The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-12-22
COUNTY BONDS.
AN ISSUE OF $4,000 ORDERED BY
THE COURT.

opinion last Saturday:
In the matter of the
application by petition In the Court
of the County Commits
sioners to issue bonds of Quarter
for the payment of the
present county indebt- Sessions
edness.
The petition sets forth funded in
debtedness of $4,000 due, also $34,.
600 damages to the owners Of the
river bridge at Catawissa, 500, 500 es.
timated cost of the construction of
the county bridge across the river at
Hendershott's ferry, as per contract of
November as, 1893, and $1,000 due
sundry persons, making total indebt
edness of $Ia7,soo.oo, less total assets
due from collectors of $II,77o.oo,
leaving a debt unprovided for of
$rIs,73o.oo.
On the a3d day Of May, 1891, with.
in four months after the present board
Of commissioners entered upon their
official duties, and upon their petition
setting forth an indebtedness Of $,o,-
900 we approved Of the issuing Of
county bonds to lay the same. That
debt had been contracted by former
board of county commissioners for the
erection Of the late addition to the
court house, which addition and build
ing was at that time partly constructed
and it was alleged in their petition that
that sum was required for its compile
tion, fitting and furnishing. That debt
still exists, no doubt owing to the in.
creased avenues Of expenditures, and
the continued low rate of county taxes,
from which cause also the increased
debt Of $1,000 arose.
The debt Of $4,000 was incurred
Nov. 9th, 1893, and that of 500, 500
on the asth day Of the same month
and year, and there is no allegation or
pretense that any Of the latter named
sum is due and payable.
The grand jury at this session of the
court have recommended ''that the
county commissioners and county"
auditors at their next meeting to"
settle and audit the accounts for the"
"year, make provision to reduce, or"
nix special rate or percentage for"
"the county treasurer at any time"
when an unusual large sum of money"
"ls to be handled by said officer, as"
"ior instance in erecting public"
building, bridges. ETC., that the rate"
"be commensurate with the duties Of"
"his Office"
In this recommendation we heartily
concur, and the present Treasurer by
paper filed in this case on Nov. Il,
1893, has signi6ed his willingness and
offer to take commission Of one per
cent on such sum as may be necessary
to relieve the public business from
present conditions But a few days
remain until January Ist next, when
the present board Of county commits.
sioners and the county treasurer will
60 out of Office ard new ones come
IN and the annual auditors settlement
o. the county accounts take place, and
IN view Of the fact and of the recon-
mendation of the Grand Jury, the
graver duties and responsibilities of
the incoming officials, such as the fix
ing OF the Treasurer's commissions,
the valuation Of taxable property and
occupations, and the rate Of assess
ment, in order to meet aud success.
fully provide for the payment of the
present Indebtedness, we deem it pru-
dent to withhold full approval of the
present application. The time, or
different times that the proposed large
issue OF bonds should be made to fall
due and payable Is an important mat
Ter for the officers 10 consider and fix
who must provide by taxation the
means with which to pay and discharge
the same.
Can it be successfully maintained
that 1t would be wise and beneficial to
the county at this time to borrow
money 10 pay upon the undue and
unperformed contract for the building
OF a river bridge at Hendershott's
ierryF With the knowledge we have
OF that contract, admitting that such
knowledge is quite limited, we think
II would be improper and prejudicial
TO the best interests Of the tax payers.
- We are informed by the county
treasurer in his paper filed OF
record IN this case that there IS no
money In the treasury with which to
pay Jurors and witnesses who are in
attendance at court, and costs due
parties, witnesses and officers in com
monweal,h cases, and with his promise
70 handle the funds which may be de-
iived from the negotiation and sale ol
ponds which are hereby directed to
issue and in order to relieve the county
omclals from the present stringency,
ana pay the ordinary and current
county expenses and bills due, and to