The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-12
The Town Accom-
tant Berth a Loser.
THE USUAL GOSSIP
Candidates Mentioned for
Town Officers.

board of selectmen have organized, and
the various branches OF the town gov
eminent are in shape to do business,
the talk Of appointments begins to To-
calize a little, so that 1t is possible to
an extent to tell what is what and who
is who.
It is pretty well understood here that
one OF the things that Will not be at
all is the Office OF town accountant. To-
night it seems to be practically settled
that the new administration win have
none of it.
Long before the election, S. Ives Wal
lace. chairman Of the republican town
committee, was opposed to the office.
and favored wiping it out root and
branch 1t is said he has not changed
his mind since the election.
William Rodger, who has just been
elected chairman Of the board of Sc
lectmen, has not expressed an opinion.
It is inferred that he Is opposed to the
appointment Of another town account
ant, because he is outspokenly against
every needless expense, and will not
lend his support to any project that will
waste the money that comes from the
taxpayers. So far as the correspondent
Of The Spy can ascertain, there is not
a single thoughtful citizen in town who
believes that the Office should be main
tanned
The agitation started by The Spy has
helped TO centralfze the sentiment
against the sinecure, but the opposition
to spending any more money thus friv-
olously had a good sturdy growth be-
fore The Spy put its shoulder to the
wheel.
To realize how useless the office has
been to the town IN the past year, it
is only necessary to read the report of
the town accountant since the office has
been created. 1t is a series of admissions
that the work necessary to make the
office of real use has not been per-
formed, and a series of promises that
the work alleged to be necessary to
make ii useful will be performed this
year.
In the light OF the information that
the office is slated to go, some portions
Of this report make strange reading
for instance, that portion of it in which
the town accountant Charles H.
Gentsch, says:
Most. if not all, the boards do not
keep any general ledger account Of
their financial transactions, so intend
at the beginning of the financial year
to introduce general ledger accounts
into the present system, and strike bal
ances every three months or monthly
as | may deem it for the best interest
Of the town. In other words, I in
tend, if possible. to make this office
simply and purely a bookkeeping Of
fee, as originally intended and recon-
mended by the auditors"
This looks, even to Mr.. Gentsch, now
ike one of the things that should not
have been written. The office was Gre
ated in town meeting, April 2, 1898. 1t
was created as an experiment. and the
experiment has failed.
A notice has been posted calling a
meetlng of the voters Of the First
Evangelical Church for the evening Of
March l6. The meeting is 70 see If
the members will vote to borrow S18.-
900. and instruct the treasurer to issue
the notes of the society and mortga ge
It's property, real and personal, to Sc
cure the loan. The society has once
before taken this action. 1t is neces-
sary TO repeat it, because the treasurer.
Edward l.. Greene, who was instructed
TO make the loan, retired from office
at the annual meeting. Tins makes II
Two Clinton lawyers are being prom
inently mentioned for the office Of
town solicitor Jonathan Smith. who
has previously held the office, is urged
for the place by many of his friends
Edward A. Evans, who has never min
Sied much in politics, is also proIni-
nentIy IN the race. Mr.. Evans occu-
pies law Offices in the rooms in Rank
block made locally famous bv
Judge John w. Corcoran and Herbert
Parker when they practiced in Gin
ton.
Mr. Evans is regarded as a shrewd
lawyer and has many friends. Mr.,
Smith is connected with the Grand
Army. He has been identified with
local politics for years, especially dur
ing the period when DR.. Walter p Bow
ers held the town in the republican coll
umn, and led the fight in each cleo
ton.
Henry T. Mcknight has been design
ated committee Of one to look IN
rooms for the location of the pern1a-
nent Young Mems Republican Club.
Mr.. Mcknight will begin his task To-
morrow. There is q determined feeling
among republicans to keep G. Frank
Fairbanks at the head of it. Mr., Fair
banks at times shows disposition ia
quit politics, which is always severely
discouraged.
The board Of health has organized
with DR.. John w. Worcester chairman
and Dr.. Frank r. Harvey secretary.
William Rodger was elected chair
man Of the board of selectmen at the
meeting of the, board last night and
Charles Shedd clerk.
1t looks now as If Loren b. Walker
would be retained as superintendent OF
roads although it would be too much
to say that the matter IS finally adjust.
| ed. Mr.. Walker is a democrat. but he
has been. held over through many ad.
ministrations, and republicans are not
altogether decided that he should be-
punished because democrats made ?
clean sweep last year.
1t seems to be quite settled that a re-
publican will be appointed in place oil
! Chief Thomas Murphy. Mr.. Murphy
has been a good man in the office anc
enjoys the affection Of some people anc
the respect Of most 1t is the old story
| when the democrats were victoriotT
they kicked out everything republican
ana the republican motto toCay is that
the party has a man for most of The
Offices. '''N
Yet the correspondent of The Spy is
assured that the changes viii be. BY nc
means. as sweeping as those made last
spring.
Several democratic officials especial.
~ noted for their efficiency, will be re-
tanned unless the sentiment changes.
Another OF the things that is certain
Is that Lawrence Fury will proba Div
have 10 go, both from the almshouse
and from the board Of engineers. on
the whole. Mr.. Fury expected this, be-
cause OF all democrats he mas been one
Of the most aggressive and uncompro-
missing.
The disposal of the three children of
j. j. Eagan Of South Lancaster. will be
made bV the court as soon az n can bo