The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-02-15
COMMISSIONERS ARE
TIRED Of UNFAIR
CRITICISM
They Resent Attempts to
Create Dissention In
Their Ranks.
Office of Commissioners of Cobb

County, Feb. 13, 1918.
Editor of The Marietta Journal
Dear Sir:
At the request of the Commits
sioners whose names are attached
hereto, l have this day presented a
copy of the enclosed letter to Otis
A. Brumby, Editor Cobb County
Times, with request for publication.
At their request am also sending
you a copy for publication.
J. R. MILLER, Clerk.
Marietta, Ga, Feb. 13, 1918.
Otis A. Brumby, Editor,
Cobb County Times,
Marietta, Ga.
Dear Sir:
In the last issue of the Cobb Coun-
ty Times the charge was made and
published that there was delay by
the Board of County Commissioners
in paying the premium on the bond
of the County Treasurer which was
caused by the Board playing politics
in the matter, etc, etc.
THIS CHARGE is AN ABSO-
Lutte FALSEHOOD.
The facts leading up to and con-
cerning the matter are as follows:
In the early part of last year it was
necessary for Cobb County through
the Board of Commissioners to bor-
row $60,000.00 to pay the then exist
ing and current expenses of the
county, or to issue County warrants
drawing z per cent interest which
would have to be discounted in many
instances on basis of 8 per cent in
terest.
The Board believing that the pres
ent County Treasurer would cooper
ate with them for the best interests
of the County as all other Treasurers
had done, and believing they could
/ borrow the money on lower rate of
interest than the warrants would
draw solicited the three banks of Ma
rietta to bid on loan of $60,00O.OO
with the promise that the bank MAX
ing the lowest rate of interest should
be the depository of the County funds
for that year.
The Merchants & Farmers Bank
was the lowest bidders at an inter
est rate of 4.749o and the money
was borrowed from them on the
agreement that the County funds
would be deposited with them after
the loan was made, The County
Treasurer arbitrarily refused to de-
posit with the Merchants & Farmers
Bank and Immediately transferred the
loan and deposited the same, together
with the County funds in the First
National Bank. He also deposited
the special fund of $8,000.00 which
was raised to rebuild the Roswell
Bridge with the First National Bank
without interest and refused to place
the same on interest when interest
was offered by other banks. This
Board filed mandamus proceeding
against him and compelled him by
an order of the Court to loan this
special fund at interest until it
should be needed for the purpose for
which it was raised.
The first of this year the Board
had to borrow money again, or issue
warrants as above stated at high
rate of interest. Again we were
handicapped by the refusal of the
County Treasurer to cooperate with
the Board and to agree to deposit the
fund with the Bank securing the
loan.
This being understood, none of the
Banks would make a bid not even
the First National Bank, which was
to secure the money on any condl-
ton.
We finally negotiated the loan
with outside parties at an interest
rate of $50 per cent and the Treas
urer Immediately transferred the
fund to the First National Bank. Had
he agreed to cooperate with the
Board of Commissioners and deposit
the fund with the bank making the
lowest rate of interest the money
could have been obtained for $50 per
cent.
Under the law it is discretionary
n ,rhoth her fhRN