Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1909 — THIS BILL SHOULD BECOME A LAW. [ARTICLE]

THIS BILL SHOULD BECOME A LAW.

According to a bill introduced by Senator Clark, which has been faorably considered in committee, the statute of limitations against public officers, or former officers, in whose operations there have been defalcations, will expire two years after the defalcation is discovered instead of two years after wrongful act has been committed as at present. It often happens under our political system that offices are handed down from principal to deputy, or through the manipulations of a ring, for a series of years, thus perpetuating an interest in the suppression of exact conditions. We have had cases in this cbunty where errors and shortages in accounts have not been discovered until years after the responsible officer had retired from office. The intent of the pending measure is to protect the public and to afford opportunity for the recovery of funds ’whenever the defalcation is discovered, no matter how long the offender has been out of office, only provided that action shall be taken within two years after there has been public discovery of the defalcation. Such a law would not only a restraining influence on the officer, but it would cause his bondsmen to concern themselves profoundly in his conduct.——lndianapolis News.