Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-21
TO THE TAX-PAYING COMMUNITY IN
VERMONT.


Oh inc abuses and populations disclosed in these
numbers, why have they not been brought before
10 pubic notlcep This is certainly very natural
ana an proper inquiry, and deserves to be answered.
TOT tor several years before 1871, the subject was
brought 10 the notice Of different members of the
nos 's'utu.e ana some abuses in relation to the
waste oil the public funds were freely canvossed.
as deserving the correcting hand of the T,ngisIa,
ture but nothing was done until 1871 D1rino
session Of the Legislature for that wear the snb;eci
was urged upon the notice of Mr.. Cleaveland, the
Chairman of the Committee of Finance. who con.
CURED with The Auditor, that the subject was one
requiring investigation The subject was fire.
quently introduced, but action was DELAYED until
the last week OF the session, when Mr. cleveland
came into the Office of the Auditor and was asked
II he had made any progress in the proposed law
to correct abuses in the discussing of the public
iunds' The reply was that he had not, and that
the session was too far advanced to accomplish
any thing that year lie was told that if he would
Introduce certain Jointaresoiutions, which could be
prepared IN short time, something would be ac-
complshed. Mr.. cleveland replied that he would
cheertully introduce such resolutions if the Audi
tor would prepare them. The resolutions were
prepared accordingly, directing to open
accounts with various officers entrusted with the
public funds, and among other things to report at
the then next session of the Legislature {" what
moulhcatlon OF the law (was) necessary to secure a
more thorough accountability by every oficer.n
&C. The resolutions were introduced and the
blank having been filled with Z" the Auditor of Ac-
counts" passed both Houses. At the next session
OF the Legislature bill was reported to the Lepis-
ture which, in substance, was passed into the law,
denomlnated san act relating to public accounts.n
passed Nov. 18th, 1912 The law provided that
copies OF the items of accounts allowed bv the
Judges as the incidental expenses ofCourts should
be furnished to the Auditor This provision
brought to light the working of the old system of
to
the hands of County Clerks, abuses which we're
but partially known before. At the next session
OF the Supreme Court for Windsor County, appli-
cation was made to that Court to have system of
rules promulg gated by the Court, which would re-
duce all allowances to the standard of law, and
restore uniformity.
Nothing was done but encouragement was civ.
en- that at another day the subject might be con-
sldered. Another application was made in Julv.
with the same result A Clerk of Court prepared
blll at the session of the Legislature for 1874,
which resulted in law making it the duty of the
Auditor TO "eXamlne, audit, and adjust the &C.
commits of the several County Clerks. for official
services rendered and expenses incurredn &c
1t was made his duty $50 far as he found it prac-
tcaole and just (to) allow to each Clerk the same
sums for like services" This act passed October
goth, 1914, and without the knowledge of the Au-
dltor, nor did he know of the existence of the law
until its publication in the newspapers. contain,nr
had sworn to execute the duties of Auditor accord
ing 10 lat0, and he could not go back. This law
mad cast very responsible and unwelcome duty
upon that officer which he was compelled to dis
charge. If he complied with the requirements of
the law, he must reduce all allowances TO uniform
lty. He must level up or down. If he raised the
lowest charges to the highest, he would in some
cases allow 600 per cent. higher than the spropor
ton of fees established by law" If he reduced
the charges OF Clerk 600 per cent. below his ac-
customed allowance, he must incur the displeasure
oil the Clerks The dilemma was a difficult one
and sure 10 be attended with embarrassment Du-
ty could not be mistaken. The law required that
all charges should be in proportion to fees estab-
lshed by law, and this law was taken as the thread
to conduct US out of the labyrinth.
Rules were prepared and promulgated by which
the Auditor would be guided in settling their &C
counts, and also in pursuance Of the directions of
the third Section Of the act of lS42-the purpose
of which was to reduce all discrepent allowances
to one standard of uniformity. This was only car
rylng out the plain and positive mandates of the
law. This was the path pointed out BY the I,egIsJ
AZURE to secure the public funds. We have seen
that the stringent operation of the law produced
combination of officers whose pecuniary interests
had been affected by the law, and that they had
controlled power which has swept away every
obstacle which interposed between them and the
funds of the people. The abuses disclosed in
these numbers could not have been known but from
the operation of the act of 1912 This will an
swer the question proposed at the head of this num-
Der, The want OF appropriate Legislation on this
subject cannot therefore be churged to any political
party.
A friend has kindly intimated to u.s. that an in
t1uence averse to these numbers has been mt in
circulation by the Clerks or their friends, which
would impugn the motives of the writer. 1t has
been whispered about, that his motives have their
origin in pecunary consideration. 1t is said
sad that the office he formerly filled was lucra-
tive one, and that his purpose is to regain it. We
have far possible avoided speaking of the
first person-and do so no farther than seems ne
cessary 10 proper understanding of the subject
of which we treat. We have been connected with
the Office of Auditor of Accounts twenty-five
years. A part of the time the salary was SIS, and
part OF the time $50 per annum, and the pay of
member Of the Legislature, while in attendance on
that body. During that time many duties were
cast upon the office not properly belonging to it,
for which no pay was received. Nor was per-
qusite of one dollar ever received while in office.
Extra services have been performed, for which the
Legislature have allowed extra compensation, but
the whole amount received in salary and extra al
lowance, during the period of incumbency, will
fall short of $l95 year. Such pecuniary con-
sderation rs this, is urged as motive for writing
these numbers. TO hold the office for such a
compensation would be a sacrifice, and not thing
to be sought We have said nothing of the a
mount of fees or perquisites received by Clerks,
nor do We object to any allowance which the law
has or shall prescribe, Our objections have been
to allowances beyond the provisions of the law.
If the law has made liberal provisions for fees in
given office, they may properly be urged as a
reason why fees should not exceed the amount
fixed by statute. That the office of County
Clerk is, in the large Counties, good at least as
any in the government, it is believed, will not be
denied. We have no wish to make 1t less, if the
fees received are within the statute; nor do we
wish to disclose, at present, the probable amount of
fees received in some Of the counties.
Our purpose has been to disclose illegal prac-
tees and to urge the Importance of accommodate
ing the practice to the law or of modifying the
law IN conformity to the practice. The subject is
by no means exhausted, but this number will be
the closing Of the series al least, for the present
In the mean time, should issue be taken on any of
the positions we have assumed, we shall expect