The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1899-04-22
ANOTHER OPEN LEVEE BOARD
LETTER.
N,tta Yuma, Sharlsey Co., MIS- Miss >
WV" April 18th, 1899

latfer IN the GreenNllC
making certain inquiries pertain
inc TO- the apparent muddIe III
which the affairs OF the Ieyet
hoard seem TO be in. In arecenJ
issne of the Greenville Times ana
which was copied IN your issue OF
the 10Th, the Greenyille Times en-
beavers as best it can to reply TO
INV questions. | accept the eX-
PLANTATION. though lam free to con-
fess that neither the taxpayers OF
/ are any nearer the facts than we
were before the explanation; thus
practically demonstrating that eX-
plantations don't explain, and are
seldom satisfactory. What we
taxpayers want is the true facts
however stubborn they may be-
We have Il right to know how lhe
accounts of the various officers con
nected with the leyee board stand.
/ make no accusations. The grand
iurv of Washington county dId
that. and it does seem to me thaI
If the accounts of the leyee board
are in a condition to bear scrutiny
its various officers should court
rather than shun q thorough IN
yestioation, and thus remove the
cloud of suspicion that naturally
arises IN the minds of us who by
the sweat of our brows bear the
burdens OF the leyee board.
1t is very apparent from the
reply of the Greenville Times that
DR.. Kellner, DR.. f. w. Anderson
and the doctors Of levee board diff
fer in diagnosing the Affections OF
the treasurer's accounts. Who Is |
riobt At the July, 1898, meet
inc 9 Mr., Kellner offered to rew1te !
the books and prove the correct
ness of his former diagnosis, pro
vided he could get access to the
treasurers's check and memoran- I
dun book for high water eXpen-
ses. Mr.. Jayne, as president OF
the board, voted for the accep-
lance of his proposition, but the
leyee board declined. Why f! !
Will DR.. Darden, who Is the rep |
resentative of this county on the
levee board, answer the question,
why ? 4
it seems to me, Mr.. Editor, that
I can see a solution to the problem
that will be satisfactory to the tax
PAYERS and ought to be to the mem
hers of the leyee board ard its Of
ficers. So long rs examinations
IRE made by experts living in
Greenyille, or for that matter III
the leYee district, there is a SUI
spieion in the minds Of the tax
payers as well as the personei OF
leyee board that the expert or
,erts are biased and influenced
local, social or political infu-
ace. and their report will not be
satisfactory all around. There
fore | Suggest an examination of
the books of the leTee board be
made by Writ Adams, the state
revenue agent. 1t strikes me that
would be in line with his duties.
Whilst the leyee board is not Il
state institution, in the sense that
county treasurers are, yet It's Of
fcers are public servants, hand
ling public funds. | am aware
that the valuable time of our state
revenue agent is given largely to
the county treasurers, and | am
one of the victims of his Argus !
eve, and for what have com
mitted no other crime than which |
he told me and all other county
treasurers to do. But how about
the levee board The grand jury !!
Of Washington county, at the De-
,ember term, 1898, frankly states
IN open court. "that the accounts
Of the treasurer of the leYee board |
were IN such confusion that it was
impossible to tell how his account !
stood.
Now here is a golden opportuni- a
" for our astute revenue agent !
o display his sagacity and add an e
,ther laurel to the crown that en- 1
ihrlnes his victorious brow though I
le gets no crown from the county T.
reasurer.) Suppose, however, u
hat Mr.. Adams declines to make 0
his investigation The levee e
BOARD won't do it, or rather | a
hould say the leyee board has
lad too much done. Major Mont a
,omery can't afford to do it, "
/ mean financially and there is e
10 reason why he should; but we, '
he people. can IN our might arise 8
o a sense of our duties in the u
PREMISES, and not only demand y
n examination, but have it done s.
nd pay for it. Start a subscrip- q
ion list; | will head it with 80. "
Who will follow We, the tax N
AYERS of this levee district, are OF
le most oyerburdened people on ID
ne face OF the globe. We not VI
NV have our share of the white 81
ans burden" but have mora Sc
ian our share of 'leyee board CT
urden." Patience ceases to be III
Irtne, and 1, as a taxpayer, have
right to know how the affairs Of
n - III 80 r,1nr1n cod md