The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-12-15
THE COUNTY TREASURY.
No Funds To Pay Current Expenses.
A LOAN APPLIED FOR.


Just demands upon the county, are
denied payment of what is due them,
because of an entire absence of funds
in the treasury.
The public officers interested, both
commissioners and the county treas
urer, regret such condition. We are
credibly informed that the commits
sioners at the last term of court, raised
the necessary money to meet the
court expenses, upon their own note
as individuals, and that the county
treasurer has of his own private funds,
come to the relief of the county.
For such conditions no body seems
to be liable to any censure. The
taxes of the current year, 1898, the
commissioners are powerless now to
obtain by violent means against the
tax collectors. The revenue laws,
as every one knows, have undergone
revision and change, and the tax pay
er has his right and time within which
to pay the tax, and the outstanding
taxes from former years are in point
Of fact, better paid up than usual, de.
spite the stringency Of the times.
The drafts upon the treasury have
been unusually large, and much of
the indebtedness could not have been
foreseen or provided for.
Legislation respecting increased
liability for costs in commonwea alth
cases, costs incident to elections un-
der the new laws, the formation of
new election districts, the numerous
county bridges ordered to be built,
contributed to the present condition.
The commissioners of the county
presented to the court last Monday
their petition for loan to be author
lied, which is receiving the Courts
consideration, and the expediency of
granting or Withholding judicial ap-
proval was, without question, some
what dependent upon the rate of
commission, which the proceeds OF
any loan would be tolled by the
county treasurer.
The rate as at present existing, as
fixed by the commissioners is 21 per
cent. on moneys arising from such a
source. In view of this fact, the
County Treasurer, Mr.. Kline, ad-
dressed the following letter to the
commissioners on Wednesday:
TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF CoLUM-
BA COUNTY You find yourselves
somewhat embarrassed In not being
able to. pay your orders on the County
Treasurer because of the absence of
funds and that the loan asked for by
you to be authorized by the Court is
believed to be delayed, because some
think that the compensation allowed by
you to me on such money is exorbi.
tant.
| wish to inform you that you are
at liberty to SO change my compensa-
ton for such money to one per cent
instead of 2t per cent.
l do this in order to relieve you and
the interests of the public business
from present conditions, and do not
want the amount Of my pay to hinder
it. Yours &C.,
JOHN l.. KLINE, Treas.
We do not pretend to say whether
or not the amount of compensation
as fixed for that officer is too large Oh
too small. The law imposes the duty
of adjusting that matter upon certain
public functionaries, and there is nc
reason to question the integrity Of
their conduct in the performance OF
that duty. If any tax payer feels ag-
grieved, the law affords an opportu-
nifty for such one to be heard. But
certainly, Mr.. Kline, who is soon to
retire from public position, has done
all he can do to enable the authorize
ton Of the loan, and relieve the coun
ty from any embarrassment and his
action under the circumstances Is
very commendable. Without his con
sent the commissioners could not re-
duce the commission.
The question as to whether there
shall be loan, and the amount Of
the loan, is in the hands of the Court
and will receive careful consideration,
1t is evident that some money must
be borrowed to pay for the Catawlssa
bridge, to erect the Bloom bridge
and to pay bills amounting to severa
thousand dollars that have accumula
ted, because the taxes have not beer
paid in fast enough to meet these
Obligations. 1t is no fault of the OF
hclals that the expenses of the presen
court have not been paid. 1t will al
be adjusted soon and everybody vii
get what is due them.
The furniture, carpets, draperie'
&c from the Pennsylvania State
Building at the Worlds FAIR viii bt
SOLD of -.