Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-02-25

Mr.. h. Z. Berry, Of Staunten, Va.
is spending few days in this city
Mr.. Berry expects to return to thi,
cltN, and take up his residence here
after April the first.
TIE editor Of the Shephsrdstow n Re-
sister has set state agog by shaving of
the mus,schs whieh has long been III,
savy OF so many less handsome men
Editor snyder has long been rsgarAe d
as the haadsomest editor in the state
but those who have seen hirn since the
momentous event say that he has no,
improved his personal appearance and
that he can no longer lay claim to be-
ing the abandonment man In Shsphsrds.
town. Since brother Snyder by his
own willfnl act removed himself from
that position we nominate Col. Towns,
Schlsy vs. his successor. Brother shy.
der 10 one Of the best known and most
popular newspaper men Of the state
and his brethren Of the press regret
that he has so badly marred his hand
some face.
There has been no change in the
Berkeley county financial troubles
since our last issue exception that the
Citizens Trust and Guarantee Com
pany has withdrawn their bond Of the
sheriff. This we are informed is due to
the fact that some of the deputies had
not yet executed proper bond though
theapplication for bonds were pending.
All efforts to discredit the sheriff
must fall for there is absolutely moth
ing wrong at that Office and the bond
ing company has so certified. If there
was anything wrong it could be easily
detected. The sheriff is the banker for
the County court and when he gets
money in his hands it is charged to
him and he gets credit with nothing
but the regularly executed orders of
the County court and when he is check
ed up he must either have the money
or the vouchers. AS we have stated be-
fore the only trouble is that the Court
has given orders for more funds than
they have provided for in their levy
and thus created deficit. Every bus
mess man knows what the effect is
when he overdraws his bank account.
He can no longer have his cheeks cash
ed,
The real trouble In our county fl
nances is that the County court in
1908 decided to rebuild the County
court house which cost about 10000
and that year lay levy, we are told
by member of the court, OF five cents
to pay on the contract and thought
they could wipe out the debt In about
three years but the legislature that fall
enacted law restricting the County
court il its levy for county purposes to
thirty cents. The law also provided
that if the court should need any ex-
ira amount OF money for any extraor-
binary purposes that they should sub
nit the natter to vote OF the people.
Here is where the trouble comes In.
The County court decided that they
would not submit the matter to the
people because of the possible effect on
the following elections on the republi-
can party, and some of the members OF
the court have political aspirations
which they feared might be jeopar-
died by an increase of taxes. Had
the court submitted the matter to the
people last year there could net posi-
bly, have been any such condition as
now exists in our county finances. 1t
is the same old story of too much pol
tiles in our local finances.
DR.. d. ". Border, the well-known
fruit grower of the Kearneysville vi
entity, has done something new to
fruit growers in this section. he has
leased an orchard Of 90 acres on the
south side Of the main line of the b. d
o. railroad near Ksarneysville to John
ID. Baker for ten III of twenty years.
The orchard is low in bearing, having
yielded fair crop last year. HALF Of
the crop each year is to go to the own
er Of the orchard. One-half of the spray
ing material aud also half of the bar
rels or boxes for the shipment Of fruit
are to be supplied by him. Mr.. Baker
the lessee, is given an option TO pur-
chase the orchard at $500 per acre al
any time during the life Of the lease
Advocate.
lGueHnInQ hCouieat BArreG