Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-08-08
CHECKS ON DERAULTERs.

DeIaulCer johnson III company with
the sheriff of Muscatine county, and
the arrest or defaulter Rowe, of Powe-
shiek county, in Mexico, are very sure
indications that If any of our Iowa of.
ficeholders steal and run away they
will undoubtedly be finally caught and
punished. We are glad to see this
state getting around to what is called
Jersey justice. Surely the sentencing
to the penitentiary during the past
year or so of such rascals as Cassatt,
Van Leuyen and others of their stripe
should lead us to conclude that our
courts are attending strictly to bust
ness. Crime should be swiftly pun
ished, but the prevention of crime is
equally important. In every instance
of misuse of public funds there can be
traced more or less carelessneSs on the
part o. the associates in business or the
fellow officers of those who 90 wrong.
We do not mean to say that rascality
aud defaulting can be absolutely pre-
vented, but we are firm of the opinion
that these evils can be very greatly re-
duced by the exercise of those checks
and balances that are inciCen to, and
by law provided for, all in power,
whether they are bank directors and
officers, or officers holding county or
other official positions. Especially
should persons who are on bonds for
those holding public and private posts
of trust be on their guard. For the
care and proper use of county funds
the boards of supervisors are most re-
sponsible. They have the right and
are expected to use it, to know what
the several county officers are doing,
and not only should they carefully in
spect and be satisfied that the accounts
of such officers are correct, but they
should be prompt in observing any
evidences of extravaganza living, gamb-
ling or other actions on the part of
such officers. If the supervisors know
that the sheriff or any other officer, is
specializing on the board of trade, or is
addicted to other vices, they should re-
gard such a man with suspicion and
take immediate steps to secure the
public and awaken the bondsmen to
the situation of affairs. This can be
done by the supervisors under pro-
vision of the law (Sec. ,245, Code of
Iowa. that says that the board "when
of the opinion that the public security
requires it" shall call upon any officer
"to give such additional security by a
new bond as may deemed requisite"
A failure to give such an additional
security enables the supervisors to
easily get rid of the officer, for the code
(Sec. 402) says "and any such officer
who shall neglect or refuse to make
such reports or give such bonds within
twenty days after being so required,
may be removed from office by the
board by vote of the majority of the
members elected"
In the case of Rowe, the Poweshiek
county rascal, the supervisors well
knew that he was leading fast life,
that he had been mixed in scandals,
and it was notorious that he was an
unfit man to be treasurer of the coun.
ty. Had the supervisors said to him
"the public security requires" addi-
tional bond, it is doubtful if the man
could have COTTON it, and his removal
would have followed.
by the same privation of Iowa law
that we have first quoted above, "any
officer or beard who has the approval
of another officers bond" has the right
to demand additional security, and
this would apply to banking institutions
and other corporations with whom
the public is comdelled to deal and en-
trust their money. At Pella when the
swindler Cassatt was wrecking his
Dank, had the directors of the bank done
their duty, he could have been ousted
and great loss to innocent persons a.
verted. The Pella directors knew that
| SuoodbI Woo lCooihS " iilO VI OAbL O.
gance and speculation, and yet they
sat quietly by and let their instution
60 to ruin and their depositors suffer
great loss.
There is hardly an officeholder in the
state around whom there are not
thrown by the law, and wisely too,
certain checks and balances. Espec-
tally it is true in country offices, and
such salutary provisions of the law
should be carefully watched and adj
ministered. 1t is necessary that good
men should be chosen for all positions,
but extra care should be exercised in
selecting the county supervisors, for
upon their honesty, integrity, frmness
and hard business sense much depends.
In every county this should be remem-
bered, to the end that the dangers of
speculation, and injuries to the good
name of the community, may be re.
duced to minimum.