for 'SS, with instruc
tons to collect that amnnut, and he
will come mighty near doing it.
The AsToRIAN has 10 feeling in
this matter beyond a genuine desire
TO see the public, our patrons, our
readers, get what they pay for, and al
any rate be given opportunity to
know clearly and in detail where and
how the money is spent.
| FSnV HnK.fnA