Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-10-21
COUNTY MATTERS.

4 49, A<Attots
The star aggregation OF Federal Of
ice holders in Berkeley county, and
especially the Martinsburg postms =
ter, are busy these days in whining
about and disappearing the man
agemsnt of our county affairs by our
present honorable and efficient county
court. principally to divert the atten'
ton of the people from the burning
iniquities of the fake tax reform laws
passed at the extra session Of the
Legislature.
They are harpiug about the out
standing Understanding county or
ders and even threaten to carry the
matter to the Circuit court. The truth
is that the only Understanding Of
ders outstanding are for the lot upon
which the pest house was built for
the smallpox patients. There was
no levy for such an emergency and
the court in order to provide sui'a-
BILE place to nurse such patients was
compelled to pursue such course.
The amount paid for the lot was $500
or $3.50.
They forget that a Republican
county court issued Understanding
orders to an amount exceeding $I5.-
600 when the present jail building
was built and made no provision for
paying them either. They forget that
the Republican court, the last year
they were in control. borrowed $1,000
to meet the expenses of the county,
the ordinary expenses of the county.
that Mr.. Grozinger each year he was
at the head of the court ordered the
sheriff to borrow money upon which
the court paid the interest. About
| $1,000 was borrowed each year to meet
the ordinary expeusee Of the county
no Jail was built no bridges erected
and no macadamized roads were ma IL
| 1t it not true that the court under
Mr.. Grozinger raised the levy tor coun-
ty purposes from as to soc and still
borrowed $4,000 each year.
| County debt" indeed! The people
have memories and they remembei
that it has only been a year or two
ago since this same cotorie were loud
ly advocating an expenditure OF $40.
900 mile for several miles of "Model
road" TO be built at the expense oil
the county under the supervision of
Federal experts. ITO teach us how
to make rods"
Again 1t will be remembered that
the same company of excellent gen
tlemen were loud iii their advocacy of
bonding the county 10 the enormous
amount OF $500, 900 TO build maca-
damzed roads IN the county,, ac-
complish that which the present
county court is doirg on the small
road levy OF from 10 to 20 cents in the
various districts of the county. II is
the success with which the court is
meeting in this matter that is hurting
the gentlemen. 1t is not the little mat
ter ofS5oo spent in caring 70. the poor
smallpox patients and protecting The
community from the terrible plague
Men who are willing to pay $40, 900 a
mile for two or three miles OF good
road or saddle an Understanding
debt of $500, 900 upon the county
ought not to complain of little mat
ter of $500 for stamping out the small
pox. If the county court had been
run by these gentlemen as it was for
years, would they have cared for the
peoples interest or would they have
let the scourge run it's course unhind.
cred? If there has been extravaganza,
where was it' Let them specify or let
them hold their reace.
Citizen.