Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-04
QUE AGENTS
Xalfeasance III Office.

1t is sad condition Of things when
men entrusted with the discharge of
official duty prove not only derelict,
but to all outward appearances shame
lessly corrupt. The good name, the
actual prosperity, the advancement Of
municipality. town or city depends
almost wholly upon the integrity and
faithfulness Of those who, by virtue Of
their positions, are accounted, as they
are in fact, guardians and protectors.
We are constrained to make these re-
marks In reviewing our county, citv
and school district histories for a PC
Rod Of years, and though there is very
much to say II relation to matters
other than those connected with our
School District, and City, it is Of these
principally that we propose to speak.
At the several meetings Of the Board
OF Education every effort has been
made to push on the improvements
projected, and meet the obligations of
the district, but the Board finds itself
cramped and utterly unable to accom-
plish but little because Of the negli-
gence, not to say criminality Of Off
-cials to whose charge have been en-
trusted the most responsible duties.
At the meeting two weeks ago, the
Board voted to commence legal pro-
ceedings against NJ. j. McRaith the
ex-Marshal, and his bondsmen formon-
les unaccounted for, and belonging to
! the district, amounting to over M0us-
and dotlars Mr.. McRaith we under
stand assumes a bold front and pro-
poses to fight the Board with all the !
artillery of law. At a meeting Of the
Board last Monday evening, the Board !
instructed its treasurer to commence
criminal proceedings at once against
Mr.. McRaith for embezzlement. Thus
the matter stands at present. Now
let US look at the condition Of things
oeeasioned by the lax and totally I'M
satisfactory way Of doing business, and
which seems to have become a rule
rather than an exception with public
officers. We have school building
IN process Of erection upon which work
has been suspended for the present
though over ten thousand dollars have
been voted for its construction, to say
nothing Of certain bequcst amount
ing to the sum OF S13,5 SEQ including
interest to date There is no money
in the school treasury, and over
thousand dollars worth of orders are on
file dracjng i'utcrest--a sacriicial offer
ing upon the altar Of neglect and Grim
inaIity.
Notes giren IN payment Of tores are
unpaid, and taxes levied are returned, /
uncollectel ; monies belonging to the .
School District have been loaned to 4.
b. and G. and the district is requested /
to whistle, and virtually asked Ia
Tweed, ''WuAT ARE YOU GOING To
Do ABOUT IT." Contracts entered .
into with builders are required to be
annulled, and the material is wasting
at the mercy Of the elements. Tax
payers, who have struggled to meet
the demands Of the ''taz-gatherer,
exhor5itantiy increased because of de
linquents, are complaining and justly, |
too, and in short, the whole warp and /
wool of the school and city system Of
government 50 far as the collection Of
taxes and the duties of colIectorship I
are concerned IS sadly demoralized, and
utterly despoiled. The new Board Of
Education is pursuing the right course
and we hope to see it as firm as rock |
in the discharge Of the duties incum-
bent upon It, for 50 remaining it will
aggregate all the honest elements of
our society, and create public senti-
ment that viii frown down any and all
attempts to rob and betray under the
guise of official loyalty.
es-ss o.