Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-03-09
TO PAY THE DEBT.
A Meeting of Taxpayers Makes g
Recommendation.
A Levy of One Mill Each Year for Eight
Years Will Discharge the
Obligation

The meeting of taxpayers in Court
house Hall, on Thurday last, was fairly
well attended, good portion of the
county being represented. The proceed
ings partook of the nature of a New
England town meeting. and any one who
wished talked as much and as often as
he pleased. The speeches were limited
to ten minutes, but there was no restric
tion on the number of speeches. The
meeting was organized by choosing r. E.
Giffen. Chairman. and j. b. McMechan,
Secretary.
Ex-Commissioner Israel being present,
was called upon 10 explain the causes of
the Indebtedness of the county and bridge
funds. In regard to the bridge fund
Mr. Israel said the Indebtedness was due
to the floods in sc and 81. He then read
a list of bridges which were damaged by
those floods, and the number rebuilt and
repaired. Cost of these was over $4,000.
Said the overdraft in the county fund
was due largely to increase of crime, and
ages on the pixies in Pultney and Mead
townships. AS to levies not being raised
to tile limit when great demands came
upon them in the later eighties, Mr.. Is
rael said he urged higher levies so that
overdrafts would not pile up, but was
overruled in the Board. Mr.. Israel also
made some explanation of the manner of
letting contracts, and certain retrench-
ments which took place while he was in
the Board,
N. B. Nichols said the question was
not how did we incur this Indebtedness,
but how shall we pay it? He urged that
we pay as we go, and that levy be made
sufficient to pay the debt in three or four
years.
Thomas Cochran said he pays $3.50
now, and did not want the taxes in
creased very much. Was in favor of a
longer time. L. I'll. Day thought the
people of Pultney township could not
stand it to pay all in three years, and fa-
vored bonding for ten years, and intro
duced resolution to that effect.
J.F. Young favored bonding for 10
years. ]. B. Longley urged letting the
Commissioners carry the debt just as
they had been doing. Said if orders were
refused payment it would compel econ
omy. Also that not one man in hundred
knew how this debt was created, and
charged that large part of it was created
in violation of law.
L. c. Sedgwick offered a substitute for
the former resolution, and recommend
ing that a levy of one mill shall be made
for eight years. and that the income from
this levy be applied to paying this debt
and for no other purpose, and in sup
porting the resolution said the people
were opposed to any more bonds.
Hiram Smith said legislation on the
subject should be guarded carefully.
J.F. Anderson made a speech in which
he gently criticised the financial policy
of the Commissioners, and declared him
self in favor of providing for the bridge
Indebtedness, ,and letting the county fund
overdrafts CO. During his speech some
cross-fire passed between himself and
Mr.. Israel. which was much enjoyed by
the audience. Some further discussion,
which at times was quite tart, was in
dulged in by Mr.. Longley, Mr.. Anderson,
Mr.. Archer. Mr. Darrah.and others, as to
whether it would be better to issue bonds,
or simply provide for the payment of the
Indebtedness without, bonding, but the
sentiment of the meeting seemed to be
against any more bonds, and after nu
merous amendments were voted down,
Mr. Sedgwick's proposition finally car
ried to instruct our Representative to
introduce bill providing for a special
levy of one mill for eight years, this sum
to be applied to dischaEging this indebt-
edness, and for no other purpose.