Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1900 — A Mathematical Problem. [ARTICLE]

A Mathematical Problem.

In Commissioners' Record 11, pages 478-9. record of the October, 1900, proceedings of the county commissioners, are a couple of entries regarding the transfer of county funds to the Auditor's and Treasurer’s Funds, respectively, amounting to $10,594.96. The petitions for the transfer recites that

warrants have been drawn on each of these funds in favor of Henry B. Murray and Jesse C. Gwin, as auditor and treasurer respectively, during their respective terms of office, in excess of fees collected by them and pa’d into the said “Auditor’s Fund” and “Treasurer’s Fund,” to the amount above shown, and the respective funds show on the books as overdrawn the above amounts. The amount overdrawn in the “Auditor’s Fund” is given at $5,431.67, and the amount overdrawn in the “Treasurer’s Fund” as $5,163.29. To square up the books the commissioners were asked to transfer from the county fund to each of these funds the amount thus overdrawn. The prayer of the petitions was granted and transfer made. That the reader may get a more intelligent idea of this matter we will state that the fee and salary law provides for the collection of certain fees by the various officers and such fees are to be turned over to the county treasurer and by him credited to funds known as the “County Auditor’s Fund,” “County Treasurer’s Fund,” etc , and the salary of such officer shall be paid out of the funds thus created. Now. we of course, know nothing about how much was collected and turned into these respective funds by the above officers during their terms of office, but Jesse C. Gwin was treasurer two terms, 4 years, and the salary is $1,200 per year or $4,800 for the four years. How in the name of Mark Hanna could warrants be issued to him during this term for salary (the only charge that can be made against this fund) that would overdraw the “County Treasurer’s Fund” $5,163.29, or $363.29 more than the total salary amounted to if the officer didn’t collect one penny of fess? ’

“I have an ambition to become the chief executive of. Indiana, and if elected, as I feel sure I will be, it shall be .my constant thought and steady aim to see that the state maintains its foremost place in the union. I pledge myself to an honest and economical administration of state affairs, when Indiana will no longer be a haven of refuge for fugitives from justice, and I now serve notice that democratic fugitives will not be tolerated any more than republican fugitives./^—Hon. John W. Kern, Democratic Candidate for .Governor.