Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1900 — COMMUNICATED. [ARTICLE]

COMMUNICATED.

Nearly ago the County Board adopted the Iroquois ditch. The first year of its career was blessed with “great expectations.” At the dawn of the next, its foster parent disowned the child. It went thence to' the orphan’s court, and remained one year, and was by it sent home. It got lost on the way. Three years ago to-day the County Board. resolved that it was dead, and sued its ancestors for the expenses laid out in its behalf. The Judge has just decided, that it is not yet legally On this, St. Patrick’s day, let us pray that it may come into its estate and be able to return good for all the evil of seeking its life, or at least, that the cast-away may be decently buried at home by its foster parent The Ancestors. March 17,1900.

Regarding Special Allowances

Ed. Democrat:—l have hired a farm hand for four months, commencing April 1, at a fixed salary of $lB per month. We both understand the amount to be paid and the kind of work to be done. There are to be no special allowances; if he stops plowing a day and hauls hogs to market there is no extra charge; if it rains a day or two and I find nothing for him to do his pay goes on and his board costs him nothing. This is the general practice the country ever with farmers and their hired help, but I see when the county hires a man for a stated term to do a certain kind of work, though the salary is fixed and both parties know the work that is to be done, yet the county servant is given special allowances for doing the | general work for which he is hired. * I do not see why ex-Auditor Murray is any more entitled to special : allowances in the discharge of his i regular official duties than is my hired man in the discharge of his duties as a common farm hand. The law is plain in this matter and the decision of the supreme court is just as pointed on the subject against such allowance as plain English can make it, yet our commissioners last June allowed to Mr. Murray $185.42 for making assessors’ books, and in August allowed him $75 for services on the county board of review. These two sums are $260.42. If these*sums were allowed each of the eight years Mr. Murray was in office; any one can see by figuring a little that for these items alone made a pretty good 4 ‘rake off.’’ Some counties are bringing suit, I see, against exofficers to recover these very allowances. Why does not Jasper

do the same?

TAXPAYER.