Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-07-04

TimSly AAviee From Our olreuit Judss
Nay nAvs Asenao oGelals Consider
shls yzoubls.

The Arensc Independent publishes
the following advice from Judge
Sharpe, a. delivered to the jury at .
recent term Of Circuit Court held at
Standish. Believing that the same
will be of interest and prove valuable
information to our readers, we give
1t space:
There are certain things OF very
great importance that ! desired to
say and In order that my statements
may have the consideration To which
they are entitled I Will address the
jury from the bench In open court
Numerous influential taxpayers,
residents OF this county have written
to me desiring that grand jury
should be convened In this county
for the purpose OF making an exam
nation into the manner in which the
board Of supervisors and township
and school officers have conducted
the affairs of tho above ment oned
municipalities and In what manner
the public moneys have been expend-
ed. I wish TO remind you Of the fact
that the cost of grand Jury would
he a great expense to the taxpayers
OF the county. do not desire that
the people should, at the present
time, lie compelled to bear this ad-
ditional burden, however, l am in.
formed and have good reasons to be-
lieye that the board of supervisors
notwithstanding the statutes OF the
state, as construed by our supreme
court in numerous decisions, persist
In appropriating one thousand dollars
annually to be expended by the su-
pervisors of the various townships Of
the county.
The appropriation OF money In
this manner Is a violation OF law
and II spread upon tax roll 1t will
invalidate the tax, although the SUI
pervisors may appropriate money In
this manner and the tax may not be
set aside, yet 1t is a misappropriation
OF public money and the supervisors
are individually criminally liable for
directing the expenditure OF public
money through channels not permit
ted, but prohibited by law.
The board of Supervisors is created
by statute and their powers and du-
ties are prescribed and fully control
led by the same law, and any misap.
preparation Of money In violation OF
the statutes render the Load or Of
f1cer, who thus disposes OF public
money, personally criminally liable.
While have no personal feeling in
the matter / consider it my duty to
protect the interests OF the people Of
this county and IL the board Of SUI
pervisors shou d, during the present
year or again at any time appropri-
ate money in the manner before stat
ed feel that 1t will be my duty to
cause grand jury to he convened
and a general examination will be
made of the affairs OF the county,
townships and school districts.
1t is to be hoped that all public Of
fcials of this county, whether 1t be
school district officers, township OF
fcers, county officers, or any of the
various boards thereof, will give heed
to the warning given by Judge
Sharpe. We trust that every public
officer in our county will ascertain his
powers and duties and then do the
public business intrusted to his care
by the people, faithfully, concien-
tiously, honestly, and well.
1t should be remembered that Are
nae county Is no longer a lumber
ing district, but has outgrown her
swaddling clothes. Reforms have
been instituted In the lag cities and
wealth centers and they are marching
toward the frontier towns. A grand
jury has set In an adjoining county
and Is 1t extremely lenient In Judge
Sharpe to give ATenac county a
chance to mend her ways without ap-
plying the strong arm Of the law.
Will officials take heed.