The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-01-07
County Court in Quarterly
Session

" met In quarterly session at the
courthouse ia SomervilIe last Tuesday,
II being the first Tuesday In January.
Hon. w. G. Shelton presided and other
court officials we're at their accustomed
places
Chairman Shelton read Q very care
fully prepared report Of the financial
condition of the county at the beginning
Of the new year, 1t showing that war
rants outstanding already issued would
consume practically all the General
Fund TO be paid into the county treas
ury between now and March /, the
1920 taxes, and that then the county
would have nothing to meet its ex.
penses from now until this time next
year when 1921 taxes become payable.
In this emergency the court reversed
he highway fund arising from the 20
cent svy, and the general fund arising
from an8 cent levy, thus creating a
fund of about $4,000 for the general
fund which can be used during the
coming year, The fund arising from
the cent levy is to be used in liquidst.
ing present bis against the highway
fund and there will be no highway
money for the coming year.
| Under the above arrangement, all
necessary bridge and highway expenses
will have to be paid during 1920 from
the general fund. The road work goes
back to the old overseer system in all
districts aud each district will have to
look after it's own roads. These mat.
ters consumed much of the courts time
Tuesday. E. W. Dunn, j. A. Johnston
and j. A. Weber were elected q coun-
ty highway commission, hut they will
have very few duties, since no funds
vii. be available for them to use in
road work. They were instructed by
the court to proceed to sell all mules,
tools. tractors, graders, etc. which now
belong to the county.
Upon Recommendation of the chair
man, resolution was adopted rcscind-
ing the action Of the court ct former
meeting authorizing the issue Of $l00.
600 road bonds. and the sbrogation Of
of the contract with the state for build
Ink hard surface roads. Thus passes
the prospect for the present of i'm
proved roads for the county.
II Hon. w. G. Shelton was reelected
Chairman OF the court without opposi-
tiop, his salary being reduced from
$1,000 to $500 per annum. He has
served 10 secretary OF the highway
board for which he received $500 per
annum and this position was abolished.
80 that his remuneration was reduced
from 800 per snnum to $500, q
mighty penurious sum for the response
| pility he bears and the service be rem
ders. Wyatt Wilkinson was reelected
, Chairman protein. without opposition.
The salary of the County Superin-
tendent was reduced from $1,000 per
, anaum to $1,000 per annum, and j. B.
Summers was elected for the next Two
, years. defeating W. 7. Loggins. by
} four votes.
, Delegations of farmers, farmers
! wives, aud representatives of the
Chamber of Commsrce of Memphis
were given time and talked in the in
terest of appropriations for continueing
the stryicts of the County Farm Agent
and the Hume Demonstration Agent
for another year. These appropriations
were voted down in the October term,
but the requests for them were again
dockete6 for the PRESENT term. No
action was taken On tnIs mstter until
Wednesday.
A spell of economy seemed to hold
lsway over the court thruout Tuesday
unlike anything that has characterize d
its meeting for years past. Tue strin-
gepcy of the present times entered Of
ten and strongly into the discussions
and members generally voted for every
proposition to reduce the countys ex-
lpenses 10 . minimum. This action
seemed necessary when it is remem-
bered that no department Of the county
treasury has any funds and most of the
departments are far In debt, so far as
to consume most of the entire amounts
coming to their credit during the
present tsx collecting period.
The court adjourned Tuesday after
noon about 4:s0 without completing the
discussion Of the miscellaneous matters
before them and did not take Up its
Irregular docket II oil during the day.
/ A resolution was passed by the court
asking Representative Crawford and
Senator Bond TO have passed by the
present Legislature snset authorizing Q
bond issue of slOo. 600 for the purpose
Of bulldog bridges and roads in tht
county.
The appropriation for the salary oI
the Home Demonstration Agent sss
allowed. the me fsr Farm Demonstrs-
ton Agent was denied, thus putting or