The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-17
THE WV POLICY OF THE SUPERVISORS.

The people OF this county, OF all parties,
have had an opportunity to read and con
slider the plan introduced by Supervisor
Bowles, Of Yuma, and adopted by the
Board of Supervisors, in relation to bills
against the county, sheriff salary, etc The
plan includes;
l. A repeal of the illegal sum of $500
year voted to the sheriff, and combining
that officer. as well as all others, to the
sums admissible under the constitution.
.. The purchase of all county supplies
from the lowest bidder.
3. That every bill presented against the
county shall be sworn to as just and due, -
and,
1. That all bills ordered by any super
visor shall be certified by such supervisor
as correct.
The committee to carry out this plan is
composed of Supervisors Bowles. Lobdell
and Jarvis
When Mr. Bowles introduced his plat
form, some Of our Republican supervisors
were startled and shocked, while here and
there Democrat hadn't quite made up
his mind to go to the root Of the matter
There are always some people who prefer
to get along, some way, if they can, with
out taking the bull by the horns but
Madison Bowles is not one Of that kind.
Supervisor Krell was scared and horrifi-
ed. He took the floor and commenced a
speech against the resolutions especially
the one to purchase from the lowest bid
der by contract He said it would place
him in very awkward position, for ne
had promised about all the merchants in
Rock Island that he would give them some
Of the county trade-he had to do it, he
said, to get their support, and if this plan
was adopted he couldn't redeem
his promises. His speech produced good
deal of modification among the Republi-
can members, and set all the Democrats in
a roar of laughter. When he had conclud-
ed, the resolution had good many more
friends than before he spoke, for all began
to see that the old mode of purchasing sup
plies was source of political corruption
startling one in this town, and perhaps
more or less so in every town; and that
the people had to pay for it in enhanced
prices for al county supplies.
Supervisor Jarvis took the floor, and, in
a few plain, straight forward remarks.
stated that he labored under no such emhar-
rasSment as his colleague, he had made no
promises to any one, and was ready to co
operate with Mr.. Bowles and our friends
from the country in carrying out all prac-
'j>al measures for cutting down expenses
and reducing taxation
The resolutions were opposed 10y the
Republican members favored by every
Democrat, aud adopted
The committee talk of having meeting
and issuing an advertisement for samples
and prices Of such articles a. the county
will need for the ensuing year.
The County Clerk will probably prepare
blanks for bills, with blank for affidavit
and certificate attached 50 that every Su-
pervis1r can have few for his constitu-
ents, in order that all bills presented at
the June term Of the Board shall be made
out in accordance with this new system.
Unless this shall be done the bills will have
to 90 over to next term, as the Board will
not allow any bills in future which do not
conform to the plan adopted at the last
meeting.