People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1897 — DUNCAN BILL PASSED. [ARTICLE]

DUNCAN BILL PASSED.

House Rounds out the Record by Passing this Measure. —————— * Received and Approved by the Governor Baker and the * Rest of the Lobby Made Conspicious. Tuesdays Journal. The House yesterday morning rounded up the excellent record of the Legislature by passing the Duncan bill providing for the auditing of township warrants by a Aboard of three. Though the bill was passed yesterday the Governor received it, examined it and approved it by signing it last evening. An effort had been made to suspend the rules and pass this bill on Saturday and the leaders on both sides of the House were anxious t<s get it through because it was the only measure left restricting the expenditures of trustees.' The lobby of school supply men had succeeded in killing off every othir measure for this purpose. They were all on hand yesterday morning in the final effort to kill the Duncan bill. The boldest one of them, Baker, of Baker & Thornton, was on the floor occupying the seat of Representative Eichhorn most of the time and whispering a word to every member that he could get hold of. When the bill “was handed down, Mr. Blankenship spoke in its favor and called attention to the operations of Baker on the floor. He declared it was high time this man who had been st> bold in attempting to control the work 6f the House were out of there. Mr. Thomas arosei to a point of order, declaring that Mr. Blankenship had no right to take cognizance of any person by name. Speak - ; er Pettit declared that the chair held a very different opinion and that if this man was found on the floor again he would be promptly ejected. Baker had at the first word from Blankenship slipped out back of the railing and stood there among the other school-supply men watching the proceedings.

The bill constitutes the county commissioners a board to audit the warrants of the twp. trustees of the county. It requires them to meet the first of each month and audit these warrants, examining them and satisfying themselves that they are for legitimate and proper expenditures, and that the goods thus purchased have been delivered and are as represented. The commissioners are required to report to the Circuit court and all disputed warrants are tried by the court. The law permits any taxpayer to recover for the county twice the amount of a fraudulent warrant and attorney’s fees and expenses for himself in addition from the bondsmen of the trustee.