The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-04-07

book. For instance on OCTOBER SIht
1916, | charged him with the various
tax accounts as shown by the tax book
amounting to about $15O,OO0.OO, when
as a matter of fact, he did not have
one cent of the money in his bank OF
cash drawers. On Oct. 9th, l charged
him with highway account $14,44l.76
and he did not have a cent OF the
money. but he did have the account.
And that went into the balance
showed on Jan. 1st, 1916, although
the greater part of the money was not
collected until during February and
January, 1916. Now, Mr.. Wilkes got
the cash balance from the trustee,
guess, and of course, it does not
amount to as much as the cash and
the taxes to be collected both put to-
gether.
THAT is where Mr. Wilkes 'discrep-
ancy comes in, and that is my ex-
PLANTATION of same to him. And what
he says about the special highway fund
is answered in the same way. | be-
lieve, if Mr.. Wilkes had taken the
trouble to carefully investigate this
himself, he would have found this out,
for it is so easily understood by any
one who desires to know and will try
to find out. The late Major J. T. Will
hanson, Mr.. T. B. Forgey and Mr.. M.
B. Tomlinson certainly understood 1t,
for they have for a long time carefully
checked up these accounts on my
trustees books and have found them
trustees boks and have found them
correct at all times.
"Mr. Wilkes says that, il the high
way fund and the special highway
fund had the balances which l report
ed on Jan. 1st, 1916, and then the
taxes collected since that time is
added to that, it would make hand
some road fund. Did Mr.. Wilkes not
know that all the taxes collectabl
for 1915, which are not due or past
due until March l, 1916, we're neces-
sarily and properly charged and includ-
ed in the balances which | reported
on Jan. /, 1916? Did he not know
that the law requires such to be done?
II he did not, then he ought to learn
at least that much before he under
takes to make unwarranted reflections
upon anyone. And it also shows that
his investigation was not very thor
ough to say the least of it.
Now, Mr.. Wilkes speaks of some
figures that | made concerning the
road money spent in the Culleoka end
Of the 9Th district and in the Glendale
end of that district. In the first place,
want to say am not partial to eth
er end of that district over the other. |
Mr.. Wilkes says that question had not
been raised and he don't know what /
was driving at. Well, | did not hear
Mr.. Wilkes raise that question, but
Mr.. Wilkes is not the only one there
ire other people besides him, and it
8 fact. | guess, that Mr.. Wilkes hap
pens not to know everything all the
line. That question had been talked.
Mr.. Jesse Tomlinson and | talked
Ibout it and he said he had heard
ome question about 1t. After that,
Mr.. Hight came to me and asked me to
lelp him look that question up and |
I'D so for him. And the figures show
hat the Culleoka end got something
yer $4,000 per year for the last FIVE
ears more than the Glendale end out
the 9Th district road funds. That
absolutely all right with me, II It is /.
18th the people Of that district, but I
imply know what the warrants show
hen for road rights of way the 5th
istrict has gotten more than any 9th.
district in the county during the
asst five years. That Is a fact, but T
ave never complained about It and
not now complain about it. I sim.
y give the facts. am not defending
~ district or anybody, neither am | n
'saulting any district or any person S
In conclusion, want to say that c.
hatever | have done is above board, il
Id ! do not offer any apology for any 81
1t, for have not done a wrong to al
lybody Furthermore, IL any official ii
doing any dirty work. he ought to al
called to account for same, and l st
II never help to cover up anything h;
the kind. My records are absolutely m
en- for inspection by anyone at any
ne. ]. T. MCKNIGHT" in
eli