Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1898 — THE EXPLANATION. [ARTICLE]

THE EXPLANATION.

Rensselaer, Aug. 27, ’9B. Editor Democrat: Dear Sir? In your issue of last week you made a number of allusions to the fact of two leaves, (four pages) having been removed from Commissioners’ Record in my office. I wish to make a statement of the facts in regard to this matter, which it seems to me common fairness should have prompted you to give me an opportunity of doing liefore such publication with accompanying insinuations of wrong. This was at the August session of the Board for the purpose of receiving the reports of township trustees. On the first day of the session the reports of seven trustees were acted upon and recorded on pages 467, 468, 469, and 470. On this same day the Board did other business, pertaining to new court house which is recorded on pages 475 to 481 inclusive. After having made the record of settlement with the seven trustees I overlooked the action of the Board in other matters, and made an adjourning order on page 471. I also made a convening order for next day on same page and proceeded to fill nip the pages removed with a record of the second day’s proceedings before discovering my over-sight. The mistake had to be corrected in some way and the only way occurring to me at the moment, when I was hurried with the record work, was to remove the two leaves and make the Record just as the facts required and as though these two leaves had not been there. Of course the mistake should not have been made by me and possibly some other and more complicated course in correcting it might have been better, but the blame, whatever it may be, is mine only, the record as it is, shows the facts and all the facts. I respectfully ask that you give this statement a place in your next issue as prominent as was given the matters in your last. Respectfully Yours,

HENRY B. MURRAY,

Auditor, Jasper Co.

Although many well informed people believe otherwise, admitting that the new court house is worth every dollar it has cost and that every dollar of such cost has been put into the building, did the future outlook for Jasper county demand any such expensive structure? And was it wise in the Commissioners or did they show even average business management in paying 8165,0CX) for a building which they nad contracted for complete at a cost of $89,180.00?

Indiana has no ex-governor now living. In this connection it is interesting to note that Indiana governors do not as a rule, live many years after jtheir retirement from office. Governor Hovey died in office. His successor, Governor Chase, died a short time after his retirement. Oliver P. Morton lived twelve years after his gubernatorial service expired, and Conrad Baker lived fifteen years. Thomas A. Henricks lived seven years after completing his term as governor, Isaac P. Gray lived seven years, and Albert G. Porter twelve years. Governor Williams died at an advanced age while in office.

The horrible stories of neglect and ill-treatment of our soldiers in the field and in camp is enough to freeze the blood in the veins of the most hardened wretch that ever lived, and shows the folly of appointing, for political reasons, dishonest devils and men who are thoroughly incompetent and know nothing of the duties they are expected to perform, to positions of importance and trust. There has been altogether too much politics in the war just closed, and hundreds of young men are now sleeping their last sleep after sufferings besides which those of the unfortunates confined in the noted rebel prisons of the civil war are only equaled, not surpassed. Dishonest officials have stolen the food and supplies intended for the soldiers, others have furnished food unfit for a starving dog, that they might themselves wax fat off the government contracts. The horrible tales of suffering and neglect seem almost incredible, yet they are vouched for in a way that cannot be disputed in a great

many instances. A rigid examination phould be made and the wretches who have starved and ill treated our soldier boys made to suffer the very severest penalties that can be imposed upon them. Said a "prominent republican tax payer to us a few days ago: “We have got that new court house now and must pay for it, but we can show our disapprobation at Jhe polls in November, and this we will do.” • An entry setting forth the error and expunging pages 471, 472, 473 and 474 of commissioners record 10 would have been much better than to have cut the pages from the book altogether, and would have effectually settled any question as to what what said pages contained. A republican congressional love feast was held at the Makeever house behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon. Congressman Crumpacker was the star attraction and gave his henchmen their orders for the work of the campaign. Commissioner Davidson and W. S. Rowe of Benton county, and about a dozen wire-pullers from other places were present at the star-chamber meeting.

It is really amusing to observe the frantic efforts of the boodle organ to figure out a surplus from a deficit, in the poor farm matter. While you are about it, Bro. Clark, why not include in last year’s report all the stock, produce, etc., which you expect to be sold from the farm during the next five years? It would make a better showing for your side of the case and is just as reasonable as the including of unsold products or receipts in last year’s report. Better drop the matter, Leslie. There are many things connected with the county management here that emit a worse stench for you the more they are stirred.

Anent township trustees’ service accounts, we desire to say that the duties of such office is not in proportion to territory or population altogether. For instance, the ordinary duties of a trustee in a township containing 10,000 population cannot be said to be twice as great as that of a township containing but one-half that population. Now in 1897 the trustee of Marion township, received S4BO for service account, which at $2 per day, the sum allowed by law, would have required two hundred and forty days service. There are but 365 days in a year, and assuming that the trustee did not work on the 52 Sundays, we have but 313 working days. Thus, substracting 240 from 313, we have 73. In other words, Mr. Babcock, who is a farmer and stock raiser, only had 73 days out of the 365 to attend to his own private affairs.

In another column we publish a statement from the county auditor in regard to those missing pages from the commissioners’ record. While not disputing the truth of Mr. Murray’s statement, the fact remains that the people of Jasper county simply have his word as to why the mutilation was made. The record pages in question are gone from the book, and we will add that no matter what error might have been made, the auditor nor no other officer is justified in cutting any pages whatever from any record in his possession. Public records are most sacred property and should be kept inviolate. We are much surprised to have an officer of Mr. Murray’s intelligence and experience ccStue before the people and say that he cut four pages from a county record of such importance as this one simply “because he made a mistake” in writing up the proceedings of the board.

Good correspondence stationery, cheap at The Democrat office. Judy and The Lief Buggy Co., will sell anything in their line to you individually, independently of any one else as security.