Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-02

know the law as we'll as the sheriff
and the fact that this measure has
passed the scrutiny of the distr.ct
attorney and these bills have been
approved by him and by the several
committees as well as by the board
itself, shows conclusively that it was not
the intention of the officers in render
ing their bills to secure any greater
compensation than they believe them
selves tc be legally entitled to.
ARGUMENT
While we believe that there is serious
doubt of the right of the county to
reclaim any part of this money by
reason of the fact that long time has
elapsed that it is now almost impos-
sible to make an accounting upon the
statutory basis, and while we therefore
believe that an accounting so made will
not show any material difference in the
amount to be charged to the county,
yet in the interest of fairness and of the
public good, waving any rights that
the following otfer:
OFFER
We hereby offer to the County Board,
through this committee, to meet with
this or some other committee and re-
state the account as to trips to indus
trial schools, only upon the condition
that we refund to the County any over
charge found upon such accounting
and that the county pay to us any sum
which may be due US upon such ac-
counting.
We believe, however, that this matter
should be approached in spirit of
fairness to all concerned and not for
the purpose of working hardship or
injury to anyone. There being no
charge of unfairness or overreaching
and it appearing at the most that only
technical violation of the law has
been had, we believe that we ought not
to be made to re-state any part of these
accounts. Technical violations of the
law, such as are charged in this case
against us, have been made many times
in the history of this country. At the
very last meeting of the County Board
the Board allowed itself two days pay
for one days time, which is strictly
against the letter of the law as we'll as
its spirit and was expressly condemned
by the decision of the Supreme Court in
the case of the Northern Trust Co. VS..
Schneider. Yet no one would think of
questioning it or challenging it in any
way, nor do we believe that it should
be done. Considerable expense was
saved to the County and to the member
and while not strictly according to law
was in the public interest and charges
made by the sheriffs have been made
upon well defined basis and the fact
that they are not technically correct,
when the law is technically construed,
ought not to operate to the detriment
of officers who have filed their accounts,
destroyed their memoranda and have
placed themselves in q position where
from the very nature of the case a cor
rect accounting cannot be had All of
which is respectfully submitted.
The ex-officials outlined the expenses
incurred in making trips to Wanpun,
Oshkosh, Waukesha and Milwaukee,
and with all the shaving possible it was
apparent that there had been no over
charges. With re-rating of the trips,
embodying actual expenses, there is
little, if any, difference as compared
with established amounts that have
been charged for the past forty years
A comparison was made with the
amounts charged by sheriffs of other
counties and it was found that there
was little difference between them and
those being charged by Marathon
county officials, the difference, if any,
being principally in favor of this
county The sheriff of Lincoln county
gets more money for taking an insane
patient to Oshkosh than the sheriff of
this county receives for escorting a
prisoner to Waupun, although the
Lincoln county sheriff is favored by
distance. The sheriff of Wood county
received as much for taking prisoners
to Waupun as does the Marathon |
county sheriff and the distance is in
the Wood county officials favor.
The general public has been of the
opinion that the ex-sheriffs named have |
rot been guilty of any grating and it
is hoped and expected that the COM
mittee, which it is thought has acted
upon unsound advice, will correct its
views and vindicate the ex-officials in |
its next report to the county board. If
an official violates his trust he should |
be Jumped on" but if he is not guilty |
of such offense it is great injus-
tice to bring such charges against
him. 1T not only hurts the man but it |
damages the reputation of his children
who live after him.