Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-03-03

intelligsncs Of this institute for ciriti-
cism. The first consideration with
any board of Co. Commissioners
should be to know that they are only
the servants of the people. That
they call As few meetings as possible
in which to transact their business,
edo more wJrk in less days;') put
out ct public letting all their work
where considerable money is involv-
ed and where the law does not other.
wise dictate, and duly and impartial.
ly consider the character and qualif-
cations Of the parties placing their
bide among the lettings is, the build
ing and repairing Of bridges and pub
lie buildings among the list, but not
the least is the public printing the
issuing or reissuing or receiving OF
county bonds, how and where to OBJ.
tain the money when due. This bond
matter, Mr.. Chairman is an item, %
quite q considerable amount Of our
county Indebtedness and virtually
speaking all our county debt is in the
shape of Co. Bonds, and as the out
going board contemplated reducing
the rate of interest from to 3 per
cent as the bonds fall due, depends
largely on the prospects of business
interests reviving, because in my
judment when the business interests
of the country become slack money
can be obtained at lower rate of in
terest than when business is pros
porous and in order to succeed in
obtaining lower rate o. interest in
the renewing of said bonds, demands
the careful and judicious judgment
on the part of Co. Commissioners to
be able to meet those conflicting con-
ditions and just how those conditions
are met the amount of interest paid
on said bonds will show. 1 am not
hero to say just how much our coun
ty Indebtedness could be annually re-
duced if this course could be judic-
iously followed, but one thing would
be certain, it would have a very SAL
utary effect on our taxpayers pock-
et-books, and it would be no more
than can be reasonably expected.
Any board of County Commissioners,
who fail TO exercise judicious judg-
mont in the discharge of their official
duties to the best interests of the
people and that too without partiali-
ty, should at once be deposed from
office. Mr. Chairman, I do not pro
pose to go into detail and say every
thing pertaining to the management
of our county finances, but will say
there are many ways in which to save
money to the county, if proper judg
ment VAS exercised from $500 to
$1,000 yesr for the clerkship. taken
from our county funds and given to q
preferred friend when the same work
could probably be secured for one
half is an item from $500 to $500 a
year for public printing when the
same could probably be secured for
one-half is an item from $3.50 to $4OO
year for each of the county COM
missioners for salary and expenses
when a saving of $1,000 in a term
could bo had is an item. I am not
in fav5r of or in other words I am
not an advocate Of employing cheap
labor. am willing to compensate
men for their service and compensate
them well, but am not willing to
pay my money into the hands of mon
who will! carelsssly squandsr my
hsrd earnings. Mr.. Chairman I have
lightly touched on q few minor
points on economy in the manage
ment of our county finsnces and
there are few other things 1 will
hint at, which might if carefully con
sidered come under tho head OF
economy. 1t costs our county near
ly 5000 year to foot up the ex-
peases of the Teochers' Institute,
which in my judgment should be
paid cut of the proceeds of the Ins.i-
tute. This thing of taking yearly
from our county. funds about 5000 to
conduct an Institute and chsrgs say
so cents edmittance fees is a fraud,
if 1 understand it right. Next is our
SO called agricultural society or coun
ty fair, which takes from our county
funds 500 year. This may seem
a small thing TO consider in the way
of economy and may not suit every.
body, but would like to know how
much Juniata county is directly ben
+fited bv an agricultural society,
conducted in tie manner it is when
institutions Of this character cannot
be made self sustaining they ought
to 60 down and the money taken
from our county funds used or ap.
propriated to a better purpose. Un
der existing conditions it would be
difficult matter for the people of Ju-
niata county to correct the evils of
either political parties, but is it con-
sistent for apv class to be 80 predju-
diced or Indifferent as to work di
rectly against their own personal in
terests and thereby suffer loss. This
Mr.. Chairman is a most unnatural
thing to do and yet it is manifestly
evident ("judging from some mems
actions, that the evils and unsatis
frctory results which follow come
from just such course. We do not
wish to lose sight of tho subject,
economy. There was a time in the
history of our country when knowl
edge was considered power, but
things have materially changed.
with modern science, modern inven.
tions and modern ussges have come,
what has become the motive and
propa!licg power, namely the greed
and love for money, politics and its
attendant evils has entered almost
every department OF business life
DESTROYING the confidence and happi
ness of many homes, drawing end