The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-01-25
KEEP THE GOOD
WORK GOING

Inc report maue Dy the auullluB
company upon the books of ex-Record-
er Ellsworth, etc., if it be true, shows
that it was wise to have them examin-
ed. But the inquiry should not have
stopped where it did; it should have
gone back at least ten years, the time
in which no inquiry could have been
barred, even though the person being
sought to be brought to account should
have pleaded the statute of limitation.
When Aldermen J. M, and M. B.
Martin, Crigger and Crowell were elect
ed there was an understanding among
the voters that they would see to it
that the city's books were audited.
At the first regular meeting of the
board after their election Alderman p.
II. Wofford offered resolution that
the books be audited, thus exhibiting
to the new members and to the people
the willingness of the old members to
comply with the demand of the voters
on this point. But that motion had
stinger attached to it, for it was that
the auditing should go back ten
years. That would have covered a
part of the time when one of the new
members was recorder, and all the time
of his successor, who preceded Mr.. ELS
worth. Whatever the people wanted,
the new members did not want any
thing but a fling at Ellsworth-at any
rate, they did not want TO look into the
accounts of any one else-so various
objections were raised, such as cost, etc.
The result was that nothing was done
until the last four members were chos-
en-. Then, the board being under such
influence that ten-year inquiry could
be avoided, it was resolved to go back
only six years and some months, for
whatever the length of time it was that
Ellsworth served.
Who knows the condition of the
books and the city's finances when
they passed into Ellsworth's hands?
Who knows what effect their then con-
dition has on that which is now said
to exist? Who knows TIM there is not
money due the city from those preced-
ing Ellsworth, which the city has the
right to and may still collect? Why
was the period of examination limited
TO six years and fraction of year,
instead of making it ten years, as the
former members of the board proposed?
1t is probable that the people smell q
" little niger in the wood-pie."
1t may be true that the statute of
limitation might bar the recovery Of
amounts found due more than ten
years ago, but the person then i'll office
does not have TO plead the statute.
Surely, one who is an alderman now
and was recorder some ten years ago;
who is and has been crying aloud to
have the recorders office examined;
who is posing as the friend of the peo-
pie and the preserver and protector of
their money; who is insisting so strong |
ly on showing to the world how other |
officials have performed their duty, F.!
will be glad to have his books examin-
ed and show to the people how he ad-
their funds and how he per-
formed his duties, If he ask it, there
can be no doubt that the board will
have the auditing extended so as to
permit him to give an account of his
stewardship, and we are looking to see
this inquiry extended at an early date.
Let the good work go on, gentlemen.
The people are looking at you, and
they expect to have clear showing of
the condition of the city's finances for