Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-03-23
For The Southport Telegraph.

Mr.. EDlToR-My attention has been
Gale to the report of committee Iesigna.
ted by themselves as 1.-The committee ap.
pointed by the town of Pleasant Prairie, to
examine the doings of the last Board of SUI
pervisors of the county," which appeared
in the Southport Telegraph last week, and
| beg leave to make few remarks in refer
ence to said report and of the ''doings ofthe
last Board" so ably investigated theren.-
Said committee commenced by stating the
amount audited to the Board, and to each
(which amounts may or may rot be cor-ect)
without saying, and probably without know
ing what the items were comprising The ac
counts allowed said Board, but leaving
their readers to form the erroneous opinion
that said accounts were for their own per-
sonal services as supervisors. | can inform
said commite, that large portion Of said
Board, had acted in other capacities, and
had other bills audited to them, and for 9th
er services. Some of the "last Board"
were acting justices Of the Peace, and had
bills for such services, and some of the
last Board had been employ ed BY the ap-
pralsers, and some had acted on a commits
tee, and some of the ''last Board" had bills
to considerable amount transferred them.
and audited in their names so that merely
stating the whole amount audited Ia the
last Beard" does not prove their bills it,
legal or exhorbitant.
am not prepared to say that the inan
rial committee do or do not deserve the
censure bestowed upon them in said report;
they are Of age, and can speak for them
selves, if they deem it expeden'; however,
| have been informed that they were nee
essarIy longer in doing the business assign
ed to them, i'll consequence of the neglect
of several towns to make their returns at
the proper time. OF the wholesale cen
sure bestowed upon the ''last Board"
chairman, and clerk, in reference TO the "la-
ciity with which that committee could get
their accounts allowed for that service" |
will state that the board appointed three
men whom they supposed to be an honest
and capable committee to settle with the
Treasurer and report the financial condi>
ton of the county, and made provision by
resolution, directing the chairman and clerk
TO issue orders to pay their bills, and as far
as the clerk IS concerned at least, sup
pose the examining committee know, that
when bill has been properly endorsed as
allowed and signed by the chairman of any
board, it is his duty to make out the order
for the amount so endorsed on said bill
without investigating or enquring if the bill
is legal or correct.
OF the Striking manifestation of gene
rosity of the Board towards their chairman
in an allowance of SO extra pay" | will
only say, that isuppose the examining com
mttee know that it is customary TO give
extra pay to the chairman Of assemblvs of
men acting in an official capacity. | have
been informed that II. Mount received So
extra pay for dlscI,arging the extra duties
of chairman Of the county Board of super
visors, so that the striking generous oiiow-
d1ce by the "last Board of SO extra pay,
is nothing new under the sun.
TheexaminIng committee say they can
not see the proprety OF Tie allowance of
part of the appraisers bills. | think if !
they had examined said bills, they would |
have found them legally certified to, and |
sworn to; therefore, suppose the examin>
ing committee will admit that the board was |
legally bound 10 pay said bills, but if the APP
praisers have done wrong in any OF their |
public acts, they are also of age, and can
explain if they think proper. OF the al
legged prodigality Of the ''last Board in the
salary given to the clerk of the Board, | |
can inform tie examining committee that the |
salary referred to, is of about the same
amount that has been paid for the last three
or four years at least, and much less, be-
Iieve, than any of the adjoining counties
pay their clerks for the same services. Do
the examining committee believe that's man
can live IN city. and pay his house rent,
md his minister, and his doctor, and for his
wood and food, etc., etc., on a salary cf $40 |
Or $50, and fees of the Office which | sup