The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1896-02-28

1
dsfraudsd and held up to such an extent
by corrupt officials in the past that
thew would be willing to trust county
AFFAIRS IN our hands. We were not dis
appointed and il we have disappointed
our constituents or made anv errors In
our official capacity it has been an error
OF the head ana not of the heart.
Az to the second charge the writer
evidently had in mind q reformer OF
later date, one who aspired to sit with
us IN the chief council, but was defeated,
one who in his zeal to outdo all reform
ers-in fact \ reformer of the refornlers.
who could put his finger on the records
and show whore thousands of dollars
had been ruthlessly torn from the tax
payers OF this county, ION the cam
palgn stumr we are sometimes led
from later Developments, to wonder if
he was accessory, even his silence and
iaiftre to prosecute when in knowledge
oithe facts IN some civilized countries
would make him particeps criminis, no,
Mr.. Editor OF the Journal your CORE
spondent brought this charge against
the wrong party. We plead not guilty.
We always favored delibers ton when
auditing bills, either IN our private or
public business we have met dishonest
men, men who were unscroupulous
enough to almost double their bills es-
pecially IL performing work for the
county it shows they have a fillal feel
ing or love for the taxpayers they recip-
rocate, big bills, offset big taxes you
know. We think the records will bear
US out when We say you misrepresent
when YOU claim that our dellberati0n
has been an expense to the county. We
could II called upon give many instances
where few hours time spent in investl-
eating has saved the county several
days wages OF even such expensive IN
cumbents as the writer We will how
ever lot q few events suffice, we have IN
mind bill that was urged by the editor
OF the Journal, we contended it was not
IN accordance with contract and bv
taking time tor rinvestisats saved some
$2s. In saothsr instance, when the
board Welded to the request of the au-
.dltor not to prolong q session into
another dav. in trying to. expedite their
work, at tho closing hour allowed q bill
upon the word and honor OF this same
editor for $24O more than was due.
which amount was saved only by heroic
measures resorted to by tho county
treasurer. We don't wonder the editor
OF the Journal decries and despisss due
dellberation.
We also feel certain that the record
will testify that We have carried INTO
effect the charges made in the third and
fourth counts TO which We plead guilty.
We want to say (aside) to the tax
payers chat il we had failed to make
these needed reforms charged against us
in this fourth count We would never
have been assaiIed as We are. The fact
10 somebody who has in the past re-
ceived regular donations from the public
crib have had their ratlons cut off, the
present boar d stand unit upon this
principle no remuneration except where
services were rendered somebody failed
to get their annuity +" wherewith to
meet their holiday accounts. He sends
up his wall in another article in said
journal where he designates himself
prominent citizen we recognize his
voice wherever we hear it, we even recog-
nizs his footprints, he WAS before the
board once. twice, thrice. Would have
transacted the business "gratls' pro-
vidsd the board had permitted.
While We extend to the journal our
heartfelt sympathies, acknowledging
that from its education, It's treatment
OF the county in the past, that it is to
blame for thinking it has a grievance,
but aside from all this, in justice to the
taxpayers we had to desist, no more
subsldies no more campain debts paid
ut the county's expense. We realize it
10 hard blow when We consider that
you are IN one sense the offspring OF our
county mot legitimate we wont ac-
knowledge that but these same records
show that . subsidy" from the county
made your plant, and subsequent rec
ords show that your sailing has been
smooth, you have fed constantly and
unetlntedly all these years and rustllng
is probably scant among the geese you
have aided or rather that have been un-
willingly plucked on your account.