The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-21
County Finances.

The law requires the board of supervisors to
make out, at its annual meeting in September,
full and accurate statement Of the receipts and
penditures of the preceding year, together with
statement of the finances of the county the end
of the fiscal year, including all debts and liabilities
OF every 9esGhnpr.on, ana inc assets and other
would be of considerable interest to the public.
and one would think that the board would consider
THE ARGUS in 1874 called attention to the obvious
neglect of duty by the then existing board in not
having the statement made, the present board
Ignored the matter entirely and the people remain
in the dark as TO the financial condition Of the
county, and what its expenses are Union.
And THE ARGUS called attention to the
same matter again, in August of this year,
previous to the annual meeting, hoping
that the members of the board would at
least make an effort to comply with the
law. 1t would seem to be the duty of the
Finance Committee (Messrs. Wright. Dart
and Chamberlinl, to give their particular
attention to this matter, but every member
of the board is liable for neglect of duty in
not having the law complied with. The
following is the law:
(GrOSS'S Statutes Of Illinois, page 99.)
DUTIES OF COUNTY BOARD,l %. 1t shall be
| the duty OF the county board of each county:
| g. To make out at its meeting in September an
nullly, full and accurate statement of the receipts
and expenditures of the preceding year, which
statement shall contain full and correct descrip-
| ton OF each item, from whom and on what account
! received, to whom and on what account expended,
together with accurate statement of the finances
Of The county at the end of the fiscal year. including
all debts and Liabilities of every description, and
the assets and other means to discharge the same
and within 30 days thereafter to cause the same 10
| De posted up st the court house door and at two
other places in the county, and published for one
week In someSnewspaper therein, II there is one,
and the same can be done without unreasonable ex-
pense.
GROSS Statutes Of Illinois, page 1917
COUNTY BoARD-WILFUL NEGLECT s A. II
any member OF the county board of any county
in this state shall wilfuy neglect to perform any
Of the duties which are or shall be reuured of him
by law, as member Of the county board, he shalt
for every such Oense forfeit the of $780, to be
recovered in an action of debt before any justice Of
rpeaee in the county,
After the board adjourned Sup'r. Dart
one of the committee, reported around
town that they had 80 days after adjourn.
ment to make the statement required by
law. THE ARGUS has, therefore, patient
ly waited for the statement, hoping that il
would appear. The board adjourned or
the 18th. Of September, and the 80 days
expired last Monday. On Tuesday al
ARGUS reporter was instructed to call or
County Clerk Cook for copy Of the state
ment, and he was informed that no state
ment had been made, and he did not know
, as anything had been done in relation tt
, making one. The people are left in uttel
ignorance Of the condition of their publ,
affairs, -probably because of the inca
pacity Of the men they send to the count,
board.
Every member of the board of supervl
sors is liable to be prosecuted and fined
under the above law, for wilful neglect O
duty. Their attention has been called t
the matter for two years in succession, ant
they have paid no attention to it. Eacl
member has copy of the statutes and
is his duty to study it and learn what i
required of him. He absolutely has n
f excuse for neglecting his duty, except hi
inability to perform it.
a! It is the duty of the board to provid
q suitable books for keeping the fiscal &C
counts of the county in an intelligent mar
+ ner,-but this has never been done, an
!, we doubt if there is a member of the boar
n who can tell what system of book keepin
is required in order TO show the fiscal cor
dition OF the county. Certain it is that n
proper system of book keeping was eve
O established for the county, though frequer
demands have been made for such sy:
s tenn. The books of the county ought t
e be kept by the same system that banke
: keeps his books-so that the clerk ca
: show the condition of the county any da
o in the year, at the close of business.
al We hope that every supervisor will /
IT prosecuted, under the law quoted abov,
,. for neglect of duty. The neglect is ce
Is tainly wilful, for no other man can
given to it, after being furnished, lat the g,
< pense of the county, with the law.and aftt
& attention. for two years, has been called
st the matter. through the papers. Ever
Of supervisor should be required to pay
If fine of 5000, for wilful neglect. The bus
II ness of the county would then be likely
receive proper attention,