The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-02
"BUNGH0LE' ECONOMY
Comfy Funds Drawn in at the spigot ard
Poured Prom the Bang.
THE TAX PArKas rOsr THE BILL.

tnaue IN last weeks ii ERALD OF the
means adopted by the occupants Of the
commissioners Office during the past few
years to increase the county revenue and
OF the profiag4cy aud alleged mismAn-
agement that has attained in that import
ant public Office.
Hundreds OF communications, verbal
ard written, have beon received at this
Office from hard working economical
farmers and business men who realize
that the time has arrived to tear the mask
from astute gentlemen who have been
posing before the public as tax reformers
aud who have grown fat at the public
crib, and whose brazan contempt for pub
lie opinion is manifested by their silence.
The recent increase of valuation OF all
property taxable for county purposes,
varying from 10 to 40 per cent. in some
of the districts, has intensified the feel
ing that some good reason must be as
signed for this increase, and that steps
must be taken looking towards a redue-
ton of taxation and a more economical
management of the public finances.
Somerset county experienced the great
C-L ACpItccAOn ll1 ulst0Al AuAAn6 AlAC
period mentioned. Farming lands fell
from . to 50 per cent; agricultural prod
ucts never before reached so low a price
in the market; labor sought employment
at starvation wages. and in numerous
cases in vain. Retrenchment and econo-
my was the watchword of every prudent
farmer and business man in the county
in order to supply food and clothing for
his family and to present clear balance
sheet at the end of the gear. 1t was
period long TO be remembered by the
wrecks in farming and business that
marked its pathway.
How were the fiscal agents of the
county affected by the general business
stagnation that prevailed here in Somer-
set county, as we'll as elsewhere through
out the country? A reference to the pub
lished reports of the receipts and expen-
ditures of the commissioners office dur
ing that period will best answer the ques-
ton.
A promise had been made to the people
that the tax millage would not be raised,
and when the commissioners were una
BILE 10 meet the current expenditures they
decided to Increase the valuation. In this
way the promise was kept unbroken and
the revenue was or should have been ma
terially increased. A neat way Of "rob-
bing Peter to pay Paul" But with valu-
ations inflated on depreciating lands, the
commissioners were still unable TO raise
sufficient revenue 10 keep the county ex-
penditures below the annual receipts and
another expedient, more expensive
one than increasing the county valuation,
was resorted to. Interest bearing orders
were issued, many Of which still remain
unpaid. although the county has hand
some balance to its credit at the present
time
But the overshadowing question con-
fronting the honest tax payer is: "What
has become of the vast amount of taxes
assessed and collectible for county pur-
poses during the past few years? Has it
all been wisely expended? How much
of il has been returned to favored parties
in the shape of rebates?
The county treasurer, tax collectors,
school tax collectors and road supervis-
ors can best answer this question. The
tax collector of one of the largest and
richest districts in the county is authori-
ty for the statement that upon his settle
Inent with the treasurer for 1896 he re-
ceived credit for a large sum of taxes
upon the presentation OF rebates issued
from the Office of the commissioners.
county have made their settlements with
the county in the same manner They
and the county treasurer are the only
public officials in position TO properly in
form the public on this matter. It can
not be expected that the recipients of the
commissioners bounty will shed any
light on the subject. The rebates were
not given for that purpose.
A point at hand will illustrate this
matter clearly. A leading farmer accost-
ed the writer few days ago with the re-
mark: did / ever tell you about that
rebate you published last week. thought |
1 had never told any person about that
little transaction, not even my wife"
Upon being assured that the information
had been secured from another source, he |
seemed greatly relieved, and said, "Well, |
it was an exact copy of the paper that |
was handed to me by one of the commits
sioners, and can assure you that new
er forgot the favor"
Could more unjust ami iniquitous |
scheme be resorted to than this species of |
partiality? Why should not the rich |
farmer or business man pay his taxes
just as honestly and promptly as the farm |
laborer or the man who works out pOr- |
tion of his taxes on The public highway? |
HOW CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
Another species of partiality that has |
undoubtedly worked to the detriment of |
the tax payers of the county is best Illus
trated by the following statement, com
ing as il does from hard working me- |
chanic, who has always paid the taxes
assessed against him, and who believes |
that every tax payer should be given an |
to bid on public work.
When the time approached several |
years ago for renewing the superstruct-
ure OF bridge in Shade township, a
workman of that district visited the com
missioners' Office and asked when the |
work in question was 10 be let, as he or
one of his neighbOrs desired TO compete /
for the contract, believing that as he own
ed a saw mill at the point where the |
bridge was to be renewed, sand as all the /
material used was TO be wood, he was in |
a position 10 do the work cheaper than il |
could possibly be done by workmen from |
other parts of the county. "We don't let |
bridges publicly" was the answer he re- |
eeived, and short time afterwards the |
bridge was renewed by parties from 9TH |
er parts of the county. Our informant |
says that he kept close count OF the |
lumber used aud the labor performed |
and he has reason to believe that IL the |
contract had been let at public sale, or
had pablic notice been given that a con-
tract would be let, it would have been
the means Of saving the county a large |
sum of money.
The method of letting public contracts
secretly has only been pursued a few
years, during which time a majority Of
the contracts have been awarded to the
same parties or corporations, aud home
labor has been practically ostracised
from bidding on work undertaken by the
cou nty.
WANT AN IN vEsTIoATIoN.
A number of farmers from vari ,us
oaetfons of fha eauufv have offarad In