The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06
FEDERAL ELECTION EXPENSES.
Question RAISED As to whether the
County Has Authority to Pay Them.

Question Raised As to whether the
County Has Authority TO Pay Them.
County Attorney L. u. Rosser Of Fulton
county has stirred up a small hornets
nest in that direction by declaring 1t as
his legal opinion that the counties of
this state have no authority to pay the
expenses of congressional elections, such
as securing polling places and paying the
fees of managers and clerks.
The question is one which all the coun-
ties of the state may have to consider.
For some reasons, the advlsabllity of his
having taken this step Is questionable.
Mr.. J. r. Saussy, the county attorney of
Chatham, was interrogated on the SUBJ
ject yesterday.
Il have not examined carefully into the
law" Mr.. Saussy said, "and am not,
therefore, prepared to express any opin-
ion with regard to the matter. Mr. Ros-
SER however, is on the same line that 1
am with regard to the limitations upon
the powers of the County Commissioners
i'm expanding public money. l have just
had two instances in which bills were
presented to the county for services rem
dered the state, and l have rendered an
opinion to the effect that the commission
VtH nave Ho duAhOilNS " pay NuG CldMlS.
! am glad that the question has been
brought up for some reasons, and l will
give it some consideration"
Section $3.50 of the code. which is a part
of the constitution of the state provides
for what purposes counties shall pay out
public money. Election expenses are not
included under this section. Nevertheless
by a law recently passed County Commits
sfoners and ordnares in counties where
49, n
to pay registrars 81 a day, or whatever
amount they decide upon, and they are
required TO pay the county tax collector
so much for looking after the registration
lists Counties are also expected to pay
the expenses of elections for representa-
tives and county officers, and there is
section of the code which prescribes that
congressional elections and other matters
of similar nature shall be looked after
in the same way as are county elections,
or elections for representatives TO the leg
islature.
Under these circumstances it would seem
that the counties are expected TO pay the
necessary expenses of such elections. one
special feature to be considered is that
the agitation of this question, which could
possibly result in the assumption of such
expenses by the state, would still further
increase the tax on the more populous
counties, and they would have to help
pay the expenses of these elections In many
of the country counties. The same is true
in the case of the educational fund, in
which the greater part is paid by the coun-
ties which have the largest population.
There seems to he no reason why the
county should not pay these expenses even
though there is no special law with refer
ence to it. Somebody has got to pay them.
and it is hardly just to call on candidates
to pay such expenses themselves. The
question narrows down to whether these
expenses should be paid by the state or by
The counties Counties with large popu-
lations would undoubtedly prefer the pres
ent system, and indeed there seems to be
little reason for changing it,