Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-10-31
The Condition Of our County Fl
nanceS.
OugH Acre 10 be lArDge in hc Con-
dagt Of the County Clerk's Office ?

the licrk OF inc county BOaru OF Nu-
pervisors. It has been iaimated that
we were prompted by selfish purpose,
in uttering as we did, the FACTS stated
last week, and, further, that we were
mis-statemcutS, for the pur-
pose Of making political capital. All
this we deny, uncquivoeally, and pro-
pose briefly to statoa few facts which
may open the eyes of the people, rela-
tive to matters that have been kept re-
marhabIy q0jet for Prndeatial reasons
probably, at least on the part Of the
present incumbent,
1t has been obvious to the people of
the county for the past year, that mat
ters connected with the Office Of Clerk
of the Board, were in loose and I'M
satisfactory condition. So patent had
this fact become that breathings Of dis
satisfactioE' were heard frequently, and
utterances, denuncatory of the course
pursued by the Clerk, Mr. Powers,
were heard on our streets and places
of business. We propose to state a
few facts, which can not be got over
in confirmation Of our statement last
week
At meeting of the Conhty Board,
Dee 18th 1872, the Board appointed
Committee cf Investigation, consis-
ting of Seth Reeves, Samuel Carroll
and ID, Wittef TIE duty Of this
Committee was toinvestigate the man.
agcment Of the affairs Of the office Of
Clerk of the Board, aud, during the IN
yestigation the following resolution
was adopted,
Rcso, ed. That the Clerk Of the Board IF Su-
pcryisors he authorized and directed to sell tax
certificates belonging to HIS Office, at their face
and subs Gucut expenses. for cash, and TINT sid
Clerk pay tbs money arising lhortf'oln, INTO the
Treasury every thirty dayp- And, tsat snid mon
ey bu.Uscd by the Go. Treasurer to redeem Co,
Orders ut their fare.
At 4 prior meeting Of the Board,
March 9th, j. B. IIasbrook ana Thos.
Burns, were added to the committee,
which, upon investigation, found S.
Sis in the hands Of the Clerk, the
same being the proceeds rloac Of sales
Of certificates and lands vested IN the
county.
Owing to the umnteIligibiity Of The
records. the Board directed the Clerk
to procure book, wherein the records
Of all the certificates in his Office, and
all certificates sold by him should be
kept in manner Ineligible to the
Board aud to the people This onIer
has aercr 6cea complied ritt, neither
las Nr. Porcy8 Aecl1sa n the least the
Suggestions and requirements Of tie res
''"''" Y '"' '""'"'''''',
SINCE l''St March, ''lere mas Vc''' d
large amount of certificates sold, and
though the amount has not oee' ''cer-
tanned, it is safe to put i at an amount
equal 10 the amount la the Clerk 5
hands, reported by the committee max
ing an aggregate sum Oh h'e thousand
dollars at least "hfrh Sto"''f h""e ore"
Pa'" INTO the c'"@'3 iFe"S@'$' 0"
'oh'rh los R"Fer foHQ" Us 1r"y h'tI'f'
Fo'tner we charge, that county
Orders have been bought by the 'IerN
OF the Board at discount with cooh-
ty funds, and turned over to the coon-
ty at PER value Other facts can be
stated, casting the grearest dlSeredlt
upon the conduct OF the Office
The question arises, where has his
money gomez At IS money belonging
to the people, which should have been
used to cancel the county Indebtedness
and make our Orders worth their face.
whereas they are now selling below par