The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-09-09
MORE OFFICIALS
OF K00CAICHINC
COUNTY REMOVED .
BY GOV. BuRNQu|ST
Commissioners r. F. Mcdonald Har-
cid Royen and W. Harrington
Suspended.
IT IS ALLEGED THEY MADE
$4,000 EACH IN BOND DEAF.
Governor Acts on Recommendation
Of Attorney General After the
Citizens Complain.
IT IS ALLEGED THEY MADE
$4,000 EACH IN BOND DEAF,

Citizens Complain.
Three more officials of Koochichine
county were suspended temporarily
Friday by Governor Burnquist fol-
lowing charges of alleged malfeasance
in Office
Action was taken upon the recon-
mendat1on of Lyndon A. Smith, at
torney general.
Are Commissioners.
The three suspended we're r r
Mcdonald Haroyd Royen and VIII
liam Harrington, county commission
ers. They are accused. in a netition
filed by G. A. Smith, w. H. DAYTON
and r. B. Cook of participatins in
excessive expenditures for ditch and
road construction aggregating an
proximately 100000.
l.. II. Slocum, county auditor, was
temporarily removed last Saturday by
Governor Burnquist, pending further
investigation of charges involving
him in these transactions.
Continuing Study.
Attorney General Smith Friday
was continuing a study of the uues-
tlon of whether Auditor. Slocum's res
lgnat1on must be formally accented
by the board of county commission
ers, or whether it is effective without
that proceeding and halts the first
investigation because of Slocum ceas-
ing to be a public cial subject to
the~proposed inquiry Of his official
acts. ~ =, -. *" -
Conspiracy Charged.
It is alleged the three commission
ers suspended Friday entered into a
conspiracy with agents of the Mime
sofa Construction Co., whereby the
latter was the only one that would
get contracts for bitches.
1t is alleged they also entered into
conspiracy with E. A. Elder. Du-
luth, an agent of the Commercial
investment Co., whereby Mr.. Elder
| received $95,715 from the commits
| sloners TOR negotiating the sale of
$l,688,OO0 of county bonds.
Not Resident of County.
! The complaint alleges that the
three commissioners participated in
a snare OF the money spent, to the ex-
tent of $4,000 each. It is further
alleged that Mr.. Mcdonald is not
resident of Koochiching county, but
that he continued to hold the office
OF county commissioner while living
at Great Prairie, Alta.
1t is also alleged that the North
western Construction Co. was unable
to complete some of it's contracts and
that the county lost $4,000 because
of this.
Illegal Expenditures.
Commissioner Mcdonald is CHARGED
with having appropriated $4,000 to
his own use and bringing about ille-
gal expenditures of $4,000 on road
contracts and with profiting in a. like
sum through commissions paid on
bond sales.
The charges allege that prior to
January l, 1915, Commissioner Nc
Donald, George B. Partridge, acting
for the Northern Construction COM
pany; George A. Elder, acting for
! himself and for the Commercial In
vestment company, and the Security
Investment company; County Auditor
Slocum and other county officials con-
spired to defraud the county and ap-
propriate certain funds to their own
use.
Manipulated Board.
Commissioner Mcdonald the char
ges continue, manipulated the county
board with the assistance of Auditor
SlOcum to secure warrants and with
others agreed that all road contracts
would be awarded to one company at
prices to afford large profits and leave
large sum for division among the
alleged c0nspirators.
Because of the inexperience, bad
judgment or incompetence of the en-
gineer, however, tn charges recite,
the work was underestimated, and to
carry out the plans, it is alleged,
plans and specifications we're Destroy
ed and auditors records removed to
defeat any attempts to Investigate.
Bond Sales Unnecessary.
Commissioner Mcdonald is charged
further with aiding Elder to secure,
commissions of $4,000 on bond sales,
which are alleged to have been un-
necessary, and aiding in carrying out
alleged illegal agreements in connec-
tion with contracts on state rural
highways Nos. "a, 20, 9 and S.
Almost Identical charges are filed
against County Commissioners Will
liam Harrington and Harold Royem.
both of whom are charged with NAL
feasance and nonfeasance in Office.
They are alleged to have awarded