The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-08-27
MP. A. r. McEACHERN RE-
PLIES.
He and Other Commissioners
Ready to Meet Opponents
Attempts to Answer Some
Questions Asked by Robeso-

MAN and is Silent as toOthers.
To the Editor of The Robesonian:
Mr.. Editor, with your permits
sion | desire space in your paper
to make a brief reply to two
articles published in The Robe
sonian, one of date the 18th inst,
and also on the 10th inst. In re-
gard to "a still hunt for Office,
and the action of the executive
committee whether wise or I'M
wise, the board of commissioners
is not responsible, nor did l vote
for the resolution because | was
afraid for the record of the board
of commissioners to be made
known. The resolution request
ing that a joint canvass by the
aspirants for Office be not had
was introduced by Mr.. L. R.
Hamer, a man of integrity and
ability, man whose counsel the
Democratic party has always
found it wise to follow, and Mr..
Hamer is not a candidate for
office.
So far as the board of COM
missioners is concerned, we are
not afraid of our record; in fact
every act of ours is matter of
public record, and any one who |
: desires to do so can investigate
, it. We are native born citizens
of Robson county, and have had
the county's interest at heart,
and no member of the board has
ever taken a cent from the
treasury of the county to which
he was not justly entitled, While
a the executive committee has
= deemed it wise fot to have a
joint canvass of the county,
: nevertheless if The Robesonian
e has a board Of commissioners
Y that it wants to elect, and de-
o sires a joint discussion of county
matters, if you will name your
men we will meet them anywhere
e in the county, and let the people
n know where and how we stand
is on all matters pertaining to the
h county.
! The Robesonian wants to know,
~ why it is that with total taxes
collected in 1907 amounting to
,e $150,00O, the commissioners are
At now, and have been for some
~ months, borrowing money to pay
&c ordinary county expenses? In
n the first place the taxes collect
n ed for the year 1907 did not
e. amount to $3.50, 900. The FACT
IF is the total taxes for all purposes
~ collected for the year 1907, was
81 only $129, 1921, and of this
ly amount, the only part the boarc
at of commissioners had anything
at to do do with was $28, 7O4. &c
od The Robesonian ought to know
" that the board of audit and fl
nance has helped to spend thu
sum of $2,019.78.
lal If The Robesonian was NOR
d. familiar with the facts and~con
in ditions in the county, it woult
,,h know why it is necessary for tn
~ county to borrow money. Whel
X the affairs of the county cam
in back into the hands of the Dem
ar, ocratic party, after the exit O
Of the Fusion party, there was
10 heavy debt on the county; an
~ together with the cost of build
ed' ing the new Jail, out of tn
he ordinary tax levy, the count
ats has been practically a-year be
r. hind; and whatever debt ther
49, is against the county to-day ha
ICY been caused by the legacy hanC
me ed down by the Republican party
as together with the cost of tn
re- new Jail.
d. While The Robesonian ma
49, not be aware of the fact, yet tn
ln0 people know that the board {
we commissioners last year built
eel good steel bridge across Lumbe
M river at Gilchrist bridge, whic
cost Robson county 81, 800. An
further than this, as the Peep
know, for nearly year we hav
en- been without a court house, an
es- the board has had to pay as rer
oV- $50 each term for a place
len which to hold six terms of Rol
asst eson Superior Court, beside
ca having to pay rent for Offices fl
cur the sheriff and the treasure
aho When you consider these exit
geC burdens and improvements, an
10 the insinuations from The RoE
esonian, it would look like tt
DC county was falling further b
1>o' hind each year, but this is n
the case, for the county is
An better financial condition to-ds
Use. than it has been in four year
5ers In 1904, before the present boa
utv came into power, the county he
)me to borrow from the Bank
the Lumberton, to defray the nece
,ure sary expenses Of the county, tt
sum of $14, 500.
as a The Robesonian wants to knc
axe why the county of Robson h
d as paid over 500, the costs in t
aim case of the Southern Audit Con
shin pany VS.. Treasurer McKenzi
mo, Now if the county has paid t
anv costs in this case, it did it wit
rher out the sanction or order of t
ner, board, of commissioners. II
nty- Dill OF costs has never be
i to presented to, nor approved
N a the board of commissioner
% a neither has the board authoriz
125. or directed that it be paid out
had the treasury Of Robson counr
er to III regard to the payment
)em- the B and c taxes, or privile
inco taxes since the merchants nj