The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-04-01

because be signed it and approved
its adoption, instead of awaiting him
self of his privilege and submitting
minority report. Indeed, the report
of the committee laid on the table
from Friday afternoon until Monday
afternoon for the purpose of giving
opportunity for preparing amend
ments to it. We do not believe the
equalization was dishonesty made,
although il was unjust. The only
part of the matter in which all the
supervisors were at fault, Mr.. Branch
among them, was that they did not
more carefully investigate the facts
and equalize the taxes more justly.
Supervisor Branch is entitled to no
credit beyond the equalization ex-
actly as made. He is as much re-
sponsible for it as any other man.
Have the county poor been eco
nomically cared for? Let us see. On
page. IA of the supervisors proceed
ings we find the following report
from the committee on county poor:
1--WE have carefully examined the
books kept by the superintendent of
the poor and have compared the
same with the bills and vouchers on
file in their office, and find them
correct as shown in their report to
this board. On Oct. 1S, the COM
mittee visited the county house and
farm. We found the house in good
order the rooms neat and clean the
inmates kindly treated and all we'll
cared for, and the farm in general
managed to our satisfaction"
Supervisor Branch was a member
Of this committee and, with all the
others members of the committee,
signed this report. If there has been
profigacy in the care of the county
poor-which is not true Supervisor
Branch has winked at this profigacy
by commencing the work of the
superintendent.
The active kicker in Mr.. Branch's
behalf tried to make the people be-
lieve there was discrepancy between
the report of the county superintend-
ents OF the poor and that of the coun-
ty treasurer. The NORTHERNER has
examined the books and knows this
is not true. But we do not ask the
people to accept our word for it.
We give the authority of the COM
mittee on settlement with the county
treasurer. They submitted report
showing perfect balance of the treas
urer's books. While this report does
not bear the signature of Mr.. Branch,
we have no doubt it met his approval,
as he did not submit minority re-
port nor oppose the sdoption of the
report as submitted.
There is not the slightest doubt
that some minor reforms could be in
stituted in county affairs to the adj
vantage of all. But that there is
any dishonesty, corruption or extrav-
agance in administering of county
finances is not true. The county tax
is $4,000, the same amount as for
number or years past.
When the matter of economy is
considered, there never was man
on the board of supervisors in this
county who watched expenditures
more carefully than did Ans. Barnes
when he was on the board. Not
niggardly, yet anxious that not one
single cent be wasted. The republic
cans of Lawrence should see to it
that he is returned to the board in
place of Populist Branch, who goes
to his home crying "fraud, extrava-
gance, robbery" to deceive his con-
stituency, and at the same time tries
to shift the responsibility for the
actions of the board which were taken
on recommendations from commit
tees of which he was a member, onto
other shoulders than his own.