Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1898 — The Office of Township Trustee May Be Abolished. [ARTICLE]

The Office of Township Trustee May Be Abolished.

Delphi Herald: There are loud complaints all over the state concerning the increasing expenses of township trustees. It is charged that in nearly every county in the state combinations have been formed among trustees to make all they ean out of the office. There seems to be a concentrated effort to bleed the taxpayers. As an illustration it is charged that a certain trustoo ip Cass county drove to town and bought 15 cents worth of chalk for the schools and charged up a day for the work. It is also reported that a trustee went to Logansport and bought a quarter's worth of school books for some indigent children and charged a full day—or §2.00 —for the service. So extravagant has the administration of township affairs, in many places, become t|jat there is talk of abolishing the office of trustee altogether and a measure with that purpose is now being formulated. It is proposed to have the county school superintendent look after the schools, the ditch commissioner Lok after thu ditches, the county commissioners after the poor, elections and other incidental and ornamental duties. The reformers that there is nn question but there must be a consolidation of offices, and three county commisX- pointed out that they can easily manage the township business more safely and much more economically than a retinue of trustees, while the incidental duties belong to other county agents.