The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-17

For some time it has been limited that
an investigation of the County Treasurer's
books would be made by order of Super
visors. On Friday. at the session of the
Board, the matter came up and Super
visor Ballard offered the following resolu-
ton:
WHEREAS, there is an impression In
the minds of many of the people of the
county that there has been crookedness
in the Treasurer's books of said county
especially under the incum bency of Treas
urer Wait. therefore.
Rssolved. That there be a committee
of three appointed by the Chairman of
this Board to examine said Treasurer's
books from the beginning of Treasurer
Waits term to the present time, with
power to employ an expert in bookkeeping
| it necessary, and report at the September
term,
tee Supervisors Ballard, Cone and Viii.
| son.
The Union says
II here was quite a scene in the Board
| when Supervisor Ballard introduced his
resolution for an investigation of the books
of the County Treasury from the time of
the late A. L. Visit CS59 1861 to the
present. Supervisor Reid, of Moline, who
was himself County Treasurer from 1869
to 1873, was violent in bis opposition, when
propriety should have led him to court
the fullest and freest examination of the
| accounts of the Office which he once held
and which is now filed by his brother.
This is all we'll euough-no one will
object to through investigation of the
books, but the eagerness Of the Union to
single out the Reds. clearly shows the
actuating motive of the Union. As for
Wait, he is desd-but there are none but
believe he kept his accounts truly indeed
~e should hate TO believe that Rock
Island County has been fostering un
worthy County Officers and trust the
examination will not prove disasterous to
the fair name of the County. Il is proper
| that the people should know what has
been done with the money-it is right to
| Investigate the DO oks, rectify mistakes.
ferret out defaulters. if there be any such
but We think it 10 also proper that such
investigation should be conducted 10 fair
| ness, and without prejudice toward any
one.
The Reds are not Democrats, conse-
quently The ARGUS is not rushing to their
defense. or striving to shield them, but
when we see anyone pursued with a vim
dictive zeal. and when we understand the
causes which actuate that zeal, it is pro-
per that the fact should be published.
The Union commenting on this resolu-
ton says:
The only active opponent in the
Board of this measure OF justice in m an
who held the office for four years and has
been accused OF manipulating the success
ing his party aud working for an opposi-
ton candidate with whom he was on
terms of intimate friendship.
ofendiDg-he bolted party nomination.
to vote for friend. And then Bob Reid
the present incumbent gave the tax list to
the Revieao instead of the Union, and
thus was the ire of that paper further in
creased. Then again when the matter of
publishing proceedings of the Board of
Supervisors was discussed, David 0. Reid
was unwilling to create a monopoly for the
Uasion, which was another mark against
he Reds.
THE ARGUS wants it distinctly under
stood that it favors full and thorough
desires to hide nothing
but at the same time The ARGUS has no
revenges to seek nor malice to crafty.
While the ''Reids" are Republicans
always were, in fact, they are entitled to
at least fair showing, and should not be
prejudged and for that reason-it is better
to wait for the decision of the examin ing
committee instead of making up or wish
ing for an unfavorable verdict before the