Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1892 — THAT FLEENER & PERKINS MATTER. [ARTICLE]

THAT FLEENER & PERKINS MATTER.

WHICH THE PILOT GANG HAS HARPEI) SO MUCH ABO CT. Early in the present year two agents of Fleener & Perkins, a law firm of Lebanon, Ind., began examining certain of the county records of this county, under a contract previously entered into with the county commissioners, whereby Fleener & Perkins were to receive one half of all collectible sums they found due the county, on former erronious settlements. The firm represented and no doubt truly, that they often found large sums due the counties from the .state, and that they were making a specialty of such investigations. They did not look for money due f com individuals, that not being in their line. The proposition they made was a very plausible one; as it seemed the county had everything to gain and nothing to lose by it, and it was accepted. By the way the contract was drawn up it gave Fleener &. Perkins all they found due to the county “from the state and other sources.”

And in that little phrase “and other sources” proved to be “where the gazelle comes in,” to use a familiar saying. For the gentlemen had been engaged on our county books but a short time when information was received from the adjoining county, Newton, that the same firm had been working there for some time anc soon found that 8600 was due the county from the state, and that $1,200 was due the county from the different townships of the county, and they put in their bil for S9OO, accordingly. Now the sum found coming from the state was all right, but not even one es the “dog and poll” tax-paying howlers of the People's Pilot would claim that it was not a very losing investment for the people of Newton county to compel them to raise an extra $1,200 in township taxes for the sake of putting half of that sum into the county treasury and the other half into the pockets of those astute gentlemen, Messrs. Fleener Perkins.

At the June term the County Commissioners having the knowledge of what had just transpired in Newton county, wisely decided not to allow Fleener & Perkins to further investigate the books, as the contract then was, and they entered an order accordingly.

Very soon thereafter, the People’s Pilot gang began a most dishonest and malignant howl about this restraining order of the commissioners, trying to make people believe that it had been made for the purpose of covering up official wrong-doing, of some kind. This howl the dirty and dishonest Gang has kept up, even after they had been fully informed of the nature of the contract and of the very good and sufficient reasons why the restraining order was made.

The final sequel of the matter has been that Mr. Fleener, the head of the firm, met with the commissioners this week and agrees to go on with the investigation in all respects according to original contract, with the very important exception that no claim shall be made for any sums that may be found due from the townships to the county. In this whole matter our county commissioners have acted rightly and conscientiously and for the jest interest of the people of the county; and this plain and absolutely truthful statement of the facts ought to bring the blushes of shame to the countenances of the ■ Pilot gang, if they are not incapable of shame, which is probably * the case.