Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-02-18
Taxpayer Comes Again.
The County Court and tho County Finances
Is the County Treasury Bankrupt?
Dsplorabls and Criminal Condi-
ton Of Our Finances.

DsplOrabls and Criminal Condi-
ton Of Our Finances.
Mr.. Editor:
You are perhaps wondering what
has become q us and our promise Of
November 10th, 1909. Some one has
even come to us and said thar because
Of eur silence that we had sold out to
the "eang" and hooters.
IT'S quite an event to drive to Mar
tinsburg these dfys over roads il
which in many places are almost Inn
passable from the ice gorges, which
were formed during the recent thaw,
however, we should give thanks that
the roads are no worse. An unusually
severe winter since Xmas has kept
the ground frozen 10 the only reason
that our county roads are at all passa-
BILE. There has been Ne work done on
them since last summer, and not like
~ to be for some time, fer reasons
which We will show later on.
Let me take up another matter. l
have been informed that the County
Court was engaged last week in hold.
Ing meetings behind CLOSED DOORS.
What right under our Constitution,
the Constitution of 1872, has our Csurt
10 exclude the people from IRIS BUST
NESS SESSIONS? However, the motive
Is understosd.
Almost simultaneously there was =
report very quietly circulated around
that the present sheriff was . BANK
RUPT and could not pay the county
obligations, and also note this. That
he was borrower to the amount Of
THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS from
enc Of our financial institutions,
which concern, if they did not know
him to be PERFECTLY SOLVENT would
not advance him 10000 cents, and - 4
matter of fact, has not that many
cents borrowed Of the Bank In ques-
ton, VI this speak advisedly, nor do
l know that he has secured loans from
any Of our Banks. / think not. He
can answer that and proba bly, will. i
have not talked to him.
In Novemb Der last we tried to show
the public how ourifinances, or rather
the financial statements of the County
had been juggled, by parties at inter-
est. We called attention to the pur-
ported balance due the County Of
1861. II of "current accounts due and
unpaid Of S561l.17," etc. We called
attention to the "snakes in the bar
rel Since tLst time they have be-
gun to chow their heads. FOUR mem
hers OF the County Court could not
hide them longer.
Here are some of the facts for the
people of Berkeley county who pay
the taxes to read.
The Sheriff for 1909 was from ALL
SOURCES charged with sos, 593.28. On
February 3rd, 1910, he had paid to the
several funds as evidenced by orders
in his possession, $ll3, 0Ss.92, leaving
a deficit due from county of S3946.54,
as well as an advance TO the County Of
$4,000 from the railroad tax, which
the Sheriff until abest the 10th Of
March 1910. Now, let US see what
sonfronts the three members Of the
County Court EVERY DOLLAR of the
COUNTY and ROAD MONEY gone. 40
money to work the roads until the levy
of 1910 becomes due. No money for
COUNTY PURPOSES, SALARIES, etc. etc.
Yes, suppose they will find enough
to pay two janitors for the Court
House $500 per year, for which they
have neither warrant or law, and on
Saturday, January 22nd, people from
the country and citizens of the city
were walking around the Court House
In snow and water shoe-mouth deep.
IT'S no wonder that the powers that
we have tried to have the public think
there Ia something wrong in the Sher-
ifrs office. One can scarcely wonder
why the County orders viii not be
honored. Let these gentlemen go out
on the curb, and contrary to law bor-
row money We will have = grand
jury in April, and an investig cation has
been promised the people. L have .
number of County Road and Court
House matters that Will keep for an.
other article. Country people have to
get their news in sections and lay each
bit away until it becomes concrete
mass.
Dist. Taxpayer.
Feb. is, 1910.