The Forrest City times., 1891-06-26
The New Court House.

EDITORS TIMES:
 DEAR SIRs: You advocate the building of new court house. and would have the pub lie believe that St. Francis county is out of debt and in a condition to indulge in any kind of extravaganza to please few citizens of Forrest City. and no one, objects except few kickera who kick at everything. But St. Francie county is not out of debt. We owe now thirty i've thousand dollars ($36, GOO bond cd debt, bearing six per cent. interest per an- mum, and the taxpayers whom you call kick CTS are now paying ls mills tax on the dollar and at that rate it win take four years to get out of debt, with no unnecessary expenses. The kickcrs would be very proud of n new court house if the county was in condition to build one, and would also he much pleased if the present building was better cared for. would suggest to those in charre to sweep the floor. brush down the cobwche and clean out the dust and waste that has been accumu- lating for year more.
 The county records show that Mir. J. N. Cot ton has been appointed commissioner to buy a lot to build the court house on. Now. I wish to ask Judge Coffcy on what fund and on what account does he intend to draw when the time comes to pay for lots and new court housce2 Section l,&Sl Mansfields Digcst saye: No county court. or agent of any county, shall hereafter make any contract on behalf of the county unless an appropriation has been previously made therefor, and is wholly or in part unexpended." No appropriation has been made for the new court house. tsec County Records, Oct. term. ls90) and should Judge CofYey persist in misappropriating the county funds the kickers win ask relief from n hiUhssr ta kp fcy,a tx, chax. him and compel him to comply with the law.
 Section l.4S2 Mansncld's Digest says: War rants drawn by tho clerk shah specify the fund or appropriation upon which the same are drawn respectively"
 Now. there is one matter that interests every taxpayer in St. Francis county. It is this: County court, October term, isso, lev. led tax to pay or the bonded indebtedness of the county. Our laws state how the bond- ed indebtedness of any county in this state shall be paid. and defines the dutics of county judges and treasurcrs. See Mansncld's Di. Rcst. sections l,o7a4-S). Yin Judgc Coffsy follow the law
 Now, there is one more item that Kicker would call Judge Coffey's attention to. It is our district school funds. It is custom with | our county trcasnrers for the incoming treasurer to charge n commission on the bal. ance turned over to him by the outgoing | treasurer. thus making double commission on part of our school money. A. c. Wood, J.
 |. Jackson and J. B. Wilson have followed this course. How far back ii extends do not
 know; but I do not believe that the law in. tends that we shall pay double commission l on our school money, and no court of equity would so decide
 Now, all that Kicker asks is that our | county officers follow the law. Kicker ir
 willing to pay IS mills on tho dollar when
 necessary, but will kick very hard against ex.
 travagance and transportation of county
 funds and double commissions on our school
 money. Yours very truly.
 kITKER