The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-05-11

that II the board or auulC ana
fieance thought they could sus-
tain the findings which the!
had madeas to the several tax
accounts Of the county even
by their own testimony, they
would have been only too glad
to testify and thereby justify
themselves and their official &C
ton and reports. 1t must be
manifest to anyone that If they
could have explained these fig
ures or could have shown that
they were in any way correct,
that the board Of audit and ii
nance would have been only too
glad to have sustained their Pc
sition,especially since the accu-
racy of their figures has been de
MED and their reports impeach-
ed. The very fact that they
have Stunned an examination
and have resorted to all tactics
to avoid one, must convince any
reasonable, fair-minded man
either that the board is salts
fled, itself, from further inves-
legations made by them since
the accuracy of their report has
been questioned, that they can
not sustain their own findings
or that they have something to
conceal. Indeed, they make
NO attempt to do so. Instead
of coming out like men and
saying, eyes we have made a
mistake; we have not found cor
rectly the amounts due the
county; we do not know what
amount is due these several
funds" they take refuge be-
hind legal bubbles and techni
calities and thus seek to avoid
investigation of their body.
This is very strange indeed
when it is considered that they
were so relentless in pursuing
others and so quick to publish
findings detrimental to othe,
men. Now that the time has
come when they should show
the public whether or not thes'
findings have been justified they
: take to cover. 1t may be hare
to come out and admit making
! these errors after so much ha
, been said about the matter, bu
e they should put aside their pri
! vate feelings and realize, as the.
! said formerly that they have g;
, public duty to PERFORM anC
j they should perform it wheth
5 err it hurt themselves or others
}, "There was once a goose tina
+ shot a gun and down fell tn
= goose at the breach of tn
:. gun"
n A brief examination of tn
reasons set forth in the state
+ ment filed by the board {
t audit and finance will show tn
It bubbles upon which they hav
+ entered. Their excuses TO
l. not appearing before you
l. board and making explanation
1t of the condition of the account
6 are as follows:
= First: That the board {
n commissioners has not tt
IS power to issue a subpoen
l. against the board of audit an
t, finance.
e The answer to this is, frs
lie that the subpoena was directe
a. to individuals and not to tt
e members of the board of aud
2 and finance as such. But eve
J. if it had been directed to them
e their official capacity, the boar
i, of commissioners had the poy
"a er to issue the subpoena al
Sc require them to testify concer
e ing any matter which migf
,, please your board. The law
ia so plain that the man who ruI
TO may read. 1t is as follows:
20 RevisAl, sec. 1918 provide
D. "The board Of Commissioners
1T of the several counties shall hay
e power, .(21) to require fro
20 any county officer, or other pc
10 son employed and paid by tt
&c county, a report under oath
al any time, on any matters co
10 nected with his duties. To a
~ thorize the chairman to isst
ey subpoenas to compel atten
IN ance before the board Of pc
to sons, and the production
as books and papers, relating
50 the affairs of the county for tt
OF purpose of examination, {
r. any matter within the juri
OF diction of the board
OF But conceding, for purpo
rs of argument, that your boa
OF did not have the legal right
10 require the members of tt
10 board Of audit and to testif
20 does it not seem to any Fl
A. minded man that if the boa
e. of audit and finance had the
"a formation which they have co
rd sumed year in obtaining
C. great cost to the county a
IL that if their report was CORE