Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1918 — SPENDING PUBLIC’S MONEY [ARTICLE]

SPENDING PUBLIC’S MONEY

Some Conscription Boards Served Without Pay; Others Extravagant. Adjutant General Smith of Indianapolis, in -his report as disbursing officer for the government in connection with the work of selecting the 17,510 men of Indiana’s quota under the first draft for the new national army, show® that a total of $109,961.14 was spent. This amount covers the cost Ip general of the selection of the men to the point of entrainment, and the average is SG.2B per man. The report shows a reckless expenditure of money by some local exemption boards in the state and much economy by others. The highest expenditure was In Switzerland county with 67 men, where $1,217 was spent, $18.16 per man. In Benton, with 99 men; Crawford with 81, Fountain with 150, Lagrange with 105, Lake, division 3, with 46; Montgomery 120, Noble 143, Porter 98, Steuben 1, and Eivansvllle, division 3, 188, the work was done gratis, there being no expense whatever to the government. In Tippecanoe county the total expense for 325 men was but $2, or an average olf six cents per man. In Jasper county, with 56 men, the expense was $385.20, or $6.90 per man. Of this amount the clerk, cheriff and Dr. E. N. Loy of the examining board each received $72. The other $169 went for clerk hire, etc., although some of the clerks served gratia. In Newton county, with 59 men, the hbard drew, $504, or $8.54 per man; Starke county, 84 men, S6OB - 40, $7.24 per man; Pulaski county, 91 men, $836.20, $9.19 per map; Oarroll county, 125 men, $827, $6.61 per man. In Marion county, outside IPdlanapolis, 255 men cost $67.60, or 26 cents per man, while in division No. 1, Indianapolis, 182 men cost $8 per man, and division No. 10 of the same city, 272 men cost 54 cents per man. In Parke county, with 116 men, the cost was 21 cents per man; Decatur county, 98 men, 6 cents per man; Dearborn county, 161 mien, 49 cents per man. At the time these boards were appointed it was asked and understood that the services would be donated as a matter of patriotism, and The Democrat is informed tint such was the Intention here until a member of the board happened over in Newton county an’d learned of the bill of over SSOO that had been sent In from, there. Patriotism cseems to be largely a miatter of environment.