Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-15
Looker-On In Iona

Eldora, Sept lis. 3. Gardner or
this place. county engineer. referring TO
the investigation of some of the county
books, now going on, says there Is no
secret. nor never has been. of the con-
tract he made with the county in 1904
and which has been continued since.
He was to be allowed So day for in
strument men and $3.50 day for roo
men or chain men. This for actuai
time engaged in county work. HIS bills
have been made out on that basis, aud
tied and paid If ne engaged men at
less price that was nothing TO the SD
pervisors With one board of super
visors this subject was talked over,
and the board knowing he had been
offered position with the state nigh
way commission at 5000 month, said
they wished to retain his services and
the per diem allowance overpaid prices
for labor. would enable him to continue
the county work. and make as much at
the end OF the year. All this was as
open ana above board as the contract
price per month for his services as
county engineer Mr.. Gardner also
said the same practice was carried on
in Franklin and Hamilton and other
counties until the law of 1913 became
operative and until 1913. the expense.
Cor say 90 per cent? of his department
was borne not by the taxpayers of the
whole country, but by the draining dis
trict where his force was working. He
also remarked. TO show how small the
expense was to the county for road and
bridge work in 1913, that $4,000 paid
for his services and men under him
for the entire year Asked about those
three automobiles and three farms.
Dame Rumor credited him as owning.
replied. Il own one automobile. very
necessary in my business and no
farms,
Has politics anything to, do with
springing this whole business Just
now? was the next question. I'm
doubtedly.'' was the reply. For a long
time there has been much talk OF graft
in Hardin county. and yet with every
chance to see the county books and
published proceedings of the county
supervisors, this investigation was
started two months before election
Mr. Charles q, RYAN, appointed by
the court to examine county books, as
suggested by The grand jury. was then
interviewed. He said There vas a
desire for him to personally check UP
the county books, but he preferred to
have outsiders do the work under his
Supervision The firm of Warwick
Mitchell, Peat & Co, Chicago. trained
and experienced accountants, are now
engaged in checking up the books
They will make a public report after
everything is verified and that report
VIII be given to the public no matter
whether it incriminates or clears friend
or foe. He purposely got outsiders 10
do this work to avoid any suspicion or
charges Of favoritism on his part.
The public is aware Mr.. Ryan is the
trustee in bankruptcy for the United
States in the Himmel estate. When
the trustee took possession he found
the liabilities OF the Himmel bank In
Radcliff about s350.000. The assets
were s121 cash, bank fixtures and 81
900 worth of notes, with say $500 OF the
liabilities he has thrown out. about
$4,000 The value of two automobiles
and bank fixtures is $1,000. Since tina,
time he has Strengthened one of the
banks crooked deals by which the
estate has come into possession o,
$500 good notes and $500 cash. botf
now In his possession.
Out OF Pekin. ILL.,. real estate dea
he has secured $4,000 for the creditor.
Of the bank.
Acting on some unexpected informa
ton and a very slight clue he tool
the midnight train from Clifford: wa,
in Dixon, H.. the next morning made
an early call on good woman there
and from her received $4,000 shares II
stock of the Charles Hill Gold Mimi,
Company. This is now one of the as
sets Of the Himmel estate estimated
worth 81 a share, as last sales in opei
market were made at that figure ant
since withdrawn from the market
This stock was transferred to thi
| woman May 1s, 1914, five days afte
Himmers arrest and is very sugges
tive" as Mr.. Ryan remarks. He ais
says he has acquired a small equity Il
100 acres in Polk county, and ha
hopes Of some small holdings in Tex
as"
Taking it all in all. Mr.. Ryan ha
enough business on hand to keep hin
| busy for few days.