Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-01-08


 eessary expense for the county and
 lessen the value of scrip that is now selling way below par. He does not
 intend to issue more scrip until next July, he said, and until all or as much
 of the scrip as possible now out standing is redeemed. In taking this step Judge Philpot believes that he is protecting the intersts of the property owners of this county and is inci5- entally placing the county on q better financial foundation.
 The committee named Friday nle1t composed of P. c. Chestnut. NJ. 3. Stewart, K. NJ. Johnson, Charles Hay cock, and W. J. Shepherd, called on Judge Philpot at II o'clock yesterday morning and were given cordial hearing by the county judge. They asked if Judge Philpot would not re- selnd his action in denying District At torney NiXons petition and the former told them that he would not do so. He gave many reasons for his refusal 10 comply with their request and cited the law providing for the naming of accountants to audit the books of the county officials and showed the com nlttee that the authority did not rest Wlth him. He answered many aues- uods of members of the commitfe, but finally informed M. R. Stewart ehat ms questions were not at all ne. cessary and little could be a com Pllshed by his persistent manner of lnterrogating him. While P. c. Chas- nut was arguing the matter with Judge Philpot the county judge asked him if any of the city officials had ever made an annual report. NJ. ] Chestnut, who is alderman from the First ward, replied that as far as he knew they had never done so and added that 1t was not necessa ~ they do not have to-" ''Is that 8. retorted the county judge, and oDeG- ing Kirbys digest he hurriedlly tura- ed to page and read a provision therefrom, Which enlightened the al 1 derman considerably upon what is ex- pected of the city officials
 R. M. Johnson, who was one of tie heaviest contributors to the fund at the Elks Theater on Friday night, listed for the purpose of employing an expert to make the investigation into the records in the event that Judge Philpot took the action he lid when the committee called on him. was also considerably enlightened 0n he subject of fees and expenses of he county officials, after Judge Phil pot had reviewed the matter from .he aw books and from an official point of view. Mr. Johnson said that he was glad that he had gone with the committee and that he had learned some things that he did not fully un- lerstand before going to the Nixon meeting Friday night. He Was great y surprised to learn that no records 'f the fees were formerly kept by he county officials, he said
 After the conference with Judge Philpot, which lasted about twenty all of the members of the ; with the exception of Mir Stewart, assured Judge Philpot that lere was lo ill feeling in the maj { CT as far as they were concerned, hook hands with the former sheriff md departed in the best Of humor. They Were cordially received and giy- Il a kindly greeting for return visit lpon their departure {
 Judge Philpot did not appear vim. ictive to the committee, but on the ther hand assured the members that le was willing to do the right thing n the matter as he saw the law and hat it was not his intention to an- agonize MT. Nixon or any other of icial or citizen, but he impressed up n the committee that he was the 'ounty Judge and that he would run hat office for two years at least and id not intend to turn, it over to any Xpert accountant or anyone else. He rgued that he did not see why MT. Tixon should insist on sending out of fine Bluff for an expert accountant