The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-08
SAMPSON COUNTY AGAIN
Has ITS TROUBLES TOLD.
To be no Change in County Government While
Financial Bills Receive Favorable
Report as Amended.

Again the Committee on Counties,
county and its affairs.
Two of the bills concerning that county
had previously been reported favorably
these being one to allow the residue of
a special tax collected to pay for build
ing a Jail to be applied to county pur-
poses, and the other to allow the levy
of a special tax not to exceed 1-3 cents
on the S1G0 valuation, % cents on the
poll for paying expenses of, a smallpox
epidemic and the support of the poor.
Mr.. H. E. Faison, of Clinton, desired 10
be heard in opposition to the proposed
bills, and hence the re-opening of the
Sampson affairs. Mr.. John Kerr, of Gin
ton was present to urge that the bills
stand, and Major George E. Butler, coun
ty attorney of Sampson, was also pres
ent to speak for the bills.
Incidentally it was learned during the
meeting that the favorable report on the
bills changing the county government of
Sampson would not be pressed, but that
a re-reference of the bills will probably
be asked for and an unfavorable report
the county government of Sampson as it's
voters decreed and this, in part, ex-
plains the desire for a change in the
two bills regarding financial affairs.
Mr.. Faison first addressed the com
mittee He told of the act passed in
1893 providing for levyihg a tax to build
a JAIL and how this tax had increased
from cents on the 500 in 1893 to 1-3
"a, IN 10 hot nh,
money had been collected, both from this
tax and from the special tav authorized
in 1897, and that the financial affairs OF
the county had been badly conducted by
the Populists and Republicans. Because
of this state of affairs he asked that the
residue of the special Jail tax be not
diverted to general county purposes, bu.
that it be returned to the tax payers.
He favored a levy to pay for the cost
of the smallpox epidemic, but wanted
this confined strictly to expenses for
epidemics, and not to be used for gen.
oral purposes after paying epidemic ex
penses.
Mr.. Kerr and Major Butler argued for
the bills Mr.. Kerr said that though the
bills changing the government were not
going to pass. yet as a Democrat he
wanted to give the men in charge in
Sampson a fair show. He said the bills
were needed to effect this and ought TO
pass. Major Butler explained the finan
cial condition of the county and il
speaking of the increase of the tax rate
on the Jail bonds said that the small
rate was made years before the bonds
were due, but that when these began to
fall due each year there had to be an
increase. These bonds, not due till 1911
had been paid off, as well as some others
not due till 1918. He said that for gen.
eral expenses the county was in debt
because of bridges swept away and cpl
denies, and that while there was money
on hand it was residue for special
purposes, and it was only desired to use
this for general purposes.
The discussion was lively at times,
charges and counter charges being made
and one advocate denying the statements
of the other, these showing the unhappy
days on which Sampson has fallen. The
committee heard all sides, and then
voted to report the bill to use the resi-
due of the Jail bonds, about 81 500 FOR
general county expenses and to amend
the bill providing for levy for small
pox epidemic. so that the taxes could
only be used for that purpose.
The committee also made favorable re-
ports on the bills to provide for electric
lights in concord; to allow CASTOR ami
Mecklenburg to build bridge across the
Catawba to authorize Jackson county
to levy a special tax in 1903 and 1904 for
past indebtedness; to protect fish and
birds in Burke county.