Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1899 — THE COUNTY COUNCIL [ARTICLE]

THE COUNTY COUNCIL

Meets To Pass Upon Estimates of Officers—Esthnates Are Nearly All Cut Down By the Board. Tuesday morning the Jasper county council, created by what is known as the “county reform law,” passed by the last legislature, met “for business” at the court house. The purpose of the council is to consider and pass upon estimates for 1900 submitted by the various county officers, make the necessary appropriations after the estimates are finally settled upon and fix the county tax levy in accordance with the estimates approved and the essential appropriations. The council seemed to be unanimous in the desire to cut down county expenses, and deep “cuts” were made nearly all along the line. » The full board composed of the following gentlemen, were present: President I. B. Washburn, M. L. Spitler, A. J. Bellows, Nathan Eldredge, Frank Welsh, W T illiam Cooper and David H. Yeoman. The different items of estimates were taken up one by one and discussed before being acted upon. After carefully observing the working of the council we are impressed that the theory of the law is right, and believe that it will prove popular with the people wherever given a fair test. Unlike the late legislature, the council made the appropriation of $lO each for their services after making all other appropriations. The total estimates for postage were cut down to about $95.00, and the stationery and other estimates of like character were also reduced greatly. Quite a number of facts were brought out by the questions asked by the council of various county officers that are not generally known. For example, it was shown that the poor farm cattle speculation this year (cattle bought last fall) was a losing venture. Also there seemed to be a diversity of opinion in regard to the number of miles of gravel road completed in Keener tp. It was stated Wednesday as coming from the commissioners, that 8 miles was completed and that the whole 16 miles would be finished this fall, but when questioned by the Council Thursday Mr. Halleck said there was 6 miles now’ done. Less than an hour afterwards The Democrat interviewed a well known and responsible resident of DeMotte who said that there was a scant 5 miles now completed, and that not more than two or three miles more could possibly be made yet this fall, in his opinion. Outside of Keener there are but 24 miles of free gravel road in the county. No appropriations were asked for paying wolf or fox scalp bounties, therefore this extravagance will cease after Jan. 1. The water, light and incidental estimate for the court house was cut from S9OO to SBOO, while nearly all other estimates were treated to a deep application of the pruning knife. The election estimate of $1,835 was cut to $1,240, of which SIOO was on printing and advertising. The members of the election boards, for services on election day, were cut to two days each. Heretofore they have been allowed pay for three days by the commissioners. This cut alone amounted to about $250. Inspectors will of course receive extra pay for coming after tickets, making returns, etc., but will receive but two days pay for services on the board, while $75 must pay for meals furnished all the boards. The matter of subscriptions for and binding of newspapers at county expense was discussed and the board seemed to be in favor of a copy of each paper in the county be placed on file, but thought that all should be taken or none, therefore the proposed estimate for this purpose was stricken off entirely and no newspaper will be paid for by the county for the year 1900. * The auditor was allowed S3OO for extra services under the new reform law. He asked for SSOO. The county superintendent was cut SSO on salary and nearly S2OO on office expenses. The truant officer was cut from $460 to $2lO.

’The total commissioners’ estimate was $40,417.50, and it was cut almost one-half. County officers estimates were nearly or quite all cut some, but the total reductions in this item did not aggregate any vpry great sum, as will be seen below. Their salaries are fixed by law in most cases and no reduction could be made except on office expenses, etc. The levy for ordinary county expenses was fixed at 33), cents, a reduction of two cents over last year; 10 cents for court house bond interest, the same as the last two years; 2 cents for gravel road repairs, a reduction of 3 cents over previous years, making a total reduction of 5 cents in the county levy on each SIOO over 1898. As the valuation this year is about $600,000 less than in 1898, this showing is a very good one indeed. The total appropriation as agreed upon are in round numbers about $42,000, a reduction of about $20,000 over the estimates proposed. Following are some of the estimates in which the greatest reductions were made:

Estimate As allowed New bridgess 14000 00 $ 4000 00 Bridge repairs 100 00 50 00 Gravel Road Repairs: Marion (18 miles)■ 2500 00 1200 00 Carpenter (6 miles) 1000 00 400 CO Keener 1000 00 300 00 Elections 1835 00 1240 00 Printing and advertis'g 700 00 600 00 Commissioners' court. 850 00 775 00 Clerk’s office 1967 20 1784 00 Auditor's office 2779 00 2460 00 Treasurer’s office 1458 60 1382 00 Recorder’s office 1595 00 1536 00 Sheriff’s office 3173 25 2353 00 Co. Supt's. office 1683 35 1450 00 Co. Assessor's office 573 10 477 75 Truant officer’s office... 460 00 210 00 Co. Surveyor’s office... 3768 35 2250 00 Rep. of ct h. & care grd. 650 00 300 00 Supplies for same 900 00 800 00 Janitor A other empcth 900 00 750 00 Water, lights, etc 900 00 800 00 County Attorney 350 00 250 00 Sec. bd. of health 350 00 270 62 The Council finished its labors yesterday forenoon and adjourned. The ordinance of appropriations was read for the second time and unanimously adopted. For Sale: —A fine gray driving mare, five years old, weight about 900, in good condition and a fine driver. Also a canopy top buggy and a new two-seated spring wagon. Jacob Haenri, DeMotte, Ind.