The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-23
TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE FRAUDS.
Opinions of the state Press.

There are more opportunities i'm being an
Indiana Township Trustee than bank
cashier.-Lebanon Pioneer.
All over the State there is wall over dis
honest Township Trustees. Nigoi is unscathed.
-Terre Haute Evening Gazette.
Holders of the Indiana township orders
secured by Pollard are weakening in their
faith as to their validity.-Lebanon Pioneer.
Many Township Trustees of Indiana are
trembling in their boots by the revelation of
the State school fund swndle.-Ripley Coun-
~ Journal.
The Rochester Republican tries to hold the
Democratic party responsible for the ras-
calities of the Republican Trustees OF Wash
ington, Steele and Barr Townships, i'm Da-
viess County. Indiana for their fraudulent
practices.-NalparaisoM Messenger.
1t is becoming pretty well settled that the
Investors in the illegal township warrants
issued by the rascally Trustees of Davies
County have been badly taken in. The best
legal talent in the county holds that the
township can not be held liable for any
amount above . per cent. Of the appraised
valuation as is provided by the Constitution.
-Ligonier Banner
Township Trustee Dorsey urges the County
Commissioners, now in session, to call for
reports of township indebtedness from the
Trustees. While no one suppoSes that any
of our Trustees have engaged in the Chicago
furniture business, it seems very proper that
the Commissioners should comply with Mr..
DOsseY's request Madison Herald.
The recent Township Trustees swindles
have made the taxpayers i'm all the counties
of the State nervous, and they are calling on
their trustees to ''shOw their hands The
next Legislature will be compelled to amend
the laws so that the power of trustees To in
debt will be largely restricted. 1t is not
likely that on extra session will be called
Pike County Democrat
The reports of numerous swindles perpe-
trated by public officials and persons in a
position to deal with corporations and banks
show that the spirit of speculation is rife in
nearly every locality. Necessary legislation
to check swindling schemers will have 10 be
had before the people can have protection
from the sharks who are always, Scheming
to beat the unsophisticated out of their prop
erty and means of npport.-Shelby VOlun-
teer.
Three Township Trustees of Daviess Coun-
ty succeeded i'm selling some S200000 worth
OF township orders, and now would like to
have some kind friend send them their over
coats and turs, as the weather is cooler in
Canada than i'm Davies County. However,
If they should by chance get back to their
respective townships, there is strong suspi-
cion that the taxpayers of the townships
could comfortably wear linen busters ali
winter.-TIpton Times.
Many methods were used by the trustees
who swindled the capitalists so successfully.
The most common scheme was to order
bill Of goods from some school furnishing
house and a school warrant sent in payment.
A bill was sent with the goods when shipped.
The trustees took the bilr and with that evil
dence of the shipment they issued new
warrant which they could sell by using the
bill as n guarantee. If the purchaser did not
take the bill to secure himself il could be
used again as the basis of warrants-Ligonier
Banner
The rOttenness and corruption among our
township officials revealed by the recent eX-
posture of their swindling methods show a
defect in our laws that is a radical one, and
ought TO be speedily remedicd. Under our
present system, the Township Trustees of
our State are the autOcrats Of their own re-
celpts, taxes and expenditures. n special
session of the Legislature should be called
for the single purpose of putting an end TO
the privileges they now possess. The ac'
counts of every Trustee in the State should
he thoroughly overhauled and Inspected
Needersburg Courier.
Suit has been brought against the bonds
men of the ASCENDING trustees of Daviess
County by a. Cohen n Co., of indianapolis
1t is believed the suits can not he sustained.
III the DOnuSlnen are lldDle IuOSl Oh lHem
will he financially ruined.
Norman l.. Jones, of Liberty Township,
Parke County, has Joined our Canadian
colony, or else gone west. taking his house
hold effects with him. Amount of warrants
50, ITO.
Montgomery County trustees are all right.
-Muncie Democrat.
There is great excitement in Morgan Town
ship and throughout Harrison County over
Trustee Thorp's proceedings. 1t is said his
OYer-issue of township orders was first
| brought 10 light by Hon. Stanton j. Peelle.
of indianapolis, three weeks ago II is also
| stated that when Thorp left his home his
| wife accompanied him as far as Louisville.
| He was one Of the now notorious Pollard's
| victims and il is probable that after he COM
| mcnced his career he worked Morgan Town
| ship for all there was in sight, both IN orders
! and money.--Shelbyville Democrat.
The Fort Wayne Gazette truly states that
| Township Trustee frauds are a natural result
| of the small importance attached 10 town
| ship elections by the average voter. full
| vote on Trustees is generally pOlled, except
| when a general election draws party lines
| and sets party managers TO get out the vote.
\ IL is the same, or even worse, in city cleo
| tiOns for cOuncimen. The men, who should
have control Of municipal affairs, men OF
4 business experience and standing, can
| not be induced TO run, and voters
| GO to the polls ii il Is entirely conve-
nient for them to do so. The result is that
| the public moneys are too often either wasted
| i'm unwse measures or stolen by unscrupu
lous men who get into Office through the
| apathy of the people For economic as well
| as for party reasons these so-called unim
portant elections possess great significance
| 1t makes a material difference whether the
! public funds are ably " !q9sely hagaled, u