The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-28
A Big Chunk

The board of supervisors at the meet
ing held last Tuesday doled out q
chunk Of discount TO G. L. Roberts that
liz n snug little sum in itself. Those who
nre thoroughly conversant with the
affair say that the grant II perfectly
right and that, although the transac-
tion looks very shady upon its lace al
the present time, had the discount been
allowed nc the time the ease first arose,
no ques ton would he had upon it,
regularity. The DIAMOND DRILL j. not
sufficiently acquainted with the inside
merits OF the case 10 put forth nn
opinion here, but we give the iacts and
our readers can form their own
opinions.
During the hard times Of 1893 The
credit OF the county poor fund had
fallen 80 much thnt the local merchants
refused point blank 10 give out any
more goods upon the warrants OF that
fund This was during the Roberts
Raher regcme when the fund was over
drawn S24 10000. The county board
appointed Il committee to negotiate n
loan OF So 600. 90 and issued preferred
order bearing eight per cent interest for
the committee to raise the money on.
Several parties were offered the order AZ
a. discount Of ten per cent but refused to
take il. Capt. Bennett and Supervisor
Jas. T.. Corcoran stated that they were
"a. ,.fn...I LA. kt.laR thaan
and refused IT.. Finally G. /. Roberts
undertook To and did negotiate the
order mt the First National Bank OF
Chicago, and claims that he received az
the proceeds of the order 50 600 90.
He then took this money aud bought up
that amount 81 floating poor orders.
Tins purchasing was done 10y Roberts
himself and WAS the cause OF the first
clash with the board, some OF the mem
bers insisting that the money should
have been turned over 70 the county
treasurer to be paid out only upon the
order oi the board. Mr.. Roberts filed
list az the orders taken up with the
county clerk but refused TO turn the
orders themselves over 90 the treasurer
or TO the board. This virtually made
county liability OF 81 900 90 Co offset
an actual debt OF 50. G9O.5G, and the
board in S95 made strenuous efforts
Co get either the large order or the mis-
cellaneous orders but TO mo- avail. In
the eantime the small orders were
cashed, n portion each year until this
year, Mr.. Corcoran, who is looking after
Mr.. Roberts business, succeeded IN
turning in the last OF these orders for
taxes.
Mr. Corcorin brought the matter up
mt the last meeting and stated that, all
Of the orders having been cashed, he was
authorized 10y MIR. Roberts to turn over
to the board the 100000 order on
condition that the board would allow
him the interest on the amount due for
the past year, $50 90, and an addition
al order for $500 90 discount. the
amount which he claims that lac was
Offered by the committee when he
negotiated the order. The proposition
was strenuously objected to by Henley,
OF Atkinson. Mr.. Henley said that he
had his doubts IA to Mr.. Roberts ever
having paid any discount and would
not vote 60 allow the $500 90 but was
perfectly willing that the interest should
DO paid. Alter considerable discussion
the motion To- allow Mr.. Roberts $3.50
Was carried Senrls and Henley voting
no" and Lawrence being absent.