The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-20
Victor Bisch's Answer TO the Charges
Against Him OF 0fIiclal MiScOn-


Since my enemies succeede 1 in pro-
curing me to be indicted for extOr-
tion-for an act which had nothing
whatever to co. as | assert, with my
official duties, | had determined not
to be driven, by anything they could
say or do, into the public prints for
my defense, intending to make it In
the courts in answer to the indict-
ments they had procured. But in
your article on Monday. referring to
the bill for extra services of my
predecessor, Mr. ". III. Walker. after
particularizing several items, you say !:
We give the above as a sample Of the
/ character of the claim which the Com mis-
/ sio Iers rejected, and which was prOsecute ted
/ with so much energy. The pawn Mt of
/ ana for receiving the same, Mr.. Walker
! would have been guilty OF extOrtiOn. And
I IL was FOR alleged similar oheQses that he
was instrumental in procuring an indict-
Inent against Mr.. Biseh.
Now, sirs, the statement which /
/ have taken the liberty to italicize, is
not tr1e, and shows that even you do
not understand my position, and what
ever may have been my determination
/ to remain silent under the accusations
of enemies, when | find myself mis-
/ understood by those whom | regard
as friends | feel myself driven to de-
| part from the rule | had laid down
| for myself, so far at least as to dis
abuse their minds in the premises.
Permit me, therefore, to state briefly
the facts upon which my enemies,
| (amOng whom, am surprised to learn
from you, am to count Mr.. w. H.
/ Walker as One,) procured the indict-
n1+ ~ Of 4 30
/ In 1864, the State Board Of Equali-
cation, at their session at indianapolis,
made an order increasing the an
praisement of the real estate of Van.
derburgh County 20 per cent. upon
the appra isement made by our Ceuaty
Board Of Equalization. When this
came to our knowledge, the Board of
Commissioners was not in session,
but the members of the Board, after
canvassing the means of saving the
County from this gross injustice, and
seeing the necessity Of immediate ac-
ton, suggested that | should go at
once to see into the matter. This l
did, found how the thing had been
done, aud that the State Board of
Equalization had adjourned till Au-
gust 2. | Immediately corresponded
with the several members composing
that Board, and from their statements
in reply, thought l saw my way
through the difficulty. l attended
the adjourned meeting, and finding,
as l anticipated [ should, that the
Board were obstinately determined to
inhict the 20 per cent. upon US, by
means which it is unnecessary to men
ton, [ procured the order to be made
in such form as to make it illegal
Upon returning home and advising
the Board of Commissioners of the
facts. they, after consultation with Mr..
Chas. DENLY, then County Attorney
instructed me to disregard the order of
the State Board aud make out the
duplicate without the 20 per cent. /
increase. This [ did, and persisted in /
so doing, notwithstanding the Legisla- /
-lature subsequently passed an act re- /
curing County Auditors to add the /
increase to their duplicates. Now, in /
this matter, insist, whatever my en- 4
emies or prosecutors may say, was .
instrumental IN saving the tax payers 4
Of this county 20 per cent. annually I
upon their real assessment for five
years.
Again, in 1865. the Legislature or
dered levy of thirty cents on each
one hundred dollars, for the support
of soldiers families, amounting, for
Vanderburgh County, to S38 699 I'm
der the law the Auditor of State so
apportioned this fund that Wander
burgh County was only entitled to
Sl1.19O so of its own moneys, leaving
over 81 900 of the above amount to
be paid into the State Treasury and
to be disbursed to soldiers families
in other counties The Board of Com
missioners of Vanderburgh County
me to take steps to prevent
this injustice, if possible | immedi-
ately commenced a correspondence
with the Auditor of State upon the
subject, and | have the evidence to
show that it was through me that both
his and the Governor attention was
first called to this matter. This cor
resulted In the conHic
ton that nothing but an act of the
Legislature could save us the absolute
loss of this S27, 900.
By securing the cooperation of
others, and repeated visits to the
Capital. and attendance for weeks to
the matter, at the Special Session Of
the Legislature Of 1865, an amend
ment was procured leaving to each
county the whole Soldiers Relief ]
Fund raised IN the county, except
five per cent, which was to be paid to
the State Treasury
Now for these two services, which
had clearly nothing to do tcith mn
1utjes as auditor, the Board volun- J
-arily fixed upon $500 as M com
Densation. Ny crime IS, that I &C Z
;epted that compensation. I respect
-.lII.. s1. Init rnkathn- 49, i 49, Z