Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-10-03
Mr.. RYDER'S REPLY.
g. W. Norris Editor RegubEcnn Wntert

g. W. Norris, Editor Republican, Wdtertoa0n
WS.-DEAR SIR: In your issue of Septem-
Der 26 l see an article from some one purport-
ing to be a taxpayer wherein it is charged
that am directly responsible, in that have
not taken proper measures to collect some
claims due the county.
How does this Mr.. Taxpayer know that the
proper measures have not been taken? He
had better inform himself little in regard
to what really has been done and then he
will undoubtedly come to the conclusion that
he has taken TOO long a step. 1 have taken
amounts due the county Of Jefferson, and
consider that ali has been done consistent
with my duty as a conscientious officer.
A list of delinquents was furnished me
some time last spring for me to use my eff
forts in collecting the stated amounts from
the respective parties therein named.
The first duty for me to perform after re-
ceiving the list, was to investigate the Pc
cuniary circumstances of each of the debt
ors. This l did, and was surprised when
summing up the results of my investigations
to find great many Of these claims impossi-
| bic of collection. This being a fact, allow
me now to ask this Mr.. Taxpayer Cf he really
be One) that if in his opinion I ought to sue
and expend county funds to collect claims
due the county, where there is little or no
show for recovery. You must understand,
Mr.. Taxpayer that our supreme court has
laid down rules and regulations in regard to
! recovering moneys Of this kind. If you will
look at few decisions in this matter, you
will no doubt open your eyes, and for the
first time see that a district attorney cannot
always do as he would desire.
You say in your article that this $4,000
is 'collectabe." If you had been honest and
candid in this matter, you would have said
that it was due, but the greater part thereof
under the decisions was uncollectable.
From the wording of your article I may
judge that you intend to convey the idea to
the public, that my predecessors collected all
moneys due in their time. l refer the public
to my predecessors. They will say that they
collected what they could, but not all that
was due.
If you have at hand a list of delinquents,
why not be man, a good citizen, ard send
me that list so that | can further the inter-
ests of the people and yourself. If there are
any names on your list that have not yet
received, will investigate, but 1 will not
plunge the county into litigation until such
time as shall seem just and proper.
These claims have been in my hands for
only about six months and during that time
1 nav opSnb d SOOu u6dl Oh UlIn0 anu money
for which there is ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in look
ing up parties and facts Of which you, Mr..
Taxpayer, know nothing
In regard to the Cody case, Of which you
make such an ado, am pleased to inform
you that all proper proceedings consistent
with the best interests of the county have
been taken. There are a few peculiar things
about the case which l do not care for the
interests of the county to disclose to the
public, until the amount, tO-wit: S150S4, is
PAID, and not hundreds of dollars, as you
would have the people believe.
Again, some of these accounts have been
paid of my own knowledge, others am cred
IDLY Informed have been paid, and still others
will be paid at no distant future.
You say that your article is no campaign
story told for political effect The very fact
that this idea was in your mind at the time of
writing the same, proves that your article is
none other than campaign document. Why
promulgate it at this time, if you know so
much about county matters, but for political
effect? Please come out fairly, and sign your
proper name. Let us hear from you otherwise
than as an alias Yours very truly
JAS. ID. RYDER,
Waterloo, Wis, October l, 1894.