Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-01-18
THE COUNTY'S CONDITION.
To the Quarterly Court of Law
renee County, Tennessee

for $S,2S0.17, with enough in the
hands of clerks and Back tax col
lector to add about 100000 more'
which will make our available
assets in sight sS,SS000 less COM
missions allowed trustee and delin-
quents, which would reduce the
amount to about $7,960.00, ITO this
add about 100000 to be collected
by clerks from Jan. 1st. to July
which would.give July 1st. $780,
OC.
From May 9th. 1891 to Jan. 1st
1896 there are outstanding county
warrants to the amountof 81 ,421 .25.
From Jan. 14th 1888 to Aug. 5th.
1889 there is warrants outstanding
$4,000, From Aug. 5th. 1889 to
Nav 9th 1891 | failed to find books
from which to make report which
will of course increase the figures
given above. There is also to be
met from the present levy Jail
warrant of 100000 with about
$4,000 interest in all it will take
near 100000 to meet our present
liabilities.
From Jan. 1st. 1894 to Jan. 1st.
1896 there was issued in county
warrants $S,3S4,94. This increase
in public expenses is alarming and
comes largely from the Circuit
Court which for the late Nov. term
cost $1,216.14 three times this
amount and you have
$3,64S.42 as a yearly expense. The
pauper expenses is also very grie-
vous, costing the county at present
rates $2,500.00 annually. AS the
afflicted and unfortunates must be
cared for, in the future as well as at
present it might possibly 5e better
for the county to buy a good piece
of land and erect thereon suitable
buildings for the care Of the poor,
with the view of making such farm
in a great measure pay the present
outlay, which is just that much
money lost to the county each year.
Take this expense and add to the
Circuit Court expense and you have
a sum that will take more than a
80 cents tax on the property of the
county to pay. As only so cents
can be levied for county current
expenses ! suggest that this court
appoint committee to confer with
our members of the State legisla
turc with the view of having the
law so changed as to al low our coun-
ty TO levy a tax sufficient to meet
our much increased expenses
There is considerable expense in
the retax of costs through the Cir.
cult Court in the State cases tried
before Justices of the peace. AL
applications for State warrants
should be we'll considered before
issuance, and on final hearing if the
matter is frivalous or malicious
the complainant should be taxed
with the cost. See sec. 6,457 4
6,45S of code. There seems to be
no oplainer proposition in law than
that merchants should pay an
advalorem tax upon the average
amount of stock kept on hand du'
ring each year equal to that collec'
ted from property. Considerable
loss has accrued to the county
school Rail Road high way taxes
on account of the failure of clerk:
; to collect this tax for several year:
) past, which, no doubt was donC
through an oversight or miscon
struction of the law. This nigh
: in part be remedied if the cour
[ will instruct the present clerk t.
collect from the privilege CLASSES
l TIE same advolorem collected from
property for county school Raj
Road and High way purposes for thu
years 1892, 1893 & 1894. And t,
f make any suggestion or disposition
}, of losses sustained in like manne
i prior to three years afore men
toned. The present clerk Mr.. Gar
ner acting I suppose under counse
t is not collecting any advoloren
V from merchants paying more Stat
c than county tax, while propert,
v pays more than two dollars to coun
G ty to one to State. I hope tn
court will with unbiased mind
take such action as may seem pre-