Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-06

A most important matter TO come
up before the county board OF super
visors at their annual meeting, next
week, is the proposition to relieve
ex-county treasurer VIM. +. Rowe
from the loss sustained on county
funds deposited in Henry's bank at
the time of its failure. A petition
asking that this relief be granted
has been presented to the people OF
the county for their signatures, and
has been freely and generally signed
by taxpayers. When the circum-
stances in connection with the col
Letting and depositing of this money
are taken into consideration, there
ought to be no doubt as to the pro-
pricty of granting the relief prayed
for in this potition-which is that
the ex-county treasurer claim
against the bank for three thousand
three hundred dollars be accepted in
lieu of one thousand eight hundred
dollars due from him to the county
The amount in the bank at the
time of the failure was about three
thousand three hundred dollars.
This sum was collected upon delin-
quent tax certificates placed there
for the convenience of tax payers
living i'll this vicinity. Not a cent
of this money would have been col
lected had it not been for the com
mendable efforts put forth by Mr..
Rowe to collect the vast amount of
back taxes due the county-amount-
ing to about twenty-one thousand
dollars when he entered upon the
duties of his ollicc-for which the
county held tax certificates, which
had accumulated ever since 1913, and
was year by year becoming more
burden5ome to the county
Besides, were it not that Mr.. Rowe
accommodated the people living in
and adjacent to Mh.a-.s Point, by |
placing the certificates in Henry's
bank and abstract office and allow
ing payment to be made there, with |
out the trouble of going to the
county seat, the money would not
! ave been in the bank mt the time
of the failure.
And therefore, as the bank was
believed to be very safe and sound
institution, and a share of the county
funds having been usually deposited
there i'll previous years, there can be
no manner of blame attached to Mr..
Rowe because of the loss of the
money. But on the contrary, the
circumstances in connection with
the placing of the money in the
bank, which we have pointed out,
is conclusive evidence that he posses
sed qualities to be commended in a
public officer, viz: zeal for the inter
ests entrusted to his charge aud n
spirit of accommodation for those
with whom it was his duty to trans
act business. For the exercise of
these qualities certainly he ought
to-no suffer loss.
\ further consideration which can
be urged in Mr. Rowe's behalf is,
that large share of the money lost
had been collected upon tax certiti-
Gates, which, as decided at the last
term of the circuit for this county, |
had become outlawcd, and the
money due upon them would never
have been paid were it not for his
voluntary efforts to collect delin-
Quent taxes due the county, and 10y
reason of which efforts the county
realized in the aggregate about ten
thousand dollars. EVERYTHING CON
nected with the whole transaction
goes to show that it would only
be an act of simple justice for the
county to assume the loss and release
Mr.. Rowe from further responsible
ity.
GEN. MCCLELLAN DEAD.