Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1891-04-10
Two weeks ago Auditor Gardner
q areport Of the disburse-

Two weeks ago Auditor Gardner
published a "report Of the disburse-
ments of Union county for the first
quarter, 1897, which he had a per-
feet right to do whether required BY
law or not, for the COURIER has
charged nothing for said publication,
and we presume other papers have
not. Last weeks Leader comes out
with two articles, one signed by H.
NJ. Wallace and the other by zone
Who Knows',-both probably act
ing in accordance with the prompt.
ings of actual officials, very strongly
renouncing the auditors action and
ridiculing him even more than his
most extreme opponents ever did
in the midst of last falls campaign.
Though we are a republican, and
worked and voted against MI. Gard
ner, yet we desire to express our
contempt for such action by his
"brethren' and fellow officials, by
stating that it shows a fear of losing
some votes, next election, as we'll as
poor Judgment SO to take advantage
Of a clerical error after praising him
so highly last fall, to secure his po-
litical strength. 1t is fair to pre-
sumo that in the main the report
is correct, but If a clerical error did
occur, it could have been corrected
without belittling the gentleman
personally and officially. We de-
duce from this the fact that Gardner
will be made the scape-goat of the
officers and he will have to carry
their sins into the wilderness, when
ever the day of sacrifice comes.
Ever since the publication oftbe re-
port he has been used as a May-pole
around which the rest Of them have
danced, with war-paint and feathers,
until he, as the pipe Of peace must
prepare the explanatory report here
to annexed. The object in asking
him to publish it, was doubtless
twofold; first, to vindicate themselves
and second, to contrast their own
salaries, before their real qua ter's
salaries were allowed with the whole
of the last quarters salaries of the
republican officials for 1890, to ire
ate the impression that they are
working mainly for the good Of the
cause. The facts in the case are that
the report herein published shows
nothing, which the auditor doubt
less knew and which probably pre-
vented its publication until the
pressure brought to bear induced
him to do so. Now, if this report
does show any thing, n similar re-
port of the same things at the same
date last year would show the same
economy and even greater in regard
to the republicans. Indeed, we find
that up to April first of said year,
there a allowed on that years
salaries Lut s5l360, of which 1898
was register of deeds salary, sc5y60
auditors Go. clerk's), $50 deputy
treasurer's. The present officers
are no less expensive than any for
mer on 's, except SO far as the law
passed by the republican legislature
of 1890 compels them to be so.
Is not this a finely owe hood
wink with which to blindlold their
brother farmers?
AUDITORS REPORT:
There seems to be a mlsunder.
standing, with some people, in re-
gard t, the auditors quarterly re-
port Of disbursements Of the county
since Jan. LIST 81. Now, those a.
mounts were true as shown in re-
port but include more than the ex-
penses of this first quarter. The
reason for that is that a large
amount Of last quarters expenses
was not allowed by the commission
ers until after Jan. 1st. The
nouns actually received by the
present officers are as follows:
Register Of Deeds. ..$2O5.O0
Co. Treasurer. ................. 1850
Treasurer's Clerk ............... 10000
Co. Auditor 2OO6 60
Co. Sherif...................... $500