, 1875-09-21

AaS7'ASAt SAAG EhtH1 Ill LIN IeEGuk annual
address, reminded the Citizens Association
that there il still mitch work for then, to do
to protect tho tax x-pnyarR from fraud and i'm.
position. A caso in point In tho recent p,,r-
chase by the County Commissioners Of VIII
MAsss 4 Tu1ElnEE $ abstract-books, for which
the Commissioners agreed to pay $4,000 Of
the public money. If this money has not
been actually paid over, the Citizens Associa-
ton may possibly save it to tho county by
suing out IN injunction against ts payment,
on the ground that the purcllaso was in viola-
ton OF the law. Pending this temporary In
junction, it in probable TINT the Association
may collect evidence that there WIS uulsw
full influence used to induce tho purchase,
and that the article sold is not worth any-
thing Like tho amount of money agreed to be
paid for it, We aro Of opinion that it cal, be
shown that tho stuff which tho County COM
missioneza aro paying i45,00o for is not
worth to tho county moro than cents a
pound, or whatever the current price Of old
and used paper may be. We b.lieve that the
Citizens Association may not only sayo the
$4,000 of purchase money, but perhaps
$500, 600 which will DO expended under tho
authority given by tho County Board 10 con-
TIME tho work, which s said 10 ho SO framed
that men may bo employed and paid by tho
county to put in shape the very boots which
haye already cost tho county S45,0oo. III or.
der to accomplish the defeat OF tho scheme,
howover, it will be necessary for The Citzous'
Association 10 60 Mt tho work without dolay,
a q fhA ri. T., ff,n
Bioners yesterday afternoon rushed through q
voto directing the Clerk to dsaw MI order On
tho County Treasurer for tho entire amount
of the purchaso.money, $4,000. It ia prob
nble, however, TINT o day or two will noces.
sariy elnpso before the money will actually
be paid over, and il action III talten to.day in
tho matter OF tho temporary injunction It is
possible yet to defeat tho contamination Of
the job.
It aeems. IN tho first place, TINT the County
Commissioners exceeded their authority in
purchasing whnt W1LMASHs l. Tu1ELcKE Ind
to sell. The law under which they acted
was the Recorders act Of 1874. This pro-
videa that tho County Board ,nay order ab.
stract-booka to DO lnado up from tho records
Of the county; it .loos not confer authority
70 purchase books which some outsider may
have put togather. Tho Bonrd, moreover, Las
only authority to procure books that may bo
made pfrom the records, while large portion
Of those bought from W1LsiAAss i Tnle1oEr
cover the Judgments, court records, and tax
sales. II these were thrown out, as thoy
must DO undcr the law, 1t would be found
tknf fhn K1arS3 ho1 r,off d f..
books which could be written up in The Re-
eorders Office at an expense Of certainly not
more than $4,000. This is tho law.point in
Tho case, md will ssryo to bring the matter
into court; onco there, there is little doubt
hat tha Transaction will be made to reveal
'ons corrupt practices which ought to bs e.
posed for tho public benefit.
II these books were oil that they cloina to
70, they would bo Of NO use 10 the county
Tor the following roasons: !. Ihoy would
aot be accepted as evidences Of title, since no
responsibility would astach to the abstracts Is.
'ued from the Recorders Office. 2. They ore
'onspfcuously incomplete Us indioea for
'efersnce, and it would be impossible in nine.
y-nino casoa ont OF hundred to mike com.
'lete abstract OF title. 9. II 1t vero deei1a.
de that there should ba sucl, abstract~books
n possession Of the county a. the law
authorizes, which Is doubtful, those books
'ould DO prepared in the Recorders Office at
'ne-fourth the cost OF tho books which hoyo
'een bought. It Is for the Citixons. Associa-
ion 70 discover tie frauds incident 10 this
1archase, tho useleasness Of which has been
.anastaf]1v demonstrated , .r3 A., AA