The log cabin Democrat., 1913-08-22
C0UN7Y'S FINANCES
WORRYING JUDGE
PLANS RETRENCHMENT
COURT WILL CUT EXPENDI-
TURES TO MINIMUM UNTIL.
DEBT is REDUCED.

With Faulkner county scrip selling
at the lowest price recorded since the
Popullst administration, 1890 to 1894
County Judge j. w. Holt has resolved
to pursue policy of retrenchment
and vigorously cut down every posi-
BILE item of expenditure until the
county's debt is substantially reduced
and the price of scrip brought back to
price approximating par. This.
Judge Holt believes, can be done with
IN three years, if the county court re.
celves the cooperation of the county
officials and all extraordinary OUTLAWS
Of county funds are discontinued. Fiji
ty cents on the dollar is the top price
for county scrip today, and some has
sold recently as low as 35 cents.
According to the financial statement
issued by County Clerk J. A. Lea for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1913,
the outstanding Indebtedness of the
county was $63,991. "a, an increase of
S11, 900 during the fiscal year. The
increase was principally due to the
expenditure Of about $4,000 for steel
bridges and considerable amounts for
other improvements.
While these Improvements were
badly needed and others are still
needed, Judge Holt believes that be-
fore any further expenditures are
made the county should be pulled out
of debt. ut is simply matter of
business" said Judge Holt today, land
question which would not take
man in business became so deeply
involved in debt that his due bills and
notes were not worth more than so
cents on the dollar, he would not, if
he ever hoped to restore his credit, go
ahead spending more than his income.
Yet that is just what Faulkner coun-
ty has been doing, and it is just what
| am going to try to stop
The county's annual income is about
| $40, 900, and out of this must be paid
| the expenses of circuit, county and
magistrates courts, keeping prisoners
and paupers and various other neces-
sary expenses. The county is now
about three years behind it's revenue,
but if two years could be caught up,
scrip would be worth practically par
as the warrants could be cashed the
following year after issuance.
With the prevailing prices of scrip,
juror receives from 60 to 80 cents a
day for his services and pays his own
expenses; witness receives from so
to rs cents day and pays his own ex-
penses, and the county is forced to
pay two or three prices for every
thing it buys.
Until this condition is remedied
Judge Holt declares that not a dollar
will be expended out of the county
funds for roads, bridges or other i'm
provements. OF course, this does not
affect the expenditure of the three
mill road tax, but the judge positively
says that no scrip will be issued for
any purpose except absolutely neces-
sary expenses until a substantial re-
duction has been effected in the coun-
ty's debt.
The expenses of circuit and magis-
trate's courts are by far the largest
item in the county's budget, but Judge
Holt believes that some economies may
be effected in these. He is especially
anxious that the justices of the peace
shall take up and try all misdemeanor
cases in their respective townships
and settle them without allowing them
i to go to circuit court. Another prac-
tice which Judge Holt hopes to see
, discontinued is one which has been
VERY general in justice of the peace
icourts. 1t consists of arresting per-
sons on felony charges when there is
4 M likelihood Of sustaining "a cOnvic-