The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-01
Editorial Department
I=ByF. w. Meyers
A STATE OF THINGS.


The REVIEW has, from time to time,
called attention to careless and incom-
petent acts of our county government.
The truth is that the affairs OF this
county have been and are conducted as
if the county belonged to the board of
supervisors and the county officers AS
if the money of the taxpayers belonged
personally to the Office holders, for
them to spend as they wished without
regard to the law. The half of these
acts have never been told and they are
coming to light only because one mem
Der of the board, Mr.. John Cook, has
SO far refused to become party to these
misappropriations of funds and has de-
manded that the law be observed.
Mr.. Cook is {. democrat; strict par
ty man. At one time chairman of the
county committee. 1t cannot be charg-
ed that there is craftsmanship in the
state Of facts which his actions have
brought to light. Neither do we under
stand that he has, in any way, acted for
the purpose of throwing discredit upon
his colleagues. He has simply refused
to be a party to the payment of illegal
bills. For this reason, he has been boy
cotted by the rest of the board, and
threatened with political death The
REVIEW has no part in this democratic
quarrel; its only interest is in protect
ing the taxpayers and in letting the
people know that through the careless
ness and incompetency of the supervis-
ors they are, and have been continual
ly robbed of petty sums, which, how
ever. aggregate large aums and mater
tally increase the taxation of the coun-
ty.
The unwarranted attempt to raise
the County Attorneys salary several
years ago was the first instance where
the REVIEW called the board to ac-
count. The next was the attempt to
let the county bridge contract to the
highest bidder.
The next was the stupid and costly
bond sale for which the county treas
urer was responsible
The next matter brought to light
was the overpayment to the sheriff in
the matter of boarding and lodging
prisoners. 1t has been acknowledged
by the board that the amount claimed
by the REVIEW was illegally paid. but
up to this time there is no scratch OF
the pen to show that any effort has been
made by the board to have the money
repaid to the taxpayers.
The REVIEW cow claims that this i:
not half of the amount Illegally paic
Sheriff Bell, and calls upon him voluu
tarily TO repay to the county the a
mount he has thus illegally received
We make no charges that cannot b.
proven, and on the factsswe are pre-
pared to stand or fall We have no per
sonal malice toward Sheriff Bell. alt
no desire to charge him with intention
al dishonesty. AS All honest man, how
ever, we believe that he will gladly re
fund the money he has gally,receive'
from the taxpayers.
The facts are these: The law provide
in counties of this class that the Sher
if shall receive not to exceed $4,000, o.
and is guaranteed $4,000. He is al
lowed to retain all fees, not to exceed
100000, and if the fees fall short tn
difference is to be made good bv tn
county. up to S18OO.00. To be palmer
if the sheriff recveies 81 10000 in f, e
in any one year, he is to return $4,000
tothe county If he receives but$l300
in fees, the county must pay him $4,000
It is clear, therefore, that if the sheri1
reported less fees than he actually re
ceiyed, the board would be obliged t
pay him more than was really his due
The sheriff as one of his "fees" is al
lowed Is cents for every commitment
and 25 cents for every discharge of
prisoner. 1t is asserted by membe
of the board that the sheriff has not &C
counted for these fees in his report
but has presented them as a separat
bin together with that for dieting prs
oners and has in this manner been pai
thrice for the total amount OF these Tee.
These statements have been present
ed to the board OF supervisors and a
the April session when the Sheriff
bill was presented they were fully awar
of them, but the vote stood Ayes, Mo
ter, Ahart, Holland: Nays-Cook; NJ
voting, Schroeder,
The REVIEW has not told one-ha
the story of dreary carelessness an
incompetency of which the board
guilty Other Illegal bills hay
been passed; other.laws Intentional
avoided: many stupid blunders made.
How much longer will the people star
for this state of things How long b fo
they will demand THAT the bus 'neas
the county be conducted on bushes
principles, and that the money OF tf