West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-11-16

that this interest business was ruin
ing our Sheriifs aud the tax payers
to pile up few more dollars ia the
Golfers Of the wealthy men Of the
county. How true it is, that the
big fish cat up the little ones.
The Journal seemed to have sup
posed great many things in Its
article. That is quite an easy
thing to do. You might suppose
that the moon was made of green
cheese, but You would have trouble
to substantiate that. SO it is with
its supposition that the Sheriffs
would have money on hand to pay
the orders on January Goth. The
Journal is either ignorant as to the
demands upon Sheriff mp to and
long after that date or it stands
guilty of trying to deceive the peo-
pie. Let us see what the demands
are upon Sheriff up to that date.
We can safely extend the time until
the first of April, or to the close of
the schools. Daring that period
the Sheriff disburscs as follows /:
To State, $40, 1000; to teachers,
about s28, 1000; to Building Fund,
about SIC, 900; Courts, s5000-mak-
ing total Of $50, 900. Could any
sane man suppose that o Sheriff
could pay off endorsed orders, be-
sides raising this enormous revenue?
Ii it could have been, our ex- Sheriffs
would long since have laid aside
their saddle-pockets and have been
enjoying homo and comforts. l
regret to see the Journal place SO
low an estimate on our ex Sheriffs
to sustain o position that has no
foundation.
The Journal says that the County
Court in its order of July 16,' 1882,
"of which the Watch Dog Argus
finds so much complaint, the Coun-
ty Court simply reiterated the law
on the subject and then passed the
following ORDER" then goes on to
recite the order. That very order
IS what we are attacking. The
County Court was not satisfied with
tho law and undertook to doctor
it to suit the convenience of few
money brokers. The law does not
provide for the payment Of interest,"
by the Sheriff on the county, hence
the doctoring.
If Sheriffs want to borrow money
and pay the interest on it in order
to make prompt payment, that IS
their business. If the County
Courts over-reach their levy, they
are supposed to take care of that.
The Sheriff has nothing to do with
that part of it. In this plain,
straightforward system the Sheriff
is relieved of clerical work to the
amount Of at least $500 annually
and the tax payer is relieved of pay
ing interest, unless they choose to
do so, on their tax bills. Thoy are
not bound to do this, and should
not do so.
If my grandmother were now llv-
ing and was 140 years old I am
quite sure that she could draft a
better system for our county gov
eminent than we are now living
under. However, | do not mean to
reflect on our present Court, rs the
evils we now complain of were
handed down to them.
In the face of all the foregoing
facts the Journal would have the
people believe that all is we'll. If
the Journals position is law the
County Courts of adjoining coun-
ties are terrible violators of the law.
To give an idea how such things
are done elsewhere in our State, I
now produce letter from the
County Clerk of Taylor county in
answer to the following enquiries,
viz: Does your county pay interest
on county orders? Does your coun-
ty charge Sheriffs interest on county
orders ? When are county orders
considered due and payable? Here
is the letter
Office Of tie Clerk Of tie County
Court Of Taylor County.
GRAFTON, w. VA,
September ~, 1893.
I II