Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-10-05
ooh, Liberty, how mary Grimes are
Committed in Thy Namev

Liberty" in the Conservative, touch
es up a review of county officials on as
sumption, when, had he examined the
records, he would have found the facts
the reverse of his assuming.
In the first place, there was no change
in the law in regard to Treasurer sala-
ry in 1874, and consequently no trans
fer of any fees into the Treasurers
pocket. Now, Liberty" did not write
this through ignorance, but to mislead,
to term it mildly, he thought more
could be made by lying than stating the
truth The Treasurer's salary in 1870
and following years was just what it is
at the present time, so that the differ
ence between $500 and 5000 per year
was saved to the county by Mr.. Poor.
That MIR. Poor threatened to appeal to
the Circuit Court because his clerk al
lowance was fixed at 5000 is another
falsehood. That statement was made
to the Board on the question of their
non-acceptance of his bond in January,
1876. What potent influence was
brought to bear on the Treasurer in
1873, when less amount was used for
clerk hire than appropriated by the
Board? Let Liberty" answer.
AS to the increase Of the Auditors
salary, it has already been shown that
there is no increase in the amount re-
ceived, and further, the records show
that the action of the Board with re-
gard to officials salaries was unanimous.
That the BULLETINS figures prove
the Auditors statements to the Board
to be untrue, is false. Had Liberty"
been seeking the approval of His Satan
ic Majesty to his production, it could
not have been more happily arranged.
The warrant received by the Clerk
was from the fees Of his office alone, and
from that amount he had to pay his dep
uty and Clerk hire, as the Board of Su-
pervisors has never made any appropri
alton for that purpose.
That the Board acted on false assump-
ton Of the opinion of Attorney General
Cults and District Attorney Powers, is
the next charge. Their opinion is that
the Board of Supervisors has the right
to increase or decrease the assessment
of any class Of property. The Board
does not claim the right to increase
moneys and credits when assessed at
their cash value, but do claim the right
to increase when assessed at only 80 or
40 per cent of cash value, and assessors
before the Board stated that moneys
and credits in their assessment was re-
turned in the same proportion to their
value as any other property.
Liberty states that there was
large deficiency in the County Fund in
January, 1874. Wrong again. January
1st, 1874 there was $2S.34 on hand,
which had increased to $2,3097S on
March 1st, 1874, and there was no defc-
iency until December 1st, 1874, when
the Board had control but eleven
months.
Liberty believes that no part Of our
taxes give better satisfaction than that
portion expended on bridges. Does the
bridging of the Wapsie on section -,
Perry township, at an expense Of $4,000
give satisfaction to the people? That
the levy for bridge purposes in 1876,
provided for the full payment of con
tracted work, together with surplus,
falls short Of the truth only $1,000
That the transfer of the Swamp Land
Fund to the Bridge Fund has been ad-
vised by the County Auditor, each and
every member of the Board can bear
testimony. Thus we find Liberty's
statements untrue and as light as emp
ty air, as nearly related to truth as noon
to midnight 'Scest thou man wise
in his own conceit? There is more hope
Of a fool than Of him.
That Liberty" held back his budget
Of half truths and whole falschoods un-
til just before election, hoping that they
would not be detected and answered,
shows his dishonest motive.