The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-22
Especial to The Argus

Especial to The Argus)
Aledo, I'LL, Sept. 22.-County
Treasurer c. A. Freise was called
before the board of supervisors
yesterday afternoon and asked to
give an explanation of the system
of collection of taxes and asked to
explain what was done with the in
terest on the funds collected.
While no direct accusations
were made 1t was indicated that
the interest on the funds deposited
by the treasurer was not being ac-
counted for in the proper manner.
Mr. Freise was called before the
board shortly after it met for the
afternoon" session. Frank Nc
Cutchan then asked the treasurer
township. began the questioning of
Mr.. Freise. After inquiring what
the salary of the treasurer was and
being told it was $500, Mr.. Nc
Cutchen then asked the treasurer
to tell how much interest had been
collected on county funds during
the past year. None" stated Mr.
Freise
Il would like to ask you. Mr..
Freise," said Mr. Keilman, how
much money was paid TO you, or
your deputy or deputies for county
moneys on devosit in county banks"
''None." stated the treasurer.
81 have been informed" stated
Mr.. Keilman, from a reliable
source, that one bank in this coun-
" offered you az per cent for
funds. but that you refused this Of
fer, stating that the Aled0 banks
would pay you more"
THAT is not true" said Mr..
Freise. There is no interest paid
in this county On funds deposited
by the treasurer. and l would like
to have you bring the man to me
who made that statement. In
counties with population of over
10000 the law provides for inter-
est on deposits, but in this county
1t does not. There is no interest
paid"
Mr.. Freise explained the fact
that his bond was furnished by in
dividuals, whereas if the county
had to furnish it, it would mean
paying a premium of S4,16S yearly
to bonding company This means
that saving of this amount alone
is made every year for the county.
Mr.. f'reise fully explained the svs-
tenn of collecting taxes which has
been used during the last few years
and which is claimed by state of
hclals to be the most efficient and
economical method. of the peo-
pie are not satisfied with this meth
cd of collection, l am willing to go
back to the old method In the
year 1918 with the old tax collec-
ton method used the earnings of
the Office were S4,67S.54 and last
year the earnings of the Office were
$22.S4S.76. This alone shows the
saving by the new method of tax
collection"
Mr.. Keiiman stated that the only
reason he had questioned the meth
DDS of the treasurer was that the
people in his part of the county
wondered where the interest on the
moneys was going and he felt he
owed it to his people to investi-
gate. When asked why he did not
come to the treasurer's office to in
yestigate he stated that he was not
the only one who had heard these
remarks. No action was taken en-
the board seeming fully satisfied
with Mr.. Freise's explanation.
Sessions Interesting.
Following the explanation by
Ehr. Friese, at which a number of
t$nterested townsmen were pres
ent, the word having leaked out
that he was TO be before the board
on supposed charge of having mis-
appropriated county moneys, other
matters were taken up by the
board.
Supervisor Willis of Keithsburg
township made motion TO the eff
feet that Superintendent of Schools
G. E. Plat be allowed $1,000 per
year for assistant and truant ON
GERS pay. Upon vote the motion
was carried, the following super-,
visors voting for it: Parker
Sharer, Stoner, Church. Bones.
Dodson. Minteer and Willis. Those /
against were: Blackstone. Petrie
Mack. McCutchan, Keilman, Finch /
and Muhlenburg.
At the last session both the sher-l
If and uperintendent of schools
were deprived of their deputies.
the salaries of each being cut to
81 per year. Both these assistants
have Row been restored to office.
a request from the Mercer coun-
~ home bureau association for an
appropriation of 1870 was refused.
Those who voted for the appropri-
alton were: Petrie, Parker. Ston-l
er, McCutchan. Bopes, Dodson.
Against Blackstone, Mack. Keil-
man, Church. Minteer, Willis.
Finch and Muhlenburg.
n J. Sharer, +, NJ. Church and !