Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-25
ANOTHER HINT IGNORED.

As was expected the county board
studiously ignored the resolution
adopted by the January grand jury.
and presented TO the supervisors
Thursday. urging them to make needed
changes in the methods of purchasing
county supplies. It was placed on the
table.
Obviously it would be bad politics,
now that the county Is about to en-
bark on an era OF financial affiuence
when there will be some real money to
spend. TO set any precedent or take
notice OF any movement encroaching
upon the prerogatives OF leaders of
the board. II must have been an en-
barrassing moment for these gentle
men when the resolution was brought
up. but happily there was a champion
at hand to lead the movement to send
II TO its oblivion and there we may ex-
pect II to rest indefinitely.
Reforming Is a fine thing till II hits
the reformer and then IL IS another
matter. II the grand jury had found
that any other department in county
affairs needed a hauling over the Goals
the AEGlE Oh TIE BNeAfA h04Au nave
fallen over themselves 20 adopt the
recommendation. even though 10 took
all the surplus revenue for a year or
two. but since the grand jury had the |
.temerity 10 criticiss the board itself |
# must be speedily sat down upon.
IL Is hardly TO be supposed that the /
grand jury acted without a full knowl- /
edge Of the facts. II had access TO /
Ill
cisi states attorney could dig up. /
and besides IL was given the data col
iected by the special investigating 4
committee which the board named TO
look into the sheriff's Office and which
was headed by the chairman Of the
supervisors
From the fact that II returned IN
dictments II Is plain that In its judg-
meat criminal oflenses punishable by
law had been committed in certain de-
partments. The resolution it adopted
shows that some who were not amen
able TO law were nevertheless entitled
10 criticism for being beneficiaries OF a
petty system OF mutual favors. Those
Indicted. II guilty OF all the crimes
charged, got but a few hundred dol
ars from the county treasury but the
,ther evil the grand jury sought 10
-ectify went to the very root OF the
business policy. II was too
ilrect and too much to the point The
reads of the board refused to stand
or it.
A previous grand jury excused GER
ain members of the county board be-
,ause IL was led to believe that they
lid not understand the law bearing
lpon their rights and duties in the
natter Of expanding the coupty's rev.
,nues- That delicate hint appears to
rave passed unheeded. Judging from
he fate of recommendation of the jan
lary inquisitorial body. Evidently the
eaders think they can continue to
get by"
But in this they are short-sighted. II
nothing more. Next fall there is an
election at which certain propositions
ire 20 come up-all OF them worthy
ma deserving OF popular support. In
act, the progress OF the county and
IS people depends to a considerable
;xtent upon the verdict on these IS
ues. The people must be educated to
lee the need OF improvements pro-
'osed or they can hardly be expected
o support them.
And that is not all. The voters will
want to have confidence In their coun-
y government before entrusting Il
With more money 10 spend. Few OF
hem are fully informed on inside
ounty developments Of the last year
T more. but the general belief is that
is wrong. The refusal OF
he board OF supervisors TO make re-
Drms so obviously needed in its meth
d OF purchasing supplies does not
clip 10 dispell this feeling.