The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-02-13
ROAD OFFICIALS
ISSUE DEFIANCE
ODENBURG AND SMOLT WILL NOT
RESIGN FROM GENESEE DIS
TRICT UNDER FIRE.

The institution of suit in the dis
trict court for the removal from Of
flee of Charles Odenburg, chairman,
and Edwin Smolt secretary, of the
Genesee highway district, has crea-
ted no little feeling, pro and con, in
the community, and the two men as
sert that they will go to Jail, rather
than turn over the public's interests
to directors one of whom, according
to a statement which Odenberg and
Smolt gave out in Lewiston Sunday,
was "handpicked" by an interested
contractor who, they assert, offered
to bribe them.
The following interview was given
out by the two men in Lewiston Sat
urday, and brings before the public
their side of the question:
''In the first instance, this is a
private suit. If there were any
grounds for serious charges against
any of the officers of the district, the
action should be prosecuted by the
state.
The complaint charges that the
treasurer of the district with the
consent of the chairman has paid out
approximately $4,000 without any
bills or vouchers being filled. This
statement is not true, and is an at
tempt to charge that in paying the
bills of the district, the commission
ers did not comply with all of the
formalities required by law, but even
that charge is untrue
Say Money Honestly Expended
'The complaint also charges that
the secretary and chairman failed to
make list of $4,000 of bills paid.
This charge is not true The law re-
hot cI,o1
proved and signed by the officers and
paid by check, and that the bills al
lowed or disallowed shall be shown
on the minutes of the board, and that
in addition, a list shall be signed and
filed by the chairman and secretary.
We believe we have complied with
the requirements, but if we had in
advertently omitted compliance with
some technical provisions it would
have been matter of no moment so
long as the funds were honestly and
efficiently administered.
"The complaint then charges that
Edwin Smolt has made profit by rent
ing a building to the district The
facts are that when the district was
organized, suitable quarters were not
available and Mr.. Smolt allowed the
district to occupy one room in a.
district, and on the main street AS
the work of the district expanded,
four rooms in this building were
taken over and occupied as meeting
place, drafting room and quarters for
engineers. In addition to using Mr..
Smolt's building, the district, since it's
organization has used his furniture,
typewriter and adding machine. The
total compensation paid by the dis
trict for rent and all other services
has been $40 a month. If this is a
violation of the law, it is one by which
the taxpayers have profited.
Denies Board Bill Charge
"It charged that Edwin Slnolt, un-
der a contract with the district, nas
collected $4,000 for the board of en-
ployees of the district This is not
true, and we venture the assertion
that this charge will receive no seri-
ous consideration from the court
when the facts are disclosed.
"The complaint does not allege any
1efalcation, but in so far as it at
.empts to suggest any impropriety, in
he use of public funds the complaint
S utterly false.
'The only question in which the
taxpayers are, or ought to be inter
ested is whether we have been honest
and efficient officers. The records of
the district should determine that.
We were furnished with S170,cG0 10
build roads. We have graded % miles
of road and surfaced 16, and have
acquired construction equipment Of
the value of $4,000. Engineering ard
overhead expenses have been far be-
low the state and federal expenses in
similar construction, and more work
60. I, nj
ed than in any other district in the
state, with one possible exception,
despite that much of our work was
lone at wartime prices.
"The books of the district have been
audited annually and the 1921 audit,
made by Galord Brothers of Spokane,
S public record in the office of the
district and is available to all tax
PAYERS !"