Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1902 — IS “FROM MISSOURI.” [ARTICLE]

IS “FROM MISSOURI.”

Ed. Democrat: I notice in the publication of commissioners’ allowances for June that each of the three commissioners were allowed $56.25, salary to June Ist, or 6th, rather. This is a full quarter’s salary for each, the yearly salary being $225 each. Now, the point I wish to make is this: Sim. the cattle dealer (and sometimes draft worker) —as The Democrat very appropriately dubbed him—filed his resignation as commissioner from the Second district on Feb. 13, 1902, to take effect March 1, 1902. Olf course Sim left here in February, but he wanted to pull the taxpayers for another month’s salary, so made his resignation to take effect a month after he left, and he was allowed and paid salary to that date. On March 2, 1902, Fred Waymire resigned as commissioner from the Third district, to take effect immediately. This resignation was accepted at once and Mr. Waymire was immediately appointed commissioner for the Second district, to take Sim, the cattle dealer’s place. No appointment was made to fill the vacancy in the Third district, caused by Mr. Way mire's resignation, at the March term, and the county had but two commissioners from March Ist until April 7,1902, when Mr. Denham was appointed. Now, Mr. Denham was elected a member of the Jasper county council in 1900 and duly qualified as such and eat on such council up to and including the March special session of same, and has never resigned that office. Such i being the facts, how is he entitled

to a salary as commissioner from the Third district, for the month of March, when, as is well known, there was no commissioner from that district from Maych Ist to April 7th. It would seem to me that another “error’’ had been made in allowing this §56.25, for it must be evident to every man in the countj- that one-third this sum, or $18.75 should have remained in the county treasury, unless Mr. Denham’s term began one month and seven days before he was appointed. We indite this epistle, not for the purpose of “getting after” Mr. Denham, but rather for information on the system of “figgering” in vogue among the Jasper county officials which admits of retroactive salaries being paid out of the public funds. Will someone who is onto this method kindly explain? Taxpayer.