The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-09
THE COMMISSIONERS.

Proceedings at the Regular Meeting Yes.
terday-VigOrous Retrenchment Against
Jurors for the Next Term of the Criminal
Court.
The regular monthly meeting of the
board of commissioners of New Han
over county was held yesterday at 2:30
p. m, the members in attendance being
Chairman F. w. Foster and Commits
sioners Moore, Alexander, Dempsey
and Nixon.
The minutes of the last meeting were
read and approved.
"A communication was received from
Mr.. w. A. Riach that he had complied
with the agreement of the county as to
the deepening of the ditch draining the
Masonboro turnpike.
A petition signed by numerous citi-
zens requesting this body to place as
much of the county's insurance as pos
sible with the Carolina Insurance Com.
pany, a home institution, was read. On
motion, the matter was referred to a
committee composed Of Chairman Fos-
ter and Commissioners Moore and
Dempsey.
A petition from Harvey Brown for
aid was referred to Commissioner Demp-
sey, with power to act.
Chairman Foster submitted the fol-
lowing and it was adopted:
1t is time that the board of county
commissioners should decide what
amount should be expended in the
various branches Of the county gov
eminent. During the last ten years
capital, labor. professions. and all
branches Of business, and rents have
become less remunerative to a degree
that the general public has boone rest
less and are demanding a change for
the better.
conditions above spoke Of, ~inconsist-
ent and wrong as it may be, the coun-
ty expenses during the said period have
year by year increased, which has
created a burden so great that there
are more pieces of property year after
year sold for taxes. Also during the
last decade professional hangers-On re-
sort to all the cunning known to man,
to get a place, make a place, create
Offices; and the various branches of
government demanding more and more
money; some Of them in the ratio from
$4,000 to $500 per annum. Even re-
sorting to influencing ladies to meet
county commissioners with a view of
urging appropriation of county money
for various purposes.
The said heavy taxation is keeping
manufactures from being established
in our midst and closing many that
have heretofore been established.
The county, years by year., levies an
unconstitutional tax, being more and
more above the constitutional limit.
The tax payers have quietly submitted,
and in despair see more and more prop
erty sold for taxes. The present con-
ditiOn of affairs cannot continue. The
only consolation the county has, not to
reflect upon what effect it has upon it
self, is, that it can be consoled that it's
daughter (the city, is in a worse fix
thar itself.
Brother commissioners. let us COM
mence:
Be it resolved. That - thousand
dollars be the limit Of the county ap-
preparations for the hospital per an
mum.
Be 1t Further Resolved. That this
board express a desire to his Honor,
DR.. S. P. Wright, mayor hat with a
view Of economy and retrenchment,
that he would appoint a city physician
that would be acceptable to himself
and the medical fraternity OF New
Hanover count whose duty it shall
be to perform all the duties of the -four
doctors that are now being paid by the
county and city, agreeing upon his
salary and what proportion shall be
paid by each board. 1t shall be under
stood that the party appointed shall
do no private practice.
Be 1t Further Resolved, That twenty
cents per day is seemingly ample to
feed each prisoner confined in the
county Jail, at the present cost of food.
This reduction would lessen the taxes
levied upon one thousand families that
are living in their own small homes
upon wages of one dollar and less per
day, and from said wages maintain
from -four to seven in a family. The
charity und are constantly increas-
ing and also the number of outdoor
poor, which are kept up by increased
pro rate taxation upon the humble
homes of the laborer.
The list Of names that are drawing
funds from the county should be re-
vised. County commissioners should
loOk into the dispensing of the charity
funds and see if the amount cannot be
reduced and in every instance cut off
contributions from those who own real
estate.
The expense Of lighting public build
ings should be lessened.
Resolved, That Mr.. Marsden Bel
lamy, attorney for board of county
commissioners, be requested to audit
the coroner's and magistrates clerk
of the superior court, and clerk of the
criminal courts bills against the county
for the month of March with the ex-
press purpose of disallowing all bills.
if any that are based upon cases
brought for the purpos of securing
fees that are to be paid by the county
which aggregate a sum that is oppres-
sive to our taxpayers.