Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1899 — NO INVESTIGATION NOW. [ARTICLE]

NO INVESTIGATION NOW.

The Fleener & Carnahan Deal Held As An Excuse For Not Granting the Petition. Other Commissioners’ Court Proceedings.

The county commissioners met in regular session on Monday. Following is a report of their transactions: In the matter of the petition for an investigation of the county records the following entry was made on the record: “Petition to have county records examined: Comes now the petitioners by E. P. Honan, their attorney and presents their petition and the Board after hearing the argument of counsel and being fully advised in the premises finds that heretofore, on Sept. 10, 1897, this Board entered into a contract with Fleener & Carnahan, expert accountants, td make and carry on the investigation prayed for by the petitioners herein; that after the execution of the contract above referred to, this Board was by the Jasper Circuit Court enjoined from carrying out the provisions of the said contract, from which judgement of the circuit court an appeal was taken to Supreme court of Indiana in which court the said cause is now pending. It is therefore ordered by the Board that this cause be continued pending the decision of the Supreme court in the cause of Elias Marion vs the Board of Commissioners of the County of Jasper.” Following is a part of the contract referred to, and contains all the salient parts of same: “We will examine the books, papers, vouchers, settlements and statements of the various officers of your county and state and ascertain whether or not there is any money due your county from the state or any other source on account of errors or omissions and in the event we find anything due your county as aforesaid, we will report the same to your proper officials for collection without cost to your county save our charges and for our services in making said examination we will charge yon a sum of money equal to one-half of all sums discovered and reported by agin accordance with the above propositiw«MT66llwted by yonr officials,” etc, will be seen that the above, to use a slang pbraze, is a “bird” ofof a contract —for Fleener & Carnahan —providing they ever are allowed to go ahead with the “investigation.’’ Such a contract ought to be held bad by the courts and we believe eventually will be. Commissioner Halleck stated that he expected an early decision in this case, and, if held illegal, then the board would “consider” the prayer of the above petition. He intimated, however, that before the board coaid order an investigation it would be necessary for them to find that some “irregularity” existed, making such investigation necessary, which is equivalent to saying that no investigation need be expected. There are other ways forgetting an investigation that will investigate, and that is to elect a set of county officers at the next election who will pledge themselves to make the | same. /L Amount of unloanedeehool -ftrtid on band Dec. 1, $660.00. W. H. Coover turned over $486.25 fees collected for the quarter ending Nov. 30; R. B. Porter, ; same, $700.90; N. J. Reed, same, $348.84; W. C. Babcock, same (for one month) $29.90. ' Report of Supt. of poor farm I filed showing receipts for quarter $171.61; expenses $879.35. Publication ordered for notice of bids for furnishing supplies; bids will be received up to noon of Dec. 19.

Alex Merica, petition for highway between Pulaski and Jasper counties: John O. Connor heretofore appointed commissioner having failed to make said view, the Board appointed J. W. Burgett commissioner to act with S. W. Huffle, commissioner appointed by Pulaski county, to meet at office of E. H. Applegate in Francesville, on Dec. 9, at 10 a. m., to qualify, and pioceed to view said road, and make report on or before Jan. 1,1900. “Thomas J. Joiner, janitor of the county buildings, heretofore employed, having abandoned his employment, is discharged, and

the resignation of Samuel F. Wood as fireman at the heating plant, heretofore filed, is accepted and he is discharged,” reads the record. The Board appointed Charles Morlan as janitor and custodian of the court house and heating plant at a salary of S4O per month, and Geo. L. Morgan fireman for the heating plant at a salary of S3O per month, both to hold their positions subject to dismissal by the board.

Robt. A. Parkison, treasurerelect, filed his bond in the sum of $160,000 with Geo. B. Parkison, James R. Parkison. Wallace Robinson, Granville Moody, J. D. Babcock, Austin O. Moore, Henry Grow, J. V. Parkison, S. R. Nichols, I. J. Porter, # Wm. W. Murray, Nathan Eldridge, John Eger, Warren Robinson, P. C. Wasson and Addison Parkison as sureties, which was approved by the Board. Mr. Parkison takes charge of the office Jan. 1, 1900. Board adjourned Thursday evening to meet again Monday. Dec. 11.

BILLS ALLOWED. J. C.Gwin, (assignee; 1 old wolf scalp. $ 10 00 Heury Lours, gravel road work 2 50 Joseph Putts, same 3 00 £. S. Rhoades, poor relief Marion tp... 5 00 E. G. Warren, Supt. Keener tp., g rds. 60 00 Florence Wood, office work, ditches.. 19 00 Porter A Randle, mdse. ct. house 3 10 A J Biggs, gravel road w0rk........... 12 00 h L Gamble. Eng. Keener tp. roads.... 6 00 Same, work on ditches 12 00 B. Meinbrook, gravel road work 7 50 Laßue Bros., (assignee Jno. Bourne) gravel road work 2 SO Same, (assignee H. W. Grant), same 250 Same, poor relief Marlon tp 44 25 W C Buhcock. postage auditor's office 100 W HCoover, same 3 50 E C English, postage Sec. Bd. Health.. 185 Same, salary as same 52 09 JOB McDougle, poor relief Carpenter 900 J C Gleason, same 15 50 W H Coover, making reports 1 00 S C Johnson, poor relief Jail Ap. f. con 625 Geo. L. Morgan, services at boiler hse $35, allowed at.... 30 00 t H Peck A Co., poor relief Carpenter 15 00 D R Fairchild, Supt. Keener gr rds.... 29 25 R B Porter, postage recorder's office 615 John Gleason, poor relief Carpenter 800 Leslie Clark, printing, etc., truant of.. 4 50 Same, county superintendent 11 00 Same, sab. to Journal to Jan. 1,1900.. 65 JOB McDougle, poor relief Carpen... 900 Wm. Shepherd, same.... 49 75 Jlert-Terry Sta. Co,, books and sta $16.50 1 dismissed A L Berkley, poor relief per contract. 13 00 W H Eger, mdse gravel roads 84 Same, ct house 4 55 J W WiUiams, same 100 N J Reed, boarding prisoners, $43.20 al 43 00 Same, postage sheriff’s office 2 00 TJ Joiner, janitor salary, Nov 45 00 New Castle Bridge Co., Groom’s bdge. $1.670 continued T J Joiner, laundry for ct house 2 76 Hunt Bros., mdse ct house 11 90 John Eger, mdse poor farm $122,33, al 122 29 Same, poor relief Marion $38.50 allow 35 50 A F Long, mdse Co. officers 25 30 N W Scraper Co., 2 road machines 600 00 W C Babcock, sal as auditor for Nov.. 166 67 W H Coover, salary as clerk 375 00 S C Johnson, poor relief Mari0n....... 6 85 Ellis A Murray, same 2 16 Same, mdse poor farm 18 76 Same poor relief Union tp 12 60 LH Hamilton, sal. Co. Supt 312 00 Same, postage account 10 90 J R Phillips, serv.Co. assessor, 39 00 Coen A Brady, coal for for. poor farm 10 00 W C Babcock, grain for poor farm.... 372 78 J P Hammond, serv, truant officer.,.. 32 00 J C Gwin, sal. as treasurer 300 00 A G Hardy, sal. poor farm Supt 150 00 A S Keane, poor relief Wheatfield 22 45 John Pinter, same 27 71 F B Meyer, mdse Jail and ct house 38 72 WHRger, same. Jail 16 96 City Rensselaer, water to Jan.l, 1900.. 175 00 L N Welts, med.aid to poor, contract.. 17 50 j Warner Bros, mdse Jail . 5 05 Same, mdse poor farm 2 35