The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-11-18
Red HOT ROAST HANDED OUT
LEE COUNTY GRAND JURY JUMPS
ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
Charge County Commissioners and
Oh Dispcnsary Board With Gross
Neglect. Treasurer Also
Cots Mention.

The presentments of the Lee coun-
ty grand jury, which adjourned last
week, is a decidedly warm document.
especially that part of it relating to
the financial affairs and business
management Of the county The fol-
lowing is an extract from the pre-
sentiments;
lin view of the fact that there
have been so many rumors and
charges in connections with the man
agement of the financial affairs Of
the county We deem it of the ut
most Importance that the whole of
the same be set at rest by proof, or
/ officially refuted. 1t is the right of
the people to be fully informed. and
we think it only Just that this right
be allowed them. To this end we
have appointed E. b. Lee commit
tee Of one to make a full and search
ing Investigation of the dispensaries
and treasurer of the county; said
committee to work with an expert
accountant to be employed by the.
county and appointed by Judge Of.
the court. We cannot give our sane
ton to all things chat have been done
] in connection with the treasurer's
office, and refuse to do so without
letting the taxpayers know the true
condition. Too much loss has been
caused in the past by the action of
county commissioners III not demand
ing the utmost publicity, and reQuir-
ing full and complete performance
OF duty. The people pay the taxes:
they should know and have just and
; true accounts Of the last cent. They
bear the burdens they should bear
/ no more than necessary. We find
that there has been gross neglect and
mlSmanagement in the way the cOun-
/ ty commissioners have conducted af-
fairs. Though the law is strict. and
requires annual statements and re-
ports at least twice a year, our com
missioners have never had a settle
ment with the treasurer, never had
the annual reports filed or pub
llShed, and apparently paid no atten-
ton to the law. 1t seems that they
nave refused, even when requested
to perform their duty, and hindered
fair investigation OF the county
/ affairs. Bonds have been taken for
county officers without the necessary
two resident freeholders. Illegal
commissions have been reserved for
years, and such has been the incom-
potency or neglect that these officials
have never discovered it; funds have
been withheld from the treasury. and
no reports made that might discover
1t. In fact, it seems that the rule Of
guess work has been the plan on
which the county has been rum TO
take what the officers report. and say
no more about it. The taking of
illegal official commissions. the with
holding of public funds, tno mutiIa-
ton of records. the burning of the
bills of the dispensaries before the
last @rand jury could examine them
are all TOO well known to deserve
further recital here. We especially
recommend that "a 1irstclass. profes-
sional auditor be employed to check
up Lee county finances and funds he
longing to the county; and also the
olapensaries which were lately run
by the disponsary commissioners AS
Lee county dispensaries: that said
auditor be empowered to summon
witnesses, take testimony and report