Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-08-07
A statemen. from the Commissioners.

EDITOR OF THE CTTIZEy:-It has always
been the custom of this Office to pass by any
unfriendly criticisms made in relation to
the business of the Office but there have
been so many Misrepresentation in regard
| to the business of the County Commissioners
lately that we deem 1t our duty to the tax
PAYERS of the County to say that they are
very far from the truth. II has recently
been published in some of the papers OF
the county that there were sl2,O of bonds
of the County coming due in Sept. next
whereas there is only $1,000 II has also
been published that the ironwork of the new
bridge in Butler is to cost $1,000. whilst 1t
only costs fraction over $1,000, part OF
which is already paid.
These publications, together with the
statement that the county treasury was
empty. were made and industriously circu-
lated to create the impression that 1t
would be necessary for the Commissioners
to borrow $4,000 or 500, 000-money to
pay above items.
We believe we have ample means to pay
all that will be required to carry on the
business of fho county without borrowing
any money, notwithstanding assertions to
the contrary by some dissatisfied parties
who have been trying to create the impress
sion that the Commissioners have not been
levying enough taxes to meet the current
expenses Of the county, but if our critics
can say nothing worse Of us than that we
have endeavored to keep the taxes as low
as we could to meet the actual wants of the
county, we are not very much afraid OF
being censured very severely by any
great number or the taxpayers of the
county.
But what we more particularly wish, is
to call the attention of the County Treas
urer to the fact that he refused to cash
regularly issued warrant, whilst there was
81, 500 in the treasury; alleging that there
was only sufficient money in the treasury
to pay the several townships AMI boroughs
the amount coming to them from unseated
land tax, but upon investigation we find
that the County Treasurer has no right to
money on unseated land tax account, ex-
cept upon warrant from the County Com
missioners. We are aware that the prac-
tice of the present County Treasurer and
his predecessors has been to pay to the
townships and boroughs, without war
rant, but in doing so, they do it at their
own risk and without any warrant in law,
and in support of our position we call the
attention of the County Treasurer to Sec.
So, page 1,6S2, Purdons Digest, which
says: money so received for Road taxes
shall be paid to the supervisors of the roads
of the townships within which such land
shall lie, on orders to be drawn by the
Commissioners on the Treasurer" also
Sec. IA, page ], GA which says that, "Poor
taxes on unseated land when collected
said tax shall be paid to the 0verseers of
the Poor of the proper district By orders
drawn by the County Commissioners on
the county treasury" Likewise Sec. 64,
page 294, of the School-la W says, "Tax as
sessed on unseated land so collected shall
be paid to the District Treasurer by orders
drawn on the County Treasurer"
From the above cited sections it would
appear that the only lawful way to pay
money received by the county from the
sale of unseated land is by warrants drawn
by the Commissioners in the usual way.
What we have said above is not for pur-
pose of silencing any criticism. We ac-
knowledge the right of every citizen to
scrutinize our every act, in order that we
may be set right if in error.
JOHN HUMPHREY, com,rs
J. G. KIsKADDoN, oon ID
Butler Pa, Aug 5th 1891