Daily Republican., 1890-04-10
COUNTY REFORM.
LEVY covRTMAN wiER's
MILK AND WATER sPEEcH.
Nc Takcs County Reform In HomDo-
pathic Doses. but Takes in Free
Trade In Alopathic Doses.
Taxes to be Reduced.
In all an Intorest-
Ing Address.

Democratic Club and three reporters
listened sttentively TO Levy Courtman
WieI's interesting address on county
government last night. 1t is to be |
regretted that more did not avail them
selves Of the opportunity Of listening to
It. Through the kindness OF Mr.. Wier
bis manuscript was handed 10 tho re.
porters and from It the following salient
points arc extracted;
suppose was called upon BY my
friend Patrick Neary to address the
Young Mems Democr Club because
am . member Of the Levy Court and as
such WAS supposed 70 know something
OF the working OF the county government
idea, however, I thiak Mr.. Neary 10
mistaken, a. he Is thoroughly conversant
with county matters and although Mr..
Neary 10 politician believe be has the
best interests Of the people at heart.
Mr.. Wler saying that as the great point
Of attack seemed to be upon the Levy
Court, It was proper that he should refer
to the first organization OF the court
under King George Ill. Mr.. Wier then
gave an interesting sketch of the organi-
sation and working OF the Levy Court
until 1898, wheu It was somewhat
changed to suit the American m0de OF
government, and from that Time up. Mr..
Wier said:
Up to within ten years 1t was tho Gus.
tom to make appropriations for repairs
to bridges and csuseways Ia the different
hundreds to the members direct, who
drew upon tho county treasurer as they
needed the money to pay Tor work being
done, returning their vouchers TO the
Levy Court at the March session, as now.
Their accounts were audited as now by n
COMMITTEES Of the court, reported and set
tied. Some persons thought this mode
OF drawing on the treasury was not quite
right and prevailed upon the Legislature
to amend tho law and established the
present mode Of orders on the treasury.
! have always thought that that act stop
ped little short, and ct the last session
Of the Legislature. after consulting with
some OF the members OF the court, l
drew an amendment 10 It requiring the
Levy Court to meet upon the first Tues
day In each month, whom all claims upon
accounts Of new bridges, repair to the
| same and to causeways, should be pre-
sented, publicly audited in the court,
and II correct, an order or o.ders drawn
on the treasurer, signed blythe chairman
and countersigned by The clerk, and then
charged up against the appropriation to
the several hundreds.
Why the bill wss not passed is mys-
| tory 10 me. One reason why ] was
anxious to have this mode OF paying the
bills was that the natipse. EoYerument
was again In the hands Of the Republi-
cans and / found that just tae state Of
affairs as now prevails would come TO
pass; that tho pinch OF the high tariff
would be felt 40 II never was felt before,
aud that many of the people instead OF
placing tho trouble where it belongs,
upou the tax upon raw materials, would
| turn upon the local tax levying power
and bl ime the Levy Court with all the
Ills from from which they are suffering.
And another reason 10 that am honest,
aud want my expenditures upon account
of the public moneys open to the inspec-
tion of any citizen who desires to know
II am faithful In the trust they have
given me. want to be above suspicion
aud propose to ask tho court to adopt
such q system for the ensuing year,
even though there 10 no statute com
pelling such course. One thing 10 sure,
| ii tuch mode 10 adopted no man can
complain that he does not know how the
rublio money 10 expended. He eau by
reading his daily or weekly paper know
| lust Low the representative Of his hun
dred 10 performing his duty as q servant
of thu people.
Possibly at soma section of the county
the replacing of wooden bridges by iron
ones, and In some instance, 1t may be, in
| tho erection of new Ones, has been little
bit In advance of the actual needs, bnt
do not believe that in any one instance it
has been extravagantly or corruptly
done. As consequence OF the desire of
the people, our county Is splendijly
equipped with good and substantial high
way structures, aud not much money
should be expended for several years to
come for that purpose unless more new
public roads are opened. That Is one
fruitful source OF expense; the coat Of the
commission for laying out land and
fence damages, taken together with the
roads, has been no small burden TO the
people. Roads have been made at con.
siderable expense to the people that l
have thought were not public Decessity,
| two or three, or Q half dozen people a.
the most being accommodated by them.
Another matter OF growing expense is
the county Jail. The cost of maintenance
could be greatly reduced by deiatchiug
it from the Office of the sheriff and put.
ting 1t out 10 tho lowest bidder. making
the sheriff or somc other responsible citi-
zen an inspector. Tho matter OF their
punishment, l take 1t they are sent there
to be punished for violated law, yet un-
der our present system with o jail build
ing entirely too small to properly provide
healthy living room for them, 1t eeenis
to b. more Of q irolic than q punishment.
Why you have some citizens who go over
elk times or more I year, at q cost to the
county OF Sl.5a for each time. aud every
time Il 10 for drunkeuess. 1 an an ad !.
vocate Of high license. yet q temperance
man. Still cannot sec any stnse in
sending man over to jail at cost OF
S1.52 every time he gets drunk. 1t Is
no punishment TO bin, It dent prevent
him from gettiug drunk again.
Would 1t not be bsttar to eonfne him
In the City Hall or the Court House
cells? Such course would reduce the
bill Of the chisi OF police. The chiei's
bill to be paid by the county this year is
something over 5000. Every one he
takes or sends over has his car fare, the
fare OF the officer going aud returning
and so cents for going over with him
paid. 1t used to be $3.50 and s. each.
Then the sheriff gets 53 cents every time
no opens the door and let's in drunk;
be geta tho same for tbiel or murderer;
no discrimination In the board either. l
te,l you our jail 10 great leveler can
NOT $50 any possible hope, on account oil
i!s crowded oopjitlon, Of any reiorma-
ton ip the slishtest degree ever taking
place 10 any poor fellow cont there.
nave not the least doubt but men have
been sent thers for sN,u,,r offensea who