The Forrest City times., 1904-03-04

oouh'eu LOT Dy reason of increase d
 revenue since you came Into flee?
 NO not to any great extent since du. ring the first year Of my term the in crease ot tax collected oyer the pre- cerdlnG year was aHly S233 and the re duclioh ol the volume of outstanding scrip was several thousand dollars.
 Well, Judge, bow do you account fer that?
 That result Was effected in three ways. Flrst.-I rIgidiy adhered to the law Tn the matter of allowing claims and demands agans the county, mak- ing no allowance that was not speci6- caily provided for by law; second. by refusing to enter into contracts on be- nail ot the county upon extravagant terms; and third, by steadily refusing to contract or to make allowances in excess Of the appropriations made by the quorum CT levying court, which is the County Court, composed of the County Judge and the magistrates of the county. Too often county judges disregard the Limitations. as to expendi. lures, thrown around them by law. and contract largely in excess of the appro. Prlatlons, The county must be goy- armed by the same business and eco. homie laws that govern individuals. If person spends two dollars for every dollar he provides with which to pay hls obligations. it Is but question of time when bankruptcy is upon him. Just so with the county.
 Judge, isthere much to be done in the way If improving the roads ana bridges What do you propose in that matteiY
 Yes, there is great need of better roads and bridges. Heretofore, owing to the large debt of the county the magistrates from the several town. ships when they assemble to leyey tax es and make appropriations for cul- rent expenses aud public improve. ments have been unwilling to make ad'quAte appropriations for building much needed bridges The last levy ing court appropriated only 5000 for roads and bridges, In the eleven road districts in the counly-this is only about SlsI. for each road district This sum will not build more than one bridge in township--if there were nc repairs to be made to existing bridges. When you ta1e from that sum the necessary amount to repair bridges already built. you have very little for new wOlk. The road tax un. der the law being appropriated to the payment of tie oYerseer, the purchase of tools and the building of small bridges such as the road hands are required to build, is hot available for bridges of the tifst-class, such as are in greatest demand. propose that to remedy this evil, when the quorum court meets to levy taxes and make appropriations in Oatohe", to urge them to appropriate such sum for bridges that each tOWnsh D or road district shall have such lirst-class bridges as public convenience demands, and in this way in short time we will have good highways all oyer the coun- ly. The county will be out of debt at that time, and contracts made under the appropriation will be made on a cash basis, and the work will be at saving of al least twenty-five per cent.
 Judge, l see you have five public buildings here. Do you protect the county against loss by fire?
 Oh yes, certainly. No one would ex- cuse me if failed to have insurance in case ot fire. In that particular. I have effected some saving. Instead of inSurng for year at time, 1 hay. insured for ter1a of three years, pay ing therefor sum equal to two an- nual premiums, thus saving one third the bsual cost, which is a saving of about $l50 year.
 Judge, arc the parties generally satisfied with your judgments rsn- dered2
 Generally speaking. they appear to be satisfied Sometimes party feels agueved and takes an appeal, but 1 am a little proud of the fact that my judg. ments are not reversed, at least, 1 do not now call to mind any case appeal ed that has been reversed.
 Judge, hear that there has been some criticism of your judgments in admitting to bail parties charged wth crime. What have you to say to that
 can only say, that in d democratic the official acts of al pub lie servants are the sul ject of just criticism, and for one would not have It otherwise
 In the discharge of the duties of a judge l feel like the highest and best attributes of my nature are called into I