West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-03-05

1
howl and rant because thu aulit wa.
made, and then they beller and whoo,
because more accounts were not inyesti
gated. The court knew what il wa,
about when the audit was ordered, ant
its judgment has been vindicated boy th,
results. II the officials had conducted
the affairs OF their offices according "a
the law, which they swore 70 up
hold, they would have invited an inspec.
tion, as did Charles Spjndler, which
would have proved their fidelity. Tn,
clamor that has been raised beans good
evidence OF guilty consciences.
Undoubtedly the pirates, who formerly
infested the county seat, would be glad
to get back to the good old days, when
they were the leeches i'm Preston, and
lived on its life blood. No wonder they
scream, now that their toes have been 50
rudely trampled! Besides this, they are
confronted with still other opposition,
since Jimmy Lakin has insinuated him.
self into the "star-chamber" at Charles
ton; for now all the political phms are
falling Terra Alta-way. CONSERVATION
prevails in the camp OF the ex-bosses be-
cause their once mighty power has been
so completely shattered aud the channel
whence came their perquisites has been
diverted. However, for my own part,
Terra Alta is welcome TO all of this kind
OF plums she can secure; for, without
wishing her bad luck, il must be said
that this fruit, however, succuent, always
leaves stain on the community wherin
il falls.
Our hypocrit seeks To throw dust i'm
the public eye, by slandering Mr. Town
send, the special counsel employed 10y
the court. He alleges that this gentle
man, as the ex-taX commissioner, should
have audited the books himself. When
Mr.. Townsend was inofiice he had three as
sistants, and with these he was supposed
to transact the business of the State Tax
Office, with its thousands of details, and
also to inspect the official accounts of
each OF the fiitY-fve counties ofthe state.
God creates, but man accomplishes only
by hard work; 80 it isn't difficult tor our
reason to show us that Mr.. Townsend
and his clerks had more work than any
four humans could achieve. without the
Intervention of Divine assistance. Ii was
all the tax commissioner could do to keep
the business of his office from swamping
him, let'alone running hither and thither
auditing accounts.
Among other things, Simon pretends
to knowledge of the law; he tells us
that the audit is illegal because the tax
commissioner is made the chief inspector
OF accounts, and that amounts due the
county can be collected only when audit-
ed by this official. II that be true, then
let us look further. Every retiring officer
is required by law TO account for and pay
over the money of the county in Lishands
at the expiration of his term. Therefore,
under Simon's benighted reasoning these
officers, though they might be in possess
sion Of thousands of dollars of the people +
money, could not be compelled 10 pay
over these funds until the tax commis-
sioner saw fit to audit their accounts.
which might be years in the future. In
short, the public monies are subject to
the whim of the tax commissioner. IN
admit that Mr.. Dawson has foisted upon
the people of this state the most barbar-
Gus tax laws of the civilizo d world, but
onr legislators, out Of tender regard for
their own political futures, would dare
not commit such enormities as the one
Simon leads forth.
Simon perpetrates another fraud, when
he infers that, had the tax commissioner &
office audited the books, it would have
cost the county nothing. This is uure
deception. Mr.. w. w. Lemly, OF the
above mentioned Office. inspected tile
books of VIM. NJ. SchaeiIer, and for
this he received $625. 80, from our county
treasury. Simon dare not deny this fact
for it is a matter OF public record. Mr..
Steele, with the aid OF two assistants,
audited the books of seven officials and
for this Mr. Steele received compensa-
ton Of SO, l55 05. The figures speak Of
Nh'AiioNAfN7f hNN Atlt ittAiAHi fOillDdfts hilfi
find from which audit the county received
the greater value But the court employ
ed Mr.. Steele, only after having tried in
vain, for over two years, TO secure man
from tine Office OF the state tax commis-
sioner. Failing in this the court em-
plOyed its own inspector.
No, gentle reader it is not the motive
OF Simon to protect your pocket book
Far from it, he and his kind, in the past,
have dipped into your savings with a
generous hand. Ills articles are the
anguishcd and pitiable babbling Of the
abandoned prohigate, whose person and
reputation are about to be put to the
rack by a prince Of prosecutors Mr..
Townsend is the fearless champion Of the
cause OF honesty. he is the man whose
indomitable courage and sagacity com
mitted five Of the very blackest rascals
to the punishment they so richly deserved.
Simon knows what is in store for him,
and his drivcl is like the walls OF the
naked souls scorciing on the gridules of
hell. "The mills Of the gods grind slowly
but they grind exceedingly fine"
JuNws Je