Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-26
Iowa Supervisors Do Not Like
Statute Requiring Annual
Financial Statements
WILL ASK FOR THE REPEAL
The Law is Ignored BY Supervisors of
Many Counties, Owing to the Fact
That no Penalty Is Provided for
Non Reconsideration Of the
Law.

Des Moines, March ga letter from
the county auditor of one of the lead
ing counties of the state has just reach
ed Secretary A. II. Dawson of the ex-
ecutive council, which is confirmatory
of the rumors that have been floating
about for some time that the supervis-
ors of the state are making concerted
move to repeal the law of the Twenty
ninth general assembly requiring an
nual financial statements in each coun-
ty.
In the letter the auditor in questions
says an informal understanding was
reached at Davenport, at the recent
state meeting Of supervisors, that eff
orts should be made to prevent the law
being carried out and that its repeal
should be sought at the next session of
the legislature.
1t is understood that at the Dayen-
port meeting resolution was intro
duced against the enforcement of the
law and favoring its repeal. This reso-
OPPOS@o
ris of Polk county and was dropped,
pedient.
The dropping of the resolution did
not, however, prevent an understand
Ing being reached, according to the let
ter of the county auditor who writes
to Mr.. Dawson. He says he can not
furnish Mr.. Dawson a copy of the an
nual financial statement for the reason
the agreement made at Davenport is
being lived up to in his county and
no statement has been got out.
Secretary Dawson has been sending
out 10 the different coun.y auditors for
ahe purpose of getting copies OF the an
nual financial statements. which are
extremely handy and useful for refer
ence in his Office. Only few have
come in, but there have been numerous
excuses instead. These excuses give
various reasons why the statements
have not been issued.
The law that 1t appears the super
visors in a large number of counties,
tho not in all, are opposing Is the meas
ure introduced in the house of the last
general assembly by Payne, of Appa-
moose. 1t provides that the county au-
ditor shall in January Of each year pre-
pare financial report, containing a
complete report of the financial trans
actions of the county for the coming
year. This is to be ordered printed by
the board OF supervisors in pamphlet
form and to be distributed. 1t is APP
parent that even II the auditor pre-
pares report, it rests With the super
visors to print and publish It, and thus
the board can block the carrying out of
the law. tho the auditor may not be
disposed to follow the wishes Of the
supervisors.
The law contains no provision for a
penalty for non-enforcemen It would
not be surprising II the Legislature In
stead OF repeating the measure next
session would strengthen it. A promi-
nent state officer yesterday predicted
this would be the case. u believe there
should be publicity in the financial af-
fairs of each county," he said. The
fact there is opposition to this law
proves to my mind there are men in
control in some of the counties that
realize that if these financial state
ments are published they will either
have to reform or let some one else run
the county government"