Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-04-13
J TRUSTEES REPORTS

lSk. r TRUSTEES REPORTS
IL { 3 weeks issue Of the Demo-
crat appear the reports Of the Town
ship Trustees of Delaware County for
the year 1920. We desire to call es-
pecial attention to the manner in
| which these reports were prepared
for the newspapers by the county
auditor.
It may not be generally known that
the trustees of each township are re-
quired under the law to file with the
County auditor, and subject to the
approval OF the board, a full and COM
plete report of their work during the
year, and the amounts received from
1.-THE county treasurer from the April
and October apportionment of taxes.
The reports also give the names of
each person drawing money from the
township, together with the dates
when such money was paid out and
for what purpose. In fact, the reports
as compiled by the trustees are very
complete, and if published as such
would give the taxpayers the informa-
ton to which they are entitled.
The taxpayers of the townships have
no way of determining from the re-
ports as published whether their
townships are bankrupt or whether
there was a balance on hand at the
beginning of the year 1921. To be
sure an interested taxpayer has q
means Of determining whether the
funds of the township are properly
expended, and that is to go directly
to the township officers and, demand
ing that he have access to the books
All the information contained in the
reports as published is that certain
men were paid certain sums of money
The published reports do not state
on what days the money was expend-
ed, nor. do they say what the town
ship received in exchange for the
money thus spent.
4 The members of the Board Of Super
visors are not satisfied with the man
ner in which Auditor Fishel insists
that the reports shall be published.
The Board contends that the reports
when published should show the bal
ance on hand at the beginning OF the
Year, the amounts received from the
county treasurer, and also show the
balance, II any, on hand on the last
day of the year. Mr.. Fishel may be
within his legal rights when he takes
from the Trustees Reports only such
parts as in his Judgment he deems
necessary to publish. The law authors
zing the publication Of certain pro-
reedings does not contemplate the
publication of unnecessary data, but
we believe that the intent of the law
is to publish the reports in such
way as to convey to the taxpayes In
formation to which he is entitled. II
the taxpayers Of the various town
chips invested the same amount OF
money in manufacturing plant as
they pay into the county treasurer's
office each year, isn't 1t reasonable
to suppose that those same men would
insist on an intelligent report OF the
financial standing Of such a plant?
Then why should Mr.. Fishel authorize
the publication of the Trustees re-
ports and not give the true state
ment of the financial condition OF
the townships We believe that the
people of the county, who are paying
ever increasing taxes, should know
what their public officials are doing
with the vast sum of money each year,
and that it should not be up to Auditor
Fishel alone to say whether the re-
ports Of public officials are to be
published in whole or in part.
We believe that the Supervisors are
not altogether free from criticism IN
that they do not insist on more
liberal Interpretation Of the law
authorizing publication of official pro-
ceedings, and in permitting the county
auditor to do what he has done with
reference to the 1920 Township Trus-
tees reports.
We understand that the members
of the board of supervisors instructed
the assessors at their annual meeting
To file itemized statements OF their
services this year, and that the auditor
informs them that it is not necessary
to itemize their accounts. The Board
passes on all bills before they can be
paid, and anyone who has just claim
against the county will not hesltate
to itemize such bill. The Board
should stand pat on their instructions
to the assessors, and absolutely refuse
to allow their bills If they are not