The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1907-09-14
4 BIG BLUNDER MADE.
Warrants for More Than
$1,000 Returned to
Treasurer.

Following he rscent meeting OF th,
board of supervisors there were for
wardcd to the mcubers warrants or
tic county treasury in the aggregate OF
nearly 81 100000. These were payable
from the general fund, and stated on
their face they were for compensation as
road and bridge overseers, Messrs
Raiiier,. Lauderdale, Taylor and Wray
each received warrant for $4,000
while Mr.. Speakes' warrant was for the
amount of $4,000.
Upon his return from Memphis tht
latter part Of the week, Senator Moore
who is attorney for the board, had hi.
attention called to the matter in Il letter
from Supervisor Speakes, who informed
him of the receipt of the warrant, and
asked for its authority. He confessed
his surprise at its receipt and his doubt
as to its legality, and added in conclu
sion that he held himself in duty bound
to return it.
The letter was a surprise to Senator
Moore, who was present at the meeting
of the borrd and was certain that no ae-
tion had been taken looking to the pay
ment Of any member for such services
He Immediately got in communication
with the other members Of the board
an asked them to follow Mr.. Speakes'
example in returning the warrants.
Under the law, as amended by the last
legislature, a compensation of $4,000
per annum may he alIo we'd the members
OF the board for services as road and
bridge commissioners i'll counties where
there is no special road overseer; but
this shall include pay for all such SER
vices and to be operative must be en-
tered on the minutes of the board. This
new provision of the law did not become
effective until Oct. 1, last year, and even
il the other qualifications had been met,
the members would be entitled to only
$4,000. During this last year, however,
the members have been compensated in
per diem and mileage Tor this work.
Unless some order was passed IN his
absence, Senator Moore is Of the opinion
that the clerk, laboring under some mis-
apprehension, has entered the amount OF
the warrants directly on the claim
record. He says that at the meeting of
the board there was some talk OF COM
3 peusating the members, but that he re-
gardcd it Us all a joke.
Explanations are in order and these
will be, mnde at the next regular meeting
of the board. The mistake made by the
clerk, ii he is the responsible person tor
ii, was an honest one. and the members
oftAe board are all too high minded to
be party to any fraud. The warrants
have al been returned to the treasurer
and tlsex will be cancelled and DESTROYED
at the next meeting of the board
( Cleveland Enterprise.
Upon reading the above i'll the
Enterprise, the editor OF The
DEMOCRAT called at the Office OF
the Chancery Clerk for the pur-
pose of getting the facts in the
case. The following signed state
ment of Deputy Chancery Clerk
Johnson covers the case, except the
warrant of President Taylor was
for the same amount as the one OF
Mr.. Speakes-$35O.O0.
Following is Mr.. Johnson
statement:
There was no mistake made by
the Clerk in issuing the warrants
S to members of the Board, referred
to by the Enterprise. The amounts
claimed were regularly entered on
the claim docket and regularly
allowed by the Board and regular
ly signed by the President thereof,
Mr.. S. c. Taylor, and there was no
misapprohension'' OIL the part OF
the Cleak in issuing these war
rants. Mr.. Taylor, Mr.. Wray and
Mr.. Lauderdale were each presen',
when issued their warrants, ano
receipted for them, and I delivered
same to them personally. Mr.
Speakes having left Rosedale be-
fore the final adjournment OF the
Board. his warrant was by me
issued and mailed to him at Benoit.
Mr.. Rainer not being present at the
meeting, also issued and mailed
MS warrant to him.
If there has been "a big blunder
made" in this matter, the Clerk o.
the Board is most certainly not III
any way responsible, and III justice
70 Mr.. Edwards. who entrusts the
affairs of the Office at Rosedale TO
me as his deputy, and in justice to
myself, deem it proper to make
this statement. If there has been
blunder made, andi( criticisms DE
N order, let the blame rest where
Y belongs.
r. B. JOHNSON,