Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1904-10-21
SOME PLAIN FACT S
Collated by the Republican County Cen
trail COmmittee-TO BE Digested
by the TAXpaNers.

by the taxpayers.
There are some things that the tax
payers have right to know relative to
the actions of their otficials-and espe-
cially of officials who are seeking re-
election and asking for the support of
the voters of Fall River county for the
second or third time.
AT the January, 1908, session of the
board of county commissioners, Coun-
ty Treasurer Craven asked the board
for a deputy for three months (although
his intimate friends who advocated his
election had promised that he would
conduct the office without a deputy);
for his deputy he requested an allow
ance of $50 month. The board felt
that the request was reasonable one
and Commissioner Hollenbeck moved
that Mr.. Craven be allowed deputy
as requested for three months at $50 a
month, which motion was seconded by
W. w. Forney, now deceased. The
motion carried and County Treasurer
Craven was allowed deputy for three
months at $50 a month.
Although this was an important
transaction on the part of the county,
Auditor Marty neglected to do his duty
in making record of the transaction
in the minutes of the commissioners
proceedings.
The three months rolled by; Treas
urer Craven had his deputy regularly.
The months continued to pass by; the
deputy was still employed; the contract
for deputy for three months had not
been changed. A year had passed; a
deputy was still employed; statement
was published by the auditor, Mr..
Marty, which among other items
showed that over S64l had been paid
for deputy in the treasurer's office;
and still no further authority has been
granted than by the board in january,
1908, granting a deputy treasurer for
three months at $50 month. One year,
twelve months, at $50 month, would
amount to only 5000, and not SOIL as
had been paid according to Auditor
Martyrs statement. An explanation
was called for and drew forth the state
ment that Mr.. Craven had allowed $50
a month for three months, although
the board had authorized him to pay
only $50 month. The remainder OF
the S641, or s49l, was paid for the re-
mainder of the year for a deputy treas
urer. Now here has been an eNpend-
iture OF the peoples money to the
amount of S64l for deputy treasurer
when the board had authorized the
payment of only slo0-all that was
asked for at the time by Treasurer
Craven. This amounts to S49l more
than the board of county commission
ers ever authorized, and they have
never by any action allowed the amount
that has been paid. County Treasurer
Craven has employed his deputy and
without authority OF law or sanction or
approval by the board of commission
ers, who are supposed to pass upon all
bills But the minutes OF the board
do not show that a cent was ever al
lowed for a deputy, or that deputy
treasurer was ever authorized to be
employed excepting in January OF
this year, 1904, they contain a motion
authorizing a deputy for the months
of January, February and March.
Here is the grossest carelessnes!
upon the part of Auditor Marty il
failing to record what the board actual
ly did at its January, 1903, meeting
when it authorized the treasurer tx
employ a deputy for three months
Again how can he explain by what an
thority he issued warrants for $50
month for deputy treasurer for th
first three months of Treasurer Crav
ems term when the board had author
lied the payment of but $50 month
and even that was not made mat
ter of record. Why was such an i'm
portant transaction left out of tn
minutes? The auditor is there for tn
purpose of keeping just such trans
actions recorded. Not only was SO
month more paid for three months fo
assistance to Treasurer Craven tina
was asked for or allowed, but Audito
Marty has been issuing warrants eve
since to pay deputy treasurer whe
there isn't the scratch of pen the
gives him authority for so doing. VIII
this reckless manner of eXpending til
peoples money? If the auditor ca
issue warrants in that fashion to wh,
limits might he go? Mr.. Marty is no
candidate for another Office, that /,
sheriff, and it will be quite in order fl
him to explain his action to the peopl
AS for County Treasurer Craven. b
friends, his relatives, declared befol
his election two years ago that /
would run the office without a deput