The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17
RockInEhnm,n Eiunnces.

Sir.-The Harrisonburr Daily News
Rupiishes an editorial from your paper
was based upon an article which ap-
peared some days ago in the Daily
N News, and which was 50 palpably mis-
f ormeSS a anot no one here at all In
WORTHY OF notice or contradiction 1t
seems, however. that you have been
misied, ana have Internationally, 1
am sure, because OF your misinforma-
tion, done our county q grave Injustice
when you state that at is one or the
most unoconomical and wastefui of its
State" venture the assertion that
no county in the State has n moro
gSS n,iEIn county government than
Is more accomplished for the public
good at an. equal expenditure than
mere. make. this statement despite
the charge. of tho Daily News. and
from any source.
The offices to which reference is
MADE are administered under the gen
more nor less than Is paid for similar
work in every other county. I am
no apologist for. nor advocate of, the
rec system u better and more
DC substituted. but l think we should
draw our deductions from facts fairly
presented. The statement made by the
Daily News that If salaries of $4,000
Tor treasurer and clerk and $4,000 for
sheriff were substituted for the allow
ances they now receive Gas is claimed)
sating public officials. there would BIO
effected saving of $4,000 the year to
inc taxpayers, is 80 lacking in truth
mat no one at all acquainted with
than one Of the political vaporinss of
the Daily News. By its figures II
claims:
Gross Proposed
reCeiDtS. salary. Saving
:, ONCE ........so.ooo $4,000 $4,000
sherifs 0, ofiiee $500 sSSS 1899 I5SS
These figures do not take into con-
sideration the absolutely necessary
expenses OF these officers for additional
help. without which the offices could
not be administered eihclently or in
accordance with law In the treasurer's
Office this Will amount to s4.l50. as fol-
lows: Clerical help In office, $4,000:
incidental expenses of oficeEpostage,
newspaper advertising, etc.-S20O;
premium on bond of sl65,00O. $40; cost
of collecting approximately $50. 600 not
which would necessarily have to be
provided in addition to the salary IL
the treasurer is to be allowed the
tered according. TO law: which would
reduce the saving to $l.Sso, and not
$4,000 In the clerks office three
me-, err "a arc kent busy and sa.5oo would
sary for these helpers. This would re-
Iucc the savings In that office from
$4,000 to $4,000. The salary OF the
sheriff Of $4,000, after his necessary
helpers arc fairly paid would not be
In excess of $4,000. and no saving could
be effected in his case.
me compensation paid the treasurer
all comes from funds raised by taxa
ZION, and whatever saving might BIO
effected in his office would be saving
TO the general taxpayers: The clerk
is paid an allowance OF 5000 from
funds saised by taxation, and IL the
proposed plan were applied to his office
$4,000 more would have to be paid him
from funds provided by the general
taNpayer His entire compensation
now. except the 5000. comes from fees
collected from those for whom he per-
forms service. II these fees were
abolished the general taxpayer would
have to make them good to the extent
tained and collected and paid into the
general treasury the $4,000 might be
saved.
The sheriff receives $500 from the
county and per diem of SO for at
tending the sessions of the court, paid
out Of the state Treasury. amounting
TO $3.50 or 5000 per year His remaining
compensation comes from those for
whom he renders service and not from
the general taxpayer.
] reiteratc again that the same SER
vice is performed nowhere more cheap
ly than in Rockingham; nowhere is a
dollar collected more Chcaply, and no
where is II expended with less cost
and more efficiency.
Pardon the length of this article
and the detail. but feel that your
publication has placed our county in
such an unfavorable light that I could
GEO. B. KEEzELL