The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-07
THE TREASURY Is EMPTY
81. 900 WORTH OF WARRANTS
CLAMOR FOR PAY.
OTHER LARGE ACCOUNTS STILL TO COME
The Horse }" Board Will moi Order New Reg
siration For School Bond Election---A. c.
Lehman and A. L, Moore Appointed
Tax Listers.

The County Commissioners yesterday
gave away no more horses, but upon
the backs of Commissioner Barbee ard
Chambec fell the lash of public con-
demnation and disapproval for their ac-
ton in making one j. l.. Pugh a pres
ent of a $50 horse at the meeting Tues
day. Their remarkable action in this
matter brought down upon them the
severest condemnation.
"They ought to be presented by the
grand jury for misrepresentation of
funds" said more than one man. at
is a most outrageous abuse of power,
said nearly everybody.
Seventy dollars is n small amount
but the principle involved in this mon
strous transaction and the precedent II
set were the things taxpayers objected
to; ard that objection they framed in
vigorous language. Indeed it is the
first thing, since the famous flop of
Caldwell that has caused people 10 turn
their attention from Cuba and from
censurng the President for his delay in
demanding satisfaction from Spain for
the murder of our sailors and the butch
cry of the Cubans.
Though Rays father-in-law got no
more horses. Ray himself got Il white
washing from Commissioner Barbee and
Attorney Harris, as follows:
ITO the Board of Commissioners: The
undersigned committee to examine into
the Management of the convicts of the
county. submits the following report:
I'VE have carefully examined into the
regulations, care, management and
working of the convicts and find that
there have been no changes therein from
such as have existed since the establish
ment of the work house. and that the
present management merits the approval
of the Board of Commissioners. This
system requires the making and use of
convicts as TRUSTEES, which has been
the rule heretofore and which has been
continued since December. 1896. Such
convicts of this rule of management
were all for short terms, and there is
nothing unusual in the exercise and
continuance of this policy. 1t worked
well under former management and is
doing so now.
eve therefore. ask to be discharged
from the further consideration of this
matter"
The report was adopted and the com
mittee discharged. This means, If ii
means anything, that the commissioners
think Ray has been doing right in let
ting Tom Robertson wear citizens
clothes while other convicts wore
stripes; that he has done right in letting
him go home TO spend Sunday; that he
has done right in letting him be sent
70 a neighboring saloon for whiskey
that he has done right in several other
instances of gross mismana cement that
might be and have been mentioned here
tofore. Will the court take the same
view of the matter?
Another trouble that confronts the
commissioners is an empty treasury.
There IS outstanding upwards of $4,000
of vouchers with no money in the treas
ury TO pay them. In addition to this
many large accounts have been, on one
excuse and another, held back, in order
TO make a good showing. Add to this
the fact that circumstances have favored
the board--no bridges washed away
fences to build and the like, and You
will see how badly the finances of the
county have been managed. Last year
the money did not run out until May LIST.
policy prevailing, the wonder is it has
held out so long
1t is said now that the board will moi
order new registration for the school
bond election, as they are required by
law to do, on account of the expense and
the lack OF funds.
The board authorized the Clerk Regis
ter of Deeds Rogers to list, collect and
report to the board taxes on such lands
in Wake county as by any reason failed
to he listed for taxation prior to 1897.
The bond of W. d. Peed, newly-ap-
pointed constable in Oak Grove town
ship, was accepted.
"A. G. Lehman and A. L. Moore wore
appointed tax-fsters for Raleigh town.
shin.
The delinquent tax-list was given ia
the Caucasian for publication at $40.