Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-03-31
The Vivian Matter.

The Vivian Matter.
The last issue of the Mineral Point 1ra--
bune contains the following article in rela-
ton to the report Of the committee ap
pointed to investigate the accounts sof the
County Treasurer:
'"The report of the committee on settle
ment with County Treasurer, as published,
makes it appear that Uncle Frank Vivian
has misappropriated about $l5 900 of the
county funds. Why is it that the people
are not alarmed and clammoring for the
money? Why is it that ninety-nine men
in each hundred in the county treats the
matter as ridiculous farce; 70 the first
question we answer: The people hnoW
that every cent justly due the county from
Mr.. Vivian will be paid 10 the second
question we answer The people have
greater confidence in the honesty of Mr..
Vivian than they have in that of the com
mittee making the report"
To say the least of it, 1t appears to US
that this attack is uncalled for, and i'm
polite. This committee, consisting of s..
w. Reese of DodgeviTfe, G.. NJ. Ashmore
of Arena, and #. ,FanDusen Of Mineral
Point, was appointed in good faith to in
vestigate the books and accounts of the
county treasurer, and ordered toreport to
the board-as any board had right to
do, at any time and as further neglect
would have been continued injnS tree both
to the treasurer and the people. They
met, and with the assistance of a clerk, in
vestigated the whole matter from the year
1861 to the present time. They all work
ed together nine days; Mr.. Reese and Mr..
VaEDusen other five days and Mr.. Reese
six days more, arranging and copying re
port. They made report, and presented
it to the county board, showing, from the
books and vouchers on file in the treasur-
er's Office, the total amount of cash receiv-
cd and the total amount disbursed. No
important item of which is in dispute, the
treasurer himself admitting every error or
discrepancy of any considerable amount to
which his attent ton was directed. They
make no charge of dedication or embezzle-
ment, against the treasurer, but itemize
and point out number of errors and omis-
sions, which, in the aggregate, foot up to
SIS, 4O5 70 in favor, Of! the county. This
report was received by the board, and
adopted by vote of Ii to l.. The treas
urer was allowed twenty days in which to
examine his books, and was requested in
case he discovered any errors or omissions
in the report of the committee, TO at once
Serve notice of the particulars on 8. W..
Reese, who was requested to examine the
same, and be prepared to report. AS no
notice of the kind has been served on Mr..
Reese, it is presumed that no important
error has been found. e This then is the
history of the whole matter. 1t does not
show the least disposition on the part of
either the committee or the board to injure
Mr.. Vivian, but exhibits a determination
to have fair 'and impartial examination
and exhibition Of the accounts of the office,
which the people have at all times right
to demand. The committee are disinter.
ested men, sworn to perform their duty,
and how the Tribune can attempt to i'm
peach their honesty we are unable to see.
We consider the attack on the committee
for making an impartial, and what they
and the county board consider a just re-
port an uncalled for and contemplate at
tack, both on the committee and the board,
which has adopted :. the report, and indi-
rectly on the people of the whole county,
for the board are our representatives, and
ought to have an undsputed right to in
vestigate the accounts of any and all off,
GERS of the county.