Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1884 — OFFICIALLY ANSWERED. [ARTICLE]

OFFICIALLY ANSWERED.

(From the Souh Bend Times.)

What the County Auditor says about the School Fund Loan. South Bend, Ind., Sept. 23, 1884. Amos. C. Hall, Esq., Auditor of LaPorte County : Dear Sir: — I have read several newspaper charges in which the allegations were made that the Hon. Wm. H. Calkins, at present Republican candidate for governor of the state of Indiana, is a defaulter to the public school fund of our state in the sum of three hundred dollars and the accumulated interest on the same for the last eight years. I would request you (a request which I believe any citizen can with propriety make, as the same refers to a matter of public interest in which all taxpayers are interested) to answer the following questions, so that I may obtain authoritative knowledge as to the truth or falsity of the charges : 1. Did Wm. H. Calkins borrow three hunured dollars from the school fund of LaPortfe county about ten years ago, or at what time? 2. For what length of time, and at what rate of interest did he borrow it? 3. Has he paid either principal or interest of the loan? 4. What was the land valued at. when he received the loan? 5. What was the appraised value of the land after the auditor bid it in f«r the protection of the school fund? 6. Has the auditor made any effort to sell it at its present appraised value? 7. Is it a fact that the county commissioners have had to appropriate money out of the county funds to meet the delinquent interest on the loan for the last eight years? 8. Why is it that the auditor has not sued Calkins’ note, or made effort to collect the same? 9. Is there any other person in any way responsible legally, for the payment of this debt excepting Wm. H. Calkins? Awaiting your answer, I am respectfully yours, Jacob Klingel. THE REPLY. LaPobte, Ind., Sept. 24, 1884. Jacob Klingel, Esq., South Bend, Indiana : Dear Sir: — I herewith answer your interrogatories propounded to me in your letter of yesterday : 1. Wm. H. Calkins did on the 23d day of October. 1874, borrow from the school fund of this county three hundred dollars. 2. On five years time, at eight per cent, interest. 3. The interest for the first year was paid at the time of making the loan, and again the interest was paid for the second year, and there has not been anything paid since. 4. The land was appraised at seven hundred dollars when the loan was obtained. 5. The appraised value of the land after the auditor bid it in, was two hundred dollars. 6. My predecessor and myself have endeavored to. sell the land at its present appraised value, but have been unable to do so. 7. The county commissioners have made appropriations from the county fund to make good the interest that has accrued by the forfeiture.. 8. The reason that the auditor has not sued Calkins on the note is, an action cannot be maintained until the land is sold. Effort has been made to induce Mr. Calkins to pay, but has not been attended with success. 9. There is not any other person in any way legally responsible for the payment of the debt except W. H. Calkins, and this I think fully answers your interrogatories. Very respectfully yours,

AMOS. C. HALL,

Auditor LaPorte Co., Ind.