The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-09-08

The Populists came into power
in Chatham In 1892, except Clerk
OF Superior Court and County Com.
which were not voted
for in that general election, this
perhaps being the only county in
the State in which the full Populist
ticket was elected and the bonds OF
all its officers accepted.
We want to give a short sketch
OF the administration OF county af-
fairs by Populists, at the same time
showing wherein the county gov
ernmlent is far better than when
under Democratic rule. When the
Popu,is lists came into power county
ordeI + were selling at 80 cents in
the dollar in trade at the stores in
PittsbOro. and we have actually
seen p Democratic ex-SherifY refuse
to accept them in the payment of
taxes. 1t was a good thing for NOR
chants, who bought county paper
at 9u ucents in the dollar, and then
to receive par value with accrued
intel 1est at 9 per cent from date Of
issu4 but you can imagine the dis
gustbf the sturdy taxpayers strug-
glint under such a financial state
Of affairs in their county govern
ment. Why, under Democratic
rule we have actually known the
pubic school teachers to sell their
vouchers :at a discount because
there was no money in the treasu.
ry. Did the POpulists do any bet
ter:s Since the tax books have been
in the hands Of a Populist Sheriff
there has never been a teachers
voucher presented that has not
been paid promptly, nor have we
ever heard OF a county order or any
'couHty script selling for less than
its face value. Since we have had
a board of commissioners elected
by the people, under their levy Of
taxes there has been no claim
against the county that has not
been promptly paid, and to-day a
claim against this county is con.
sidered as good as gold.
Are taxes any higher? Lets see.
The levy for 1898 is the same as for
1893, yet we have increased the
school tax 9 cents and levied five
cents for roads. In other words,
for the same money we are giving
the taxpayers seven cents more for
their schools and roads than they
received under Democratic rule.
(We had a Democratic board Of
County Commissioners in 1899
Since our County Commission
ers have been elected by the people
the county has been run more eco
nomically than before.
The first year they spent $l,927.-
80 less on general county expenses
alone than their Democratic pred
ecessors the last year they were in
office; saving Of about 20 per cent.
Our public schools have not been
neglected. We have $1.2O per capi-
ia which is the greatest apportion-
ment ever made in this county.
The expenses of the Supervisor for
the year ending July l, 1898, is up
on an average SIS .O6 less than those
of the Superintendent under Demo
tcraic rule, although the Supervisor
has sixty-eight schools which un-
der the old law, the Superintendent
did not have.
The Populists of this county say
that they have as good county Off.
GERS as any county in the State, and
are as we'll pleased, with the ad.
ministration of county affairs. Even
Democrats say they have no fault
to find with the present county
government, and some of the more
conservative of them cast their bal
lots for the Populist candidates fol
county officers.
But how was it with our Demo
cratic friends when they we're in
charge? In nearly every Ofic'
there we're 'errOrs" mistakes" tar
dy settlements and Ito be charita
ble) glaring evidences of incompe
tency. In a settlement with ;
Democratic Sheriff he was credite,
with an item of $1,O25.7O for tw'
different years, when it ought no
to have been for but one. We calle'
their attention to the matter an
asked an explanation. They coul
not explain the matter away, SO tn
above amount was turned into tn
treasury, much to the delight of th
tax payers.
i When the Democratic Superinter
!, dent of Public instruction went on
of office in June, 1895 he turned owe
D to the Treasurer his books, but b
failed to turn over any cash. A
D though he had called his Board (
Education together and had If
y y nal settlement" we still though
he owed the school fund some mol
o ey. Finally his attention was callt
to the matter, and after an invest
CATION it was found that he ow'
0 the school fund $532.4l which WI
paid into the treasury, over sevt
: months after he had retired fro
. Office, much to the delight Of the ts
payers
= In 1895 the Democratic Board
Commissioners were tried and Col
victed by jury composed Of all p
: litical parties for wilful neglect
- official duty. They appealed to Il
Supreme Court. Judge Clark rel
dered the decision. Lower court ,
firmed. (See N: c. Reports, Vol. L
page 1908. State vs.. Hatch al
Others.)
The Democratic Clerk Of Supe
or Court went out of Office in 18
and although his successor !
dulged him for three years in ma
ing final settlement, he did 4
make it until he was threaten
with suit, whereupOn meeting
his b0ndsmen were called and
= arrangements made to obtain mon
% to enable him to settle in full.
= There are other things that
could mention which are not crt
= itable to the administration Of
= Democrats in this county, but
s0s 1 Rosp1n0or