The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-10-28

current expenses, and has no bearing
upon the fact that the county script is
at discount. The truth is that they
have not paid any of the Indebtedness
nor met current expenses either. Peo-
pie holding jury tickets and county
orders for witnesses fees and other
county expenses, have been going about
the streets hunting some one to dis
count their script at from 10 to 25 per
cent, and much of the time even the
keepers of the county home and Jail
have had to get private persons to cash
or discount their county orders that
the inmates of those institutions might
be provided for-somethlng that has
not been known in this county since
the Republicans were in power in the
7O's.
Mr.. Harrison claims to have had to
pay a portion of revenue on the fun
listed Indebtedness" of the county. We
do not understand the phrase unless it
means current expenses, but they have
not had to pay, nor have they paid one
cent upon any obligation or liability
made or incurred by the Democratic
board.
The much-talked-of indebtedness of
the county above mentioned arose as
follows: In 1896 the Democratic
board contracted for the building of
thoroughly fire proof offices Tor the
clerk and register of deeds, fitted up
with the most modern steel roller
shelves and files; and a fire proof Jail.
fitted with the best steel cells and the
most improved sanitary arrangements,
of which the county stood in great
need. These buildings are second to
none in North Carolina, and are great
credit to the county. Their cost was
about S., 500, which was divided into
twelve installments, two of which we're
PAYABLE in the fall OF 1896, and of the
remaining ten two we're to be paid each
fall for FIVE years. The Democratic
board paid the first two installments
(the only ones payable during their adj
ministration) In the fall of 1896, leay-
ing no other payments due on said con-
tracts until the fall of 1897, nearly
twelve months after the fusion board
took control of the county. In these
ten deferred payments alone consists
the entire indebtedness so much faunt-
ed by Mr.. Harrison. They amounted
to 81, 847.26 and no more, including all
interest that will accrue up to maturi-
| ty of each payment-less than $1,000
per year for the five years.
Outside of these bonds the Democrat
ic board did not leave one cent out.
standing against the county-in other
words, upon retiring, they paid up ev.
cry single claim of any kind that was
due and turned over to the "tuslon'
board 500 in cash.
For several years prior to 1896 the
Democratic board had reduced the tax
es for county purposes 81 cents OIL
property and ten cents on the poll be
low the amount they were authorized
to levy, because the county expenses
did not require the full levy. Will
this reduced levy they paid every claim
and expenses against the county a
soon as presented. No man ever wait
ed a minute or was put off for the pay
ment of any county order during tn,
Democratic administration. They wer'
accepted as cash at face value anywhere
In 1896 the full levy was restored il
order to meet the cost OF said buildings
The experience of the Democrat,
board in those years, and in 1896, de
monstrated that the authorized regular
levy was sufficient to meet the curren
expenses If the county and also make
the payments on said buildings as the,
become due. Yet in less than two
months after the county was put II
charge Of the fusion board with $7O(
to start on, all expenses and all maturel
indebtedness paid, and no indebted
ness to become due in nearly twelve
months, the new board had procured
the Legislature to pass bill authoriz
ing them to levy special tax an6
county orders were at discount on thu
streets.
Mr.. Harrison lays claim to grea
achievement In saving the count,
$749, open on the books tor which tht
county held Cancelled vouchers
These were merely accounts allowed t.
various parties by the board to whom
the clerk of the board had issued coun
ty orders, but inadvertently omitted
the mark "issued" against the amount.
on the minutes of the board. There
was no probability of these partie.
making any attempt to have these
II v.t1nuu Sec,,4l