Evening journal., 1908-10-28

mont OF county aifalrS BY Repu 1il-al
Levy Courts a comparison Of conditions
under Republican and Democratic Law
Courts is interesting Since the Repuhh
cans went into power in, 1900. shsy have
placed the cglnty on a sound busnes,
basis. have overcome big .dehcit OF $50.
0oo LETT as a legacy by the Democr aux
Levy Courts. hsve redeemed tnolsard'
OF dollars of bonds and have paid oa
thousands OF dollars Of other expenaes
for road improvements. bond Issues 1at
other. expenses created by legislative en-.
actment All these things are nov being
done on a low tax rate. and the Replbll.
cans inish each year without deficit
Because Of this excellent showing of the
Republican administration some OF the
Democratic speakers and newspapers
have been forced 20 resort 10 the liinit
IN enorts TO build up a spectre OF ex-
travasance.
An Item Of History.
AS an item OF history II Is well TO
state that the Republicans were in
power in 1891 and 1892 when there
were eleven Commissioners. The
Democratic Legislature OF 1891 i'm
rrediately passed the Five Commits
sloner Act and legislated them out
OF power at the end OF two years by
dividing the county into five districts.
expecting thereby 10 have a majority
IN the Levy Court for all time
The condition in which that Levy
Court found the county's finances after
years OF Democratic control may be
brought out from an extract OF a re-
port OF the finance committee OF which
John " Jolls was chairman. which in
part Is as follows:
Attention is called 70 a bond issue
o. 5000. .00o-S10 900 Of which should By
legislative enactment been paid an
nually. This had not been done for
several years prior 20 1891, $50 900 OF
which was past due and bearing an
excessive rate of interest This court
also found a floating debt OF 5000
which with accrued interest was paid
This report also shows that the
bonded debt OF the county as follows.
Court House Loan .........s 6s. 300
Aims House Loan ............ 227.OOO
County Purposes .......... 1s0. 900
Total ..-................... s476. 900
( BY far the most interesting part OF
that report is in relation to Washing
ton street bridge. which shows that
contract was let with the American
Bridge Co. about September 6. 1902
for the structure for $4,000 and an
engineer employed TO prepare plans and
superintend construction for Si2o0 a
total OF $500 There were eiibscrlp-
tions from corporations and private m.
dividuals OF S1s50o Tho work was
under way and $4,000 had been paid
on contract and 5000 to the engineer
r-fIen this Republican body went out
Of control. leaving a balance OF ssl. 600
TO be paid by the incoming Levy Court
The Democratic Levy Court immed
lately proceeded TO investigate the az.
fans az their predecessors and in theil
report showed that S52.100 was reouir.
ed 70 complete the work a loan wa,
Immediately foated on account Of
Washington Street Bridge for 800 00O
al per cent, an excess over the
alnount required OF s47, 900 In the
same year 1898 another per cent loan
OF $4,000 was floated TO nav Demo-
cratic floating debts OF these loans
$4,000 have been paid during the last
four years. Again in 1897 $3.50 600
worth Of bonds was issued by the
Democratic court not for any specific
purpose, but 20 pay foating debts.
During these years the court House
loan OF $4,000 was maturing and in
1899 no fund having been provided 10
meet them or any part Of them, they
were refunded in full by another issue
IN that year. These begin 10 mature
in 1914. Thus during the eight years
from January /, 1898 to January 1
1901 the county debt OF S47e.O00 in
stead Of having been reduced as re-
quired by law was increased "a
s526 900
Had a Big Deficit.
January l. 1901. when the Republicans
again came into control they found an
empty treasury and legacy left by a
Democratic Levy Court OF a shortage OF
$4,000 i took careful engineering until
July J. of the same year when taxes be-
gan 10 come IN Since that time 70 the
present eight years IN ALL under Re
publican control there has not been a
dencit while the tax rate during this
period has averaged Just 90 cents on the
500 Of valuation This is 70 show that
while the Democratic courts with a set
rate Of 50 cents had a deficit each year
the Republican courts never had defcii
while working on the same rate OF tax
alton. In this connection Il would be
well 10 state how the funds Of the
county have been spent IN the last eight
years
In addition 70 running the county II
Republican Levy Court from January
1901, TO June 80. 1902. mqudated many bi,
Democratic debts. Appended also is 4
long list OF expenditures made oy, tile r
publican Levy Courts since 1901 tho mos
remarkable part Of Il being thai eaol
year has been finished without "a DIN 4
and the tax rate is being kept a. . lov
figure
Republicans Pay Debts.
From January /, 1901, 70 the end OF IN
fscal year, ending June soth 1909. th
Republican Levy Court liquidated IN,
following debts:
Bills payable. (this item Of bills paya
BILE Is thing Of the past and has neve
appeared IN the court records since tn
above date. January l, l90D $50 5ss 6s
bonds redeemed. sSo,O0o.oo. investmen
tax fAdams) refunded. S12.slSa1
ON July LIST. 1902. to July ist. 1906
ids redeemed, $4,000; investment "a.
iams) refunded, s7.e61s for goo
ads $3.50 20
From July LIST, 1903 to July LIST. 1901
Bonds redeemed. $1,000; investment Ia:
(Adams) refunded, S.les.4s. good roads
Hb,2os12 coupling quarry plant al
workhouse with stone crusher. SC. s..
q ooo
From July LIST, 1904 to July ist, 1906