Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-04-23
NUMBERa35.

energies, while il continued, would annually com
pei them to account for all public funds.
The law Of 1912 must be repealed and to pre-
pare the way for the restoration Of the old law,
with its accommodating provisions, which suffered
every man to do what was right in his own eyes"
the Auditor was to be hastily disposed Of, for "dead
men tell no tales" II is important TO the tax-pay-
ing community, TO know the method by which
State debtors convert the public funds to their
own use, and yet escape without accounting. This
they should know, that they may be able, if they
can 10 maintain their rights, aud f not TO surren-
der them at discretion. Soon after the delinquent
Clerks had been called upon by the States Attor-
neys 10 settle for their delinquencies, one Of the
number addressed A. Spaulding, Esq, Of Montpel-
Ter, and inquired if he knew Of any in that
place, who would do for an Auditor He was
answered in the affirmative, but said Mr. s.,
they are Of our party, and not wings. The reply
was, that that circumstance would be no objection
but urged the necessity Of change Of men and
measures Other circumstances could be named.
indicating determination to be rid Of the lar and
its executor but this is not otherwise important,
than as showing an avowed purpose 10 accomplish
an obeet-the effect Of which was to secure inn
punily while retaining public funds in their hands.
without the necessity Of accounting Aher the
Legislature had convened, in October last, an in
iuence adverse to the law Of 1912, was soon ap-
parent On the second day of the session, a reso-
luton was introduced to go into joint assembly on
the next day. for the choice Of an Auditor, and that
officer elected the Sd day of the session where
as for % years BEFORE that officer elect
ed till the ID, and oitener not till the Sd week of
the session. ltseems necessary TO remark, that it
is not known that the Auditor had been charged
with want Of courtesy, or aithfulness in the dis
charge of the duties Of his responsible Office. But
all impediments must be removed, and that part of
the law OF 1912 which was designed to secure moth
ing but Just and fair accounting for all public
funds, must be repealed The reason was this
that law could not be faithfully executed without
compelling every officer and citizen of the State
to disgorge all public funds in his hands, which by
law he was not permitted to retain land as that
law had been devised and reported to the Legisla-
by the Auditor, in all its essential provisions,
both the law and its executor must give place, to-
gether, 10 Others better adapted to the peculiar
ews of the delinquent Clerks.
"Hine ldehrymae hinc eausa dolorum"
The above remarks seemed necessary, to illus
trate the purpose and action of the delinquent
Clerks In attendance on the Legislature were not
less than half the County Clerks in the State,
including who was member of the House,
and probably having common interests and synpa.
thies on the subject Of the act Of 1872 1t is known
that the bill which ehectually nulli6ed and eViscer-
ated that act, was essentially framed and matured
by Clerks and whether their interests forgot
ten or lot will appear in what we hope to exhibit
in subsequent remarks upon the law, as It finally
passed We would willingly impugn no mans mo-
tives, and desire not to speak of the first person at
all, but we must speak Of things as they are we
will Sin nothing extenuate, or aught sci down in
malice" We believe the law of lS45 to be fraught
with serious evils, which will occasion yearly
| loss Of the public funds OF no small amount IL
becomes, then, matter Of importance with the
tax-paying community to know where the leaks
in the Treasury are, how they were occasioned,
and how TO guard against their recurrence, as we'll
as TO apply the remedy
Commentators on law direct to the consideration
! of the old law the mischief and the remedy, when
we would come.io Just Interpretation of the new
/ law
The act Of 1912 relating to public accounts, and
the act Of 1874, requiring the Auditor to settle the
| Clerks account, may be denominated the old law.
One mischief, in the eye of the delinquent Clerk.
was, that the act of 1912 required copy Of the
items Of all accounts, and provided for the reduce
ton ofa charges TO the standard OF law, and that
ii was compulsory in its requirements, ard could
make no compromise with illegal charges, or suffer
the public funds TO remain unaccounied for. An
| other was, that all their charges subject to
revision, and correction. clerk, who had charg-
ed several hundred per cent. higher than others,
aud above the statute price, would reluctantly con-
sent 10 reduction Of his account TO the same
extent, but such cases were moi, uncommon
Such were the causes ofoepositioif to that law
And now what was TO be the remedy for the
evils thus annoying 10 those officers. That portion
! of the law which only secured just accounting,
for all public funds. must be repealed. This was
the remedy proposed and secured. If we examine
the law passed in October last on this subject, we
shall find that il efiectualy removes the mischief
complained Of and secures other and additional adj
vantages to the Clerks, and what will result in a
great sacrifice of the interests Of the tax-paying
community We reserve our comments upon the
act of 1916, for our next number.
DAVID PIERCE +
BnnAom OF PnOmsr.-Miss Sarah Greer, "a