Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1905 — GRAFTISM IN BENTON. [ARTICLE]

GRAFTISM IN BENTON.

Geo. L. Roby, chairman of the democratic county central committee of Benton couuty and also editor of the Benton Review, has served notice on the board of commissioners of that county that jsl9o was illegally jiaid out of the county treasury to Harry Rank, county auditor, for making the annual report of receipts and expenditures (auditor’s report) for he years 1902, 1903; and that uness they take steps to recover the same, he will proceed to bring suit as provided by the county re'orm law, in the name of a taxpayer. The making of this report is clearly a part of the regular duties of the auditor, and there was not the slightest provocation for allowing extra pay for the same. Some years ago The Democrat used to point to the low tax levy and economical management of public affairs in Benton county, in making a comparison with expensive Jasper, but graftism seems to have run riot there during the past few years, and it is not to be wondered that the intelligent people of that community resented the manner of conducting business and retired from the corrupt court house ring to private life, at the recent election. Rank seems to have been a very rank one indeed. Even with all the grastism we used to have in the auditor’s office here, no charge was ever made or allowed for making this report, so far as we ever lieaid.