Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-07
ASK FOR OPINION
Board of Supervisors Instructs
Committee to Confer With
Attorney General
DIFFERENCE WITH TREASURE R
No Action to Be Taken in Regard L
Mr.. Lyons Accounts at Present
Reports of OFFICES.

board of supervisors, the finance com
| mittee was instructed to secure the
opinion of the attorney general as to
| the legality of former County Treas
urer D. H. Lyons action in taking cred
| its for $3,416.70 as his salary as SUI
pervisor of assessments, which was
questioned by the committee in its re-
port to the board yesterday afternoon.
| The subject was thoroughly discussed
and States Attorney Scott was before
the board 70 explain his views on the
matter. Mr.. Scott stated that he
thought that probably Mr. Lyons was
| right in claiming the amount but that
| he questioned the method in which
| the treasurer had taken credit on his
| books for the money.
| Committees Position Explained.
Chairman Garnet of the finance com
mittee explained the position of the
committee at length. He stated that
the committee questioned both the
| legality of the claim and the manner
in which Mr.. Lyons had secured the
amount He stated that the commit
tee, however realizing that the super
viSors were not in a position to deter
mine whether Mr.. Lyons was right or
not, had declined to declare a shortage
| in the treasurer's accounts. but had
decided TO leave the matter to the
board for settlement. 1t was suggest
ed by some that the committee make
demand on Mr.. Lyons for the amount.
and on his refusal take the question
| into the courts. In view of the many
! questions involved, it was decided that
| it would be best to first learn from the
attorney general the exact situation,
and to this end the committee was in
structed to secure his opinion
The committee. though declining to
approve Mr.. Lyons accounts, has
checked in Mr.. Cox as county treas
urer, and he has been given full charge
of the office
Accountant Makes Report. /
In connection with the report of the
committee. F. p. WEIGH, who assisted
the committee in its auditing of the ac-
counts of the county officers, made a
report in which he explained that the
examination made was not complete,
and covered only the half year ending
with Dec 2, but that as far as this eX-
animation went, there was no evidence
| of any dishonest methods being en-
/ ployed by the officers. After explain
ing the manner in which he was EN-
ployed to assist the committee. Mr.
WEIGH in his report said: This eX
animation simply checks the amounts
of items entered into the several books
from time to time, but does not trace
1 TT,. Co., oil ,fr,,r
find nothing to indicate that any dis
honest methods have been employed
to deceive the committee, and as far
as this short time has permitted me
TO look into the matter for the half
year ending Dec. 2, 1906. l will say that
to my knowledge and belief. the ac-
counts passed upon by your commit
tee are correct
Earnings of Offices.
In its report. the committee itemizes
the earnings of the three county of
fees, those of the circuit clerk. county
clerk, and sheriff. for the half year
just ended The statement of the ac-
counts of the office of the circuit clerk
is as follows:
Earnings in half year ....... So, 59G.72
Received of same ...... 3,565.12
Received of previous earnings 221Ol
Total received in half year. 3,5S7.22
Miscellaneous expenses . 1915
Court costs refunded ... 5000
Paid over TO county treasurer 3,4G1.47
Total disbursements .. 3.5S7.22
County Clerks Office.
In the county clerks Office the items
were as follows:
Earnings in half year $500. IS 5000 |
Received of same .......... 1881. 40 |
Received of previous earnings 4.459.S5 |
Total receipts in half year -. 6,051.30 |
Tax books, 1906 ........... 1,425.00 |
Miscellaneous expenses $50. 1890 |
Paid over to county treasurer 4.43G40 |
Total disbursements ....... G,051.30 |
Report on SheriG's Office.
The items of the report on the sher-
ifs Office are:
Earnings in half year .......$ 81 ,G6759 |
Received of same ......... 40S4S |
Received of previous earnings 1870 |
Total received in half year -. 53S1S |
Paid over to county treasurer 53S.1S |
Total disbursements ~ 53S1S |
shave More Expense. |
The disposition to shave expenses
was shown again. when this morning |
Supervisor Wood introduced a resolu-
ton, which was adopted, providing |
that the board will not pay any further
bills incurred by the court reporters
for supplies. The board refused to re
consider the bill of Ed Reed, for $20l
for services in making shorthand rec
ords of the proceedings in the last
grand jury during the four days that
c. B. Marshall acted as special states
attorney. Mr. Marshall was present
and explained to the board that he had