Times-promoter., 1909-07-22
OF PUBLIC INTEREST
Mr.. Simpson Discusses Proposed Inyesti.
CATION and Bond Issue.

WI. SltnpSOH DISCuSssS fIOpOSeu lnVeSui.
CATION and Bond Issue.
| Editor Times-P Promoter:
| want to heartily commend the
article of Mr.. German Baker and join
him, as l hope the whole people OF
DeSoto county will do, in a demand
for thorough, careful auditing OF
the county books. confess that l
am wholly ignorant or uninformed
touching some of the matters to which
he refers. True, for some time we
have heard muttering respecting
some county officers, even at this dis
tance.
Now | sincerely hope that we have
no county official who is theft.
will believe it only upon undoubled
proof, for ! have had very high re-
gard for every one of them. But the
talk of crookedness has gone so far
that | can see no way to avoid an
open, fair investigation, and at the
same time preserve the character Of
some of the officials, the good name
of the county, and last and least, but
very important, protect the body of
the people, the taxpayers.
If there are discrepancies in the
books, then the official. if an honor
able man, above all others, should de-
mand thorough investigation by the
most competent authority. And sure
ly if there is shortage in any Off
cials account, whether from dishones-
ty or incompetency, the people have
a right to know it, must know it, and
be fully reimbursed. Otherwise we
establish a precedent that opens the
door for every species of graft and
incompentcy.
While am at it would like to say
something on the bond issue question.
/ am in favor of good roads, and some
years ago outlined plan. My plan
covered the whole county, and / am
afraid that any plan thatydoes not do
that, cover every necessary public
road, will result in great injustice to-
a large per cent of our people and
create bitter ,factionalism. Now II
have very high regard, personally,
for every member Of our present board
of supervisors, and for the sake Of the
argument at least concede that the
board has executive ability equal to
any we could get, and have managed
the county affairs as well. But sup
posing that to be literally true, then
! am decidedly of the opinion that
our county is not ready for this stu
pendous undertaking. It's a great
big job, and in my humble opinion
we have by no means got anything
like the results we should have had
from the not inconsiderable, but COM
paratively insignificant sum we are
now expending on our roads. Better
practice while longer on the little
thing we have until we are sure we |
developed the ability to handle q |
much greater proposition.
The thing is entirely too big to
Jump into hastily. Let it be discuss-
ed until the people thoroughly under
stand the proposition in all it's bear
ings and when a respectable majority
favor it we can then 60 at it with
some assurance OF harmony, and
much greater success.
am, according to my means, will
ng to go as far as any reasonable in
lividual in establishing needed, per-
public improvements, provid-
I'd the burdens and benefits are equit-
lbly distributed. and the funds honest
Y and judiciously expended. But /
I'm unalterably opposed to involving
he county for an immense sum, and
;axing all the people for the benefit
II few favored localities. God knows
We havehad enough of that in nation
4 affairs, and in state affairs, with
nut introducing it into our county