Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-04-17
(Conc'H1rd t,Om first mare J

!
had been called upon BY the States Auor-
ncys to settle. for their d.inquruclrs, one Of
the numhcr addressed 4. Spaulling, Esq,
Of Montpelier, and inquired, If he knew of
any man, in that place, who would do for an
Audiiorl He was answered in the allirma.
tive, but sii Mr.. s., they are of our
party and not wings. The reply was, tina,
circumstances would be no objection, but
urged the necessity of a change Of men and
measures. Other circumstances could be
named, indicating determination TO be rid
of the law and lis executor, bnl this is not
otherwise important than as showing ar
avowcd purpose 10 accomplish an object
the effect of which WAS to srcnre IMMUNITY,
while retaining, public funds IN tiaif hands,
without the necessity of accounting. All'r
the Legislature had convened, IN Ortohrr
last, an influence adverse to the law ot lSl2,
was soon apparent. o the second day oi
the session resolution was lnfoinced TO 90
into Joint assembly on the next day, for III"
choice of an AUDITOR, and int officer was
elected the , dav q. the srSSinu whereas inr
% years before, that officer WIS never clrc.
ted ill the Land oijcurr not I'LL tn week
Of the session. | seems necessary To lc-
mark, that it is no. known, lh t the Auditor
had been rhlrerl with won't Of courtesy,
or CujhtuIuc,S in tine li>rhrr Of nc tlnti 5
of has responsible Office Bat al iunod-
mcn,s must hr removed. and tnaj rllt # ,hc
law Of 1912. which Vas dr.jencd to secure
nolhinL bat lnst and Cir ing for all
public funds must be repealed. The reason
was this that law roul not BE- fiihfully cx.
n. al
ctiznn of the State to disgorlr nl public
funds in bis hands, which by law he was not
permitted to retain and as that law had
been devised and reported 10 the Lcgisla-
iurr, by the Auditor, in all its essential pio-
visions, both the law and its executor nins,
give place, together, to others, better adap-
ted to the peculiar views of the Delinquent
Clerks.
"Hiac tachrymac; hnc cansa dolorum."
The above remarks seemed necessary, &c
Illustrate the purpose and action of the de-
linqnen, Clerks. In attendance on the Lee
gisla,ure were not less, than half the County
Clerks, in the State, including, one who was
member of the House, and probably having
common interests and svmpalhirs on the sub
]ect Of the act of 1912. II Is known, that
the bill, which elfectnally nullilird aud evils
cerated that act, was essentially framed and
matured by Clerks, and whether their inter-
esis were forgotten or not, will appear il
what we hope to exhibit in subsequent re-
marks upon ths law, as it finally passed.
We would willingly impuen no mans mo.
tves. and desire not to speak oi,hc first per-
son at all, but we must speak of things "a
they are I'VE will sin nothing rx,rnuaie o
ought set down in malicr.' We believe til,
law of 1915 10 be lrarght with serious evils
which will occasion yearly loss of the pub
lie funds of no small amount 1t becomes
then IA matters of importance, with the tax
paying community, 10 know where the leak
in the Treasury are, how they were orca
stoned and how to guard against ,hcir rccur
renee, as well is to apply the remedy.
Commentators on law direct to the con
sideration 'f The Cd law, the mischirlan til
remedy, when we would come to u just inter
probation of the new law.
The act of u relating TO public accounts
and the act OF l84 /, requiring the Auditor t
settle the clerks account may he Genoniina
ted the old law Onc mischief, in the CIV
of the delinquent Clerk was, that the act o
1912 required copy Of the items Of all nc
counts and provided for the reduction of al
charges to the standard Of law, andthat it wa
compulsory in its requirements, and cou
make no compromise with Illegal charges, o
suffer the public funds to remain unacc oun
ted for. Another was, that all their charge
we're subject 10 revision, and correction.
clerk, who had charged several hundred pc
cent higher, than others, and above the sta,
ute price, would reluctantly consent TO re
ducllon of his account to the same extern
but such cases were not uncommon. Sue
were the causes of opposition to that law.
And now what was TO he the remedy f.
the evils thus annoy inc TO those officers
That portion of the law, which only secure
a just accounting, for all public funds. mu
be repealed. This was the remedy propose
and secured. five examine the law passc
in October last on Il is subject, we shall Gt
that it clfectually removes the mischief con
piincl Of aud secures other aud addition
alvanin,e s 10 the Clerks, ard VIVA, vii =,
sui in - g."ai s,rrli~r OF the interest of u
tsY-pNjnl commusiiv, We RESERVE o.
comment, oppr the act Of 1915 fnr or ne
number. DAVID pILRCE.
.yaE Il g 80 rgN'FtffB