Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-03-29
Pease Township Finances.

10 the Editor Of he Sunday Register:
SIR-There has been a feeling for years
among the people Of this (Pease) township,
that the township funds were not properly
expended, and that some one was getting
more out of the said funds than the law al
lowed him, but il was almost impossible to
prove anything TO that effect, although
they felt certain of il. Since the books have
changed hands there has been a chance 10
investigate them and see how the affairs OF
the township was taken care of. Part Of
the records of orders that have been issued
are either lost or destroyed. Why they
have been lost or destroyed we do not
know, but the records of the orders that
have been issued from 1883 shows that
some OF the ex-tOwnship officials have
received hundred of dollars more than
is due them. Now we don't wish the
good people to take our word for it, let
them come and examine the books-they
are open to any one for Investigation
and see for themselves This wrong was
made known to the present Board OF Trus
tees at the annual meeting. But two OF
the Board act as if they don't want this
matter thoroughly investigated. They
tried 10 tell the clerk that they did not
know whether the law compelled them to
straighten the books or not, and, mind you
part of these Trustees have been filling
this office for years and il is during their
term that the salary of these eX-offlcials
have been Overdrawn, and they are partly
TO blame for the orders; for money is not
payable unless signed by the Clerk and the
Trustees, and this money could not be paid
unless signed by them Now some of the
good people may think that this is just
got up for a political purpose, be-
cause one of the Trustees is a candi-
date for reelection; but we would say
TO them as we said before that the books
are here in the Township Office for inspec-
ton, and also would add that the Trustees
have had plenty of time to make move in
the right direction, and il looks as if they
want 10 keep this back until after this
spring election. and if the Trustee that is
now candidate for reelection is elected
they will try 10 continue the business of
the township in the same old way. II is
not only in salaries that money is over
drawn, but in the way of bringing bills for
extra work on roads, etc, that the Trustees
allow. We know of one order where one
man wanted $50 on an order from one of
the Trustees, and because he did not have
the order signed by the other Trustees
the clerk refused to give him an order for
his money. When he came back the fol-
lowing Monday he had the order re-
duced from $50 down to $50. %:
reducing the order twice before
getting his money Another bill othis was
for fixing a road that was washed out in
/ October, which he has in his own account
book, filed with the clerk, for which he
charged Sl99, when another man only
wanted SIS; and still the people wonder
why they are taxed so high. All of these
bills are brought before the trustees for
their approval before they are paid. Now
we leave this with the people and if there
is not a settlement this week with the
parties who have overdrawn, or some
statement in regard to the condition of the
township books there will be more said
than this.
Signed. JNo. w. TERRnL,
Clerk of Pease Township.
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