The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-01
MANY QUESTIONS
BEFORE JUSTICES
FUNDING DEBT OF COUNTY STILL
CONTINUES TO DISTURB THE
SQUIRES.
AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD LAW
Elections, Jurors And other Matters
for Next Mondays Session of
County Court.

VI unusual Interest VIII De tuS Jan
uary term of the Quartely Court, as
a number of matters of Importance
will come up for decision. Doubtless
the most important of these will be
that of whether or not the county shall
fund the outstanding debt by the is
suance of $4,000 worth of bonds.
The public is pretty familiar with this
question as The Herald during the
past month or two has published fully
all proceedings connected with it. The
outlook, however, that there will be
quite fight in the court over the mat
ter, and whether the bonds will or
will not be issued is mooted Ques-
ton.
Judge Gordon is heartily in favor
of funding the debt because of the saw
ing in interest that will result to the
taxpayers of the county. He claims
that even on an interest basis of 4.3O
per cent. the saving will be about
$4,000 annually which goes a long
ways towards meeting the annual ex-
penses of the county. Judge Gordon
is opposed to an increase in the tax
rate, which will surely have to be
made if this debt is not funded, but
an effort is made to pay it OF in few
years. Many of the members OF the
court agree with Judge Gordon's views
in the matter.
On the other hand there are many
members of the court who oppose
placing a bonded debt on the county
for term OF years-and If bonds
are issued it must be for perhaps an
average term Of fifteen years. They
claim that by retrenchment in the ex-
pense account and a slight increase |
in the tax rate the debt can be cancel
led. They say the only way to pay a
debt is to pay 1t.
Another matter which will doubtless
come up for consideration will be a
memorial to the Legislature either
for the purpose of having the present
road law amended or repealed. Rep
Galloway has the matter
In charge and has suggested several
which he is placing be-
fore his constituents for their advice
and consideration. He proposes re-
lucing the number of roads on which
he overseers shall receive pay from
thirty to fifteen. In other words he
wants one overseer to have charge of
wo roads and to receive pay for look
ng after the work on only one of
hem. He proposes further to have
he law so amended that the County
Jourt will have supervision over the
county Road Commissioners and the |
commissioners will have to report to {
he court on all matters and will be {
menable to the court for instructions d
nd in the discharge of their duties.
Judge Gordon favors the repeal of
he special road law and a return to q
he general road law of the state. He n
avs this department of the county D
an be conducted much more econom- p
ally under the general law, and that II
lie saving to the county will be such II
lat the tax rate can be reduced from 8
L15 on the 500 to Slip and that 8 a
,nts additional can be turned into the
mixing fund for meeting the county n
,bt. ~
Other matters to come up are the
ection Of a County Road Commits
oner in place of Esq Sanders,
hose term has expired. Esq. San E
rs will probably be candidate for
election. Road Commissioners are
be elected in each civil district and
rors for the February term of Cir
1t Court. tel
county attorney is not to be elect on
at this term of the court, as. the M,
IN of County Attorney Whitthorne Gil
rs not expire until the April term. co
tn,