The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-01-19
BOARD OF srPERvISoRs-oUR COUNTY
AFFAIRS

Sidney in Fremon. County, in speaking Oh
the recent change in County administration
saws: ave like the new syssen-lt has
:. taste of taxation with representation.
"Thess men (Superrisors) come frsn The
g different portions of the county, and when
20 thew were voted for By their constituents
"thev were presumed TO be men WAC would
:. car-fuVy asfsad 10, not only their respec-
ssivs wants, but the general interest OF the
81 county. Indeed, ii is their duty 10 iook
swell TO the counts's interest. We iike 1t.
4. Isis no esn,raIiaa alton of power, and isares
little chance for that charge OF skaidus-
" gerry, &c., which you have in every county
:: of the State"
Our sentiments are exactly expressed IN
the above extract. We like the system
the people like the sysiem-peeu!aE!nS
officials only dislike it. This change was
no. des: guei to please such, bat rather to
hold them in checs-to exact Of them risid
performance Of their duties, and strict &C
coun,ability for all sins Of commission and
omission. Though the system is crude and
imperfect, yet tgives evidence of becoming,
in the hands of men who, knowing their duty,
dare,o DO il, 40 efac'ual embargo upon NAL
administration in Office By county officials
Under the benefcent workings Of this sys-
TEN, we already have reason to hope that
even poor old Pottawastamie County may
yet be happily rid of pecuIating officials,
and be enabled to assume that condition OF
solgency to which the laws Of ''hi sh-taxes'
have ever entitled her.
The determination on the Board Of So
peryisors Of this county to have a proper and
full settlement with the County Treasurer.
and to secure the county from loss by requi-
ring additional bonds Of the Treasurer.
caused great llutsering in that official quarter.
"OQr army in Fianders," swore not worse
than did the Treasurer and his deputy, when
! they learned that their attempts at sharp
Figuring" would not 60 down with the
Board. But We greatly mistake the char
acter and nerve Of the men composing that
body, if they are sweryed from their pur-
pose one iota By bravaio.
Ia view of the plain requirements of the
law, we contend that it must be conceded by
all fair-minIed persons, tina. the members
Of the Board, in their action in regard tC
the County Treasurer, were prompted only
by sincara desire to faithfully and Impair.
italy discharge the duties devolving upor
them, and that with proper regard for thei'
oaths, they could not have acted otherwise
That there may be no cayiling, we will qnott
the provisions of the Code in regard to the
matter. In section 1913 Of the Revision Of
1860, it is provided that
At their regular meetingsin January aul June, o
cash year sad 'arI SHALL make fuI GHd comp'et'
settlement with The County treasurer, now requi
red by the Code. And they shall make ana certify
the Auditor Il STATE all credits to the Treasurer fg
double erroneous >meus, and ai!abc tax
c. Also, all dues Tor State Revenue, interest or de-
Inquea taxes, sales Of land pc!lers license, and 9TH
err dues II any Also, the amount collected fvr these
several items aul rereune stu delinquent each yeas
by ITSELF Sa.d reports to be forwarded by maiI.''
The settlement, as required by the Code.
and referred to in the Revision rs above
I quoted, is described a1d defined in Section
| iJ5, as follows:
He Uhe T5clsu-c) is required to present full nc
csunt o: the nbanres Of the County. connected
Il ,rrlr.
dag The balances OF taxes due on the tax-st and he
shall settle his .ccounts.-tnd his vouchers being
allowed shall 10 cancel ct By having the word " can
ceucI" written the face :f them and be fled in
der and kept in the county oGl,cand the Treasurer
shall be credited with their the books Of the
! County"
In Section 3I3 Of the Revision of 1860,
! the Board Of Supervisors are also required
"To cause TO be made ont and published Immediately
after each regular special meeting OF he Board,
schedule OF the receipt and ex cIIiue Of The County
and l full statement Of the amounts Of the Treas
urers accounts at Tie Last settlement his balance
sheet of account current in makips The settlement
There is another important provision con-
tanned in Section .6G Of the Revision of IS.
90. The Clerk Of the Board of Supervisors
is required to
Keep fail and complete accorn.s with the County
Treasurer with each separate fund OF tax by it
sc!.n EACH Of which accounts he shall charge LtIa
with the UNITS in his hands at opening such account
wHcther il be delinquent taxes mites cash or 9th.
assets belonging to such fund or lax; The amount Of
each respective tax for year when the tax-Jook j:
received hy him; and ali adItiss each tax or fs1d
Whether BY 5di'i nal ASSIGNMENTS. Interest, teU
Qucr .ayns amount received for poldIe:s License oil
other i.sas which arc additions to tie respective
or !eaIs."
1t would seem from the foregoing extracts
from the Code and Revision, that the duties
Of the B ard OF Supervisors, County Treas
urer, and clerk of the Board, were so clearly
defined tha. no one of ordinary intelligence
could mistake them. Yet, in the face Of
these express provisions, ". d. Turner,
County Treasurer presented the Board with
the following papers-papers the Board
would not dignity by the name of "Report,'
but denominated merely as "wriiing":
TRrAsuRER's oFrIcE, Pot arnie Co. Iowa.
January sth, 1851, !
7o tAc Hon. the Board Of Sugcrrisers ef Pattarat-
taaie Couaiy Iowa:
". n. TURNER, County Treasurer,
Reports the following Receipts and Disbursements in
his ag1,e since last settlement Nov. lst ISe0I.
Amount Of County Tax eo'Ieete4........ s. sc2 30
Interest ....... sss So
D." STATE Tax "a .....,.. 7as 81
" e" sehoOl Tax ........ 26s II
...-.... 100 80