The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-20
THE TREASURER'S BOOKS.
A Statement from County Treasurer
@5s Reid.
Rock Island ILL.,, Sept. 20 1880.


To the Editor Of THE ARGUS. go
To give correct version and that the
people may better understand Mr.. Re:d'e
position it will be necessary to state at no
time has he refused the free use of the
books to the com mittee to be used 10 his
office. When Mr.. Ballard FIRST called at the
Treasurer's Office he was informed by Mr.
Reid that he would provide the committee
with all conyeniences for the proper inves-
tieation of his Office aud would ende avor
to make it pleasant for the committee to
conduct the investigation in the Treasurer 8
Office. where the pspers and books we're
kept and where he contended was the
right place to investigate, Mr.. Ballard
said no-that he proposed to conduct the
investigation with closed doors, Mr.. Reid
then refused to allow the com ittee to
carry off the books and papers. Mr.. Bal
lard said that he would call an extra ses
sion of the Board of Supervisors, Here
the conversation closed. Mr.. Reid con-
suited his attorneys. who gave it as their
opinion that he had no right to. ALLOW the
books to be carried off as proposed by Bal
lard, but upon consideration consented to
allows the committee the use OF the
books of 1859 rather than
incur the expense Of an extra session of
the board. When the board met he re-
fused TO allow the com mittee further use
of the books. except in his Office, so as to
test the position he had taken. If the
board had demanded the books as desired
by the committee the matter would have
been referred to the court, which is now in
session. The Board appointed commit
tee of three to take counsel and ascertain
whether Mr.. Reid was obliged to surreu-
der the custody of the records of his Office
action of the board was taken upon the
representations made by the Ballard Com
mittee that Mr.. Reid refused them the
further:eonvenient use of bis books, which
is as follows:
The committee on investigation sub
mitted the following report which on
motion of Supervisor Zimmsrman was
received and placed on file.
The undersigned James W, Ballard. A.
E. Cone and John A. Wilson heretofore
appointed to examine the treasurers books
Of this county from the commencement of
the official term of A, L. Wait, former
treasurer OF this county to the present
time. with power to employ az expert il
necessary, respectfully report
That said examination has been ia pro-
gress for the past three weeks and an
expert has been employed for that purpose
that the further progress of such exami-
nation has been interrupted on account OF
the refusal of Robert Il. Reid, the present
treasurer to allow this committee and said
expert the further convenient use of the
books OF his Office for the purpose of
such Investigation. Your committee has
had from the beginning of the examine
ton to the present the possession of said
books, but they have now been taken
from US By said Reid; that the use of said
books by this committee is necessary to
enable this committee TO make q final
report to this board on the subject matter
for which we were appointed. Your com-
mittee would request your honorable
board to take such action in the premises,
as the situation may require.