Evening journal., 1915-02-15

preparation is used to buy automo-
biles?" asked Mr.. Elliott.
Mine cost S1.05O." replied Mr.. Scott.
who said there we're four automobiles
altogether, one for the county engi-
neer He did not remember what
they all cost. He explained that the
auto for the county engineer was very
necessary. Mr.. Scott said he paid
for gasoline out of HIS own pocket
and it did not cost the county one
cent to run his auto.
Tax Rate Not Sufficient.
Commissioner Fouracre. who was
next called, stated that the money ex-
pended for the maintenance of roads
at present was $4,000. He said a 60
cent tax rate is not sufficient and
that the deficits has been caused by
unforeseen extras. He believed an in
sufficient tax rate was largely re-
sponsible for the low state of the
county's finances.
Mr.. Fouracre said that he did not
owe dollar in his district and that if
he gets all the money due him under
the budget he will be about $500 to the
| good. He expressed belief that all
bills passed by the county we're legal.
Mr. Fouracre pointed out that the
new-discovered old law was RESPONSE
BILE for the farmers Bank shutting off
the unusual loans to the county. He
said he went to the Farmers Bank
about two weeks ago and met Cashier
Cooper and four directors who were
inclined to give the county the loan,
but told him that their attention had
been called to an old law which pro-
hibits them from doing it. This law,
which they said was recently discov-
cred, prohibits the bank from loanins
more than $4,000.
1T was not a question of the
legality Of the bills said Mr.. Four
acre, but simply that the bank could
not loan more than $4,000 to the
county. l don't know how it came
about unless some one looked up the
law and informed the bank officials
that there was such a law. per-
sonally was surprised to hear about
It,"
Mr.. Fouracre. in reply to Mr.
} Elliott, said that te bhank was already
on numerous occasions loaned more
! than $4,000 on overdraft.
Commissioner Smith was next 10 bt
called. He said the outstanding bills
, I'm his district amounted TO about S102
. and he explained in detail just what
they were. Several of the bills he
said we're not lust right"
DO you mean to say that the
| legality of some of the bills might b'
, questioned?" asked Mr.. Speakman.
! well, don't know about that,
replied Mr. Smith
+ "1f they are it's your duty to cal
) the attention of the Levy Court tC
them" remarked Mr.. Speakman. Gar
| you undertake to say just what the,
! are?"
, NO" answered Mr.. Smith.
! Commissioner Groves again wal
/ called to the stand Mr.. Elliott asked
Mr.. Groves, who is chairman Of The
E finance committee, about the cost o
, land for the Concord crossing. Mr.
. Groves replied that il was about SIG,
- 600 or $1,000. Mr.. Speakman explain
( ed that this amount was fixed by
{ condemnation commission, and not b.
D the Levy Court.
= Mr.. Elliott then wanted to know /
the $4,000 spent by the county 10
r city streets. and the money appro
e priated to the fire companies was lie
e gal. Mr. Groves could not say whethe
:. It was legal or not. Mr.. Groves ex
e plained that the county owes $685. so
r for new roads which have been con
strueted in the county.
II "ls it due this year or payable thi
d year?" asked Mr.. Grantland.
1T is due before July l." answere
Mr.. Groves.
n Under the law, when is it pay
j. able?" asked Mr.. Grantland
L Mr. Speakman explained that if
4 was due before July / il should b
0 included in the budget of the presen
d fiscal year and was payable durin
i this year.
j. In reply to Mr.. Elliott Mr.. Grove
s stated that the Farmers Bank had nc
e refused them a loan because of tn
= illegality of bills, but because of tn
!" old law recently discovered.
y DO you have an automobile, too
d asked Mr.. Elliott
3 Yes was the reply.
o well it has been brought out ths
you used to get money from th
} bank remarked Mr.. Grantland.