Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-05-25
SAID the Rev. DR.. Swift last

When the County Court was in
session recently an effort
was made to get Judge Gay to
withdraw his suit for writ of man
damus which he sought in the
Court of Appeals, authorizing him
as Presiding Judge, through his
agents, to inspect the books of the
County Treasurer and County
Clerk. This the Judge refused to
do for several reasons, one of
which vas that if he would with
draw the suit he would have to pay
the costs and another being that
should he withdraw the suit those
seeking an honest and complete
audit of the books would be at the
mercy of those who appear so des-
perate in preventing an expert
audit. Judge Gay then made a
proposition to the other two mem
bers of the Court, who call them
selves Democrats, that they select
a bonded expert accountant and
that Judge Gay select one and that
the Court contract with the two to
make an expert audit of the county
books. That certainly was a fair,
square, honorable proposition but
the other members OF the court re-
fused to do anything of the kind
but instead made a contract with
two young men whose INT are
VIM. Edgar, Jr., and j. P. Foard.
The youg gentlemen are now at
tempting to audit the books.
1t is tedious to follow mendacity
in its twistings and turnings. Who
asked Judge Gay to withdraw his
mandamus suit? Both Reyburn
and Jones deny having made such
request, but say that Judge Gay,
on the bench, proffered that if they
would pay the costs and permit
him to name one of the auditors
he would withdraw his mandamus
suit-he was stirred of the whole
blankety. blank business and wish
ed it was in Hades"-only he used
the shorter and less classical term.
OF course he wanted the court to
let him name one of the auditors
to be appointed, for this would re-
lieve the howlers from "putting
up" for the pay of such auditor,
aud saddle the burden upon the
county. AS it now stands, if the
Court of Appeals issues the writ of
mandamus and Mr.. Hays or one of
his ilk is called upon to audit the
books, the county is not RESPONSE
bic for his pay-he car paw all
over the books and reach any re-
suit desired, but the patriots hiring
him will have to foot the bilI-a
contamination they most devoutly
do not wish. In fact, this is the
pin-point that penetrates: the Rev.
DR.. and his pure and g~uileless pals
are hill on reform, but shrink in
disgust from its cost. They say to
the taxpayer, "We'U reform; you
pay!" But the Rev. DR.. doubts
both the ability and the fair pur-
pose of Messrs. Foard and Edgar
One a Republican and the other
a Democrat. Very well; doubt and
ultimate faith are sometimes sue
cessive when the search for truth
is honest. When these gentlemen
get through with the audit they
will invite inspection and criticism
of their method and findings, and
do not fear scrutiny by the most
expert and most highly certified
auditors in the State. And their
confidence is well grounded, for
theirs will be an honest accounting
in intent-not a juggling of figures
to serve partisan purposes. take
it when their report is submitted
it will verify itself to all fair mind
ed citizens. 1t seems, however,
that the Rev. DR.. considers himself
a more or less expert accountant,
and as such is dissatisfied with the
way these gentlemen have begun
their work. He says:
Their evident ignorance of the
art of auditing the county books is
apparent when they begin an audit
in the collectors office. No auditor
who knew his business would COM
mence in hal office.
Herein he differs from MI. Whar-
ton of Haskins & Sells, but | pre-
sumo there is disagreement be-
tween expert accountants as is the
case in all trades and professions.
To me, outside the expert pale, the
absurdity of the Rev. Dr.'s conten-
ton seems too apparent for COM
ment other than that--to do a little
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES rushes in
knowledge treads with cir
cumspection. Where, Oh where,
would the Rev. DR.. begin? He APP
pears now to hankering for Has
klns & Sells; a short time ago he
wasn't so sure that that firms SER
vices YER desirable. Whence this
change Of heart? Is it because our
very, very non-partisan Governor
gave his certificate and promised
the faithful here that he would ac-
quaint the proposed accountants.