Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-11
NO HOPE To BETTER CONDITION OF
COUNTY FINANCES.
WHERE ALL THE MONEY WENT
COMPARATIVE EXPENDITURES OF
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
shows an Alarming and unwarrant-
cd Increase Ia Every County Of
hcial's Ohicc-Mnny Useless
Deputies to Help BuiId
Up n Machine.

The eNtraVaganccs of county officials to-
gcther with the costly maintenance Of the
Democratic machine are evidenced by the
county financial statement for the past
fiscal year. The statement shows a de-
crease in revenues and 4 large increase of
expenditures over 1885,. This is attributed
10 tn" fact that 1885 was political year,
but the fact also presents itself that these
same officials were before the taXpaying
public as models of economy.
The Statement shows that the assessed
valuation of Jackson county for 1898 was
Ss5.0l4 l24. The total assessed valuation Of
| the county for the preceding year was $751;
. s$l .iaS. Following this reduction in the as
sessed valuation. by 4 Democratic assessor,
a decrease is shown In the total net col
iections. For the year just past the total
net collections amounted to 81 3336, Gi2. 81.
Notwithstanding this vast amount of
money collected from the taxpayers,
there is deficit OF about 10000 and fair
prospect that it will reach $4,000 before
the end of the present year
The financial statement shows that the
outstanding bonded indebtedness OF Jack
son county January l. 1883. was s6ei.0OO.
During the past year bonds have been can
celed to the amount of $il 900, leaving bonds
outstanding to the amount of $50, 600. Jack
son county has forty-twO road overseers.
These cost Jackson county. according to
the financial statement. A.703. The sup
plies to these road districts cost the coun-
ty s20.sl3.35. The amount of road tax
worked out was Sl1.3T.l1. making a grand
total of SIG, 993.46.
The total expenditures from the special
road fund were slf5.lSi.H. The grading Of
nnly l.,
fund. was s74.65i3.3G. For macadam s6s.6l607
was paid out. and inspectors got 81 $3.50
more.
Where More of the Money Went.
The county court paid out of the revenue
funds of the county. irrespective of the
special road fund. $5l.17S.2l. Bridges and
cuverts in the county alone cost s13 3137.55.
The dramshop licenses and other licenses
| amounted to s2Gl,26255 A prospect that the
county will be crippled to the amount of
$1,000 will materially reduce the revenue
fund in this respect
The financial statements show that 3l3-
| sl5.0 was expended last year for repairs on
| court houses. The janitOr service cost ILL.,
.hi.4. and engineers and frcmen S. 430 l5
The premiums on insurance for county
| buildings We're sG75s.l5.
The care of the insane cost the county
| ". 2222. 30. Charity donations cost $3.626lS
Supplies for the janitors amounted to $97927
while the supplies to the engineers amount
ed to only $3o3.s The care of boys and
| girls at the reform schools cost the tax
| payers of Jackson county s6.32,.1s.
A Comparative Statement.
The following comparative statement
| taken from the financial reports Of Jackson
county. shows increased expenditures dur
| Ing 1895 over 1897
Last year the disbursements amounted to
$6O. .a2i1 10: for 1897 S593. $3.50.
The expenditures in offices under the di-
| rect control Of the county court. including
| the salaries of the county court. pay roll
| of engineers. janitor service and mscella-
| neous bills last year reached the enormous
| sum OF $l06.0.35l. For 1897. $12, 7SS63 This
was an increase of $33,2Siss
! The Justices of the peace cost jackson
county in 1897. Sll 51o6l. and In 1885, SIS. .2a 81
| The constuhles for 1897 cost S9.OSl.l0. and for
| 1895 slo,S523O The total cost of justices
| and constables for lSg, was s20,6J1.1, and
| for 1895, S26.V,6Si.
The expenses of the county surveyor and
sheriff for travelling last year amounted to
| $685.. The livery bin OF the prosecutor
| during this political year was $3.50.
Paid In $10,sO7. .U5, Took Out 3223, ,ss2.
The financial report shows that there is
a wide variance between the amount turned
| in by elective officers and the pay roll Of
these institutions. According to the state
| ment there was $99. .s6l.65 turned into the
treasury.
| The cash earning capacity Is represented
| by the above figures. The statement also
| shows that to Offset this amount these
| some officials and their clerks pulled out
| OF the county treasury $223 SSe showing a
| deficit between the amount OF actual cash
| turned in vnd the amount drawn out to
| execute The work TO be Sl24,0,o The elect
| i've officials. however. claim that earned
! fees from the county should he taken into
| consideration. They claim that each piece
OF work done while drawing a salary from
| the county IS so much prolt to the county
ard should be counted as earning capacity
| Of the Office.
Allowing earned fees TO be cast up to
| the credit OF the officials, giving them
| everything they claim III the way of fees
| and credits published as earning capacity
, of the offices they represent, even then
| the expenses OF these offices are far in ex-
| cess OF all credits.
The office of the circuit clerk is credited
| In the financial statement of the county
| with cash turned in 10 the amount OF
| s2e,e.o.3a. The expenses of the same Office
| are shown in the statement to be s21 30.
| making Il deficit of SiYs0.Ig.
| Tn" deficit i'll the office of the sheriff is
! shown To be $.03l ~; III the criminal clerk :
| Office. S.2sS. Tie county court claims that
these offices are sslf-sustaining. Were the
| officers under the salary law as vlgilant
as they were under the fee law the county
| would not now ne facing deficit. Instead
| OF Il deficit there would be full treasury.
an overlooking revenue fund. in spite OF the
| eNtravaranccs in the way OF deputies
The gradual Increase OF deputyships in
the various Offices and the tendency to
| hui!d NJ - political machine which may
maintain itself by reason OF srievouS bur
dcns upon the taxpayers has caused trans
fcrs from one fund TO another to Save on
the inevitable deficit.
In some OF the offices where seven depu-
ties were maintained under the fee system
seventeen are maintained at present the
desire being manifest 10 eat up any sur
plus which may accrue 10 the county
| The crime of these raids on the treasury
OF the county is largely lard at the door
Of the county court. which i'll turn. throws
responsibility upon tn" judges of the Grim
iral and circuit courts.