The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-21
MISUSING HIS AUTHORITY.
Commissioner Sahm's Questionable
Manipulation of His Official Power.
How lie Endeavored to Prevent an Important
Communication from Assessor Quill from
Reaching the Board Of Equalization.

By an act of courtesy, at his own solicitation
County Commissioner Sahm is secretary of the
Board of Equalization. The law says the county
auditor shall keep the record of that boards pro-
ceedngs, but Sahm wanted to do it and the
auditor let him. What the result will be if some
taxpayer rises to question the legality of the
equalizers organization on this account no one
can forstell. But as the youthful and bounding
Sahm has considerable margin of life to draw on,
it Is perhaps just as well to let him get all the
experience he can. His desire to be secretary
came from an uncomfortable enthusiasm to man
ufacture greatness for himself and Sim Coy
who Is his political master. Sim. it is believed,
shares this power over his political servant with
Hiram w. Miller, the calculating treasurer of
the county.
1t is to be remembered that Sahm is q candi-
date for re- election on the reform idea that a
high real estate appraisement must be main
tanned, because the County Commissioners are
restricted to thirty three-cents levy. In this
lies the secret of his unwearying guardianship
of the list of corporation and bank assessments.
The Board of Equalization devoted a great deal
of time to this part of its duty 1t went over
the list time and again, changing here and there.
Sahm did not want the list published. because
he had a little enterprise in regard to it. At the
last moment he expected, after sitting through
several meetings and asserting to the various
additions. to move horizontal reduction Of 20
per cent If it was not agreed to he and Sim
Coy in the coming campaign, could hedge on
the high appraisement idea by claiming
that Sahm favored reduction. The
Journals publication of the list wrecked his
hopes in that direction. This was one Of the
little tricks he tried to play as the so.caed Sec
rotary OF the Board OF Equalization. For the
first time in the history of equalzlng boards.
this man Sahm attempted to keep from the pub
lie proceedings it ought to know, in order to
manufacture political material for himself
Again, as so called secretary, he was sitting
alone the eQualizers having no meeting that day,
in the County Commissioners Office, one day last
week. Assessor Quill had a communication for
the Board of Equalization, in regard to gener
al reduction of the present real estate appraise-
Sunday last It was given to
Sahm, as the so-called secretary. 1t
Is the custom of secretaries to preserve commu-
nications addressed to their boards until the
proper authority is given them to open the seals
and read to those addressed sitting in formal
session. Sahm did not wait for this. The mes
senger had not gone far before the so-caled sec
rotary broke the seal, read the communication,
and then, on his own motion, referred it to the
county attorney, who has 1t yet. Saturday last
the board met for consultation and the assessor
asked two or three of it's members If they knew
anything of his communication. Not one of
them had any information on the matter, and
when Sahm was asked concerning the letter he
replied that he knew nothing of it. Another
was drafted Immediately, and Assessor
Quill himself carried it to the board,
then sitting in Room 50 Of the court house The
door was locked, and to his rappine Sahm came,
raised the curtain, saw who wanted entrance,
turned upon his heel without a word and re-
tured to his seat The assessor knocked again,
and this time with some temper, until Mr.. Gin
ton came to the door and got the communica-
tion to Sahm's disgust. 1t was the day before
this that the last-named individual referred with
the assistance of Commissioner Reveal, the as
SCISSORS bill for services to the county attorney.
Sahm has talked great deal about shutting up
the assessors Office, and because it is now Repub
lican and is in favor of reduction of the real
estate appraisement, it is presumed that he has
taken this method of trying to withhold pay in
order to stop work
"Do you know" said gentleman yesterday,
''that Sahm reminds me of verse in the Biblep
I'm what way?"
II think it is in the Bible but, all the same, it
will answer. 1t is: Pity the country when the
King is child 7"