Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-05
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II NJ lOint session OF the common Pleas
Yesterday, the Judges, who had been in cou-
sultstion during the forenoon in examining
the report Of Ell O. Baldwin, Peter Bell and
WIN. Il. Kerr, Assistant Prosecuting Attor.
| ney-the gentlemen who were appointed as
committee to examine the accounts of the
County Commissioners-came into Court ut
about two o'clock. The report Of the Com
mittee was accepted and filed, and 500 copies
ordered to be printed.
The Prosecuting and Assistant Prosecu-
ting Attorney Of the County were instructed
to institute proceedings at law against all
parties who may be found guilty Of any de-
fault in relation TO the finances Of the county.
or violation Of the law, according TO the
nature Of the case, under the act prescribing
the duties of County Commissioners.
THE REPORT.
.. The report is quite lengthy, and we pub
lish only few abstracts. It is stated that
me labors OF the County Commissioners for
the past year had been heavy and onerous.
and, as . general thing, their work had been
well and faithfully performed. There were
some things, however, which were not in
strict accordance with the law.
AdvertistHS.- this head they found
that the late Auditor, II. Matthews, adver-
hsed the delinquent sale list in eight news
papers, at a cost of $4,700 The law, in the
| opinion OF the committee, did not Justify the
publication in more than two papers-one
English aud one German. Aside from the
expense, the opinion of the committee was
| that 80 large advertisements were unneces-
sary. The compensation paid was, to one
| paper, which was furnished the copy, the
full price allowed by law-the others bor-
| rowed the form and received but half price.
The excess paid was $2,6l6.
The plan adopted by the present Auditor
was TO give one English paper full price, to
one German and one English half price; thus
| giving the advertisements at the same
price that the full rates would cost in two
| papers.
Court items were allowed
wtnout advertising for proposals; one in the
| purchase of carpets, the other for repairs TO
engines and boilers, and the reasons assigned
| by the Commissioners were, that the carpet
! ing was ordered by the Court, and the
other was e case of necessity that would not
| admit of delay.
COMMISSIONER Ofce--Under this head
there was an item, stated to be allowed by
the Court, and recommended by the Prose-
cutting Attorney, for extras for carriage hire,
in the sum of $l,95s 60.
JAIL EXPENSES.
It was stated under this head that D. W.
q. Shockley had been paid 1907 so for the
board of sick prisoners for September, Octo.
Der, November and December, 1860 while
ex Sheriff Kessler was receiving, at the same
time, the sum of thirty cents day for pris-
oners other than chain-gang, and for chain
gang thirty.fve cents per day for board.
They also found that large sums were paid
to Mr.. KeSsler for the board of prisoners after
they were transferred from the Jail to the
woEkhouse.
ELECTION EXPENSES.
The Commissioners had allowed $25 for
expenses in each ward. The law fixes the
compensation of judges and clerks of elec-
tion at $2-making the sum Of $40 for each
election precinct.
| GRAND JURY FEES.
The Foreman and Clerk of Grand Juries
were in the habit of receiving So per day
each. This the Committee deem illegal. The
compensation fixed by law for the service of
Grand Juror was 81 90 per diem.
LONG VIEW ASYLUM.
Under this head they found large amount
expended without any advertising or public
letting. The accounts were very much con-
fused.
woRKHoUsE.
Expense of Workheuse from January 1, to
September l, 1861, as per report, is $5,2lO,
with an average of 45 inmates; while the
Jail for the same time, with an average OF
SO inmates, has cost $4,000 80, which makes
the Workhouse cost for eight months $60l OF
more for the support of As inmates than the
Jail has for the same time with SO inmates
WITNESS FEES.
The entire amount paid for the year was
$l0,l89 65. OF this the sum of $6,242 was
paid for the six months ending March l, and
the balance, So, 947 25, had been paid for the
six months ending September l. This shows
great disparity; but the difference is &C.
counted for from the fact that from the large
amount drawn, parties have been engaged
| in the hnainesa Of Durnh al rt thasa faau Thi.
business has, by the action of the present
Auditor, been pretty we'll stopped. AS 9
specimen of the way it had been managed
they found that W. l.. Deoeek, who was
deputy in the Auditors Office under H. Mat.
thews, drew, in November, 1859, $685. the
daily drafts averaging about $45, and fol
December, 1854 %, also drawn in daily sum,
of from $45 TO $49 Mr.. j. @. Winans, Deputy
Marshal of the Police Court, also seemed tC
have entered the arena, and received in Sep
tember, 1860, 1851 26.
NEWSPAPERS.
The law requires the Commissioners O
each county to subscribe for and bind one
copy of the leading newspapers of each polit
ical party in the county, as public archives
for the gratuitous inspection of the citizens
But the law was not complied with. They
paid for one copy Of the Times, PREss, Com
nlerciGI and Gazette, and also an additiona
Times; but had not bound any Of the othe
papers paid for.
AUDIToR'sBILL.
The only bill they had to examine wa
that of Howard Matthews, late Auditor
The large amount Of his bill, and severa
items in the same charging for service
rendered the year previous, Induced the Com
mittee to examine the bill of the previou
year. The amount of each bill is as follows
Bill for year ending March l. s3
Bill for Jear ending March, ls6l..."""..., 81 rs
IOI
This is exclusive of several items draw
by him direct from the Treasurer. Th,
amount paid his predecessor Dan. Jones
$39,6l3-and the difference is $25,6l2
His charge for his form of the tax dupli
cate, the first year, was $6,005 43; secont
year, $6,eS3 89-while the amount of MI
Jones last year was $4 794. This wa
inevitable that Mr.. Jones did not ge
! enough, or Mr.. Matthews had too much
The report gives other details in relation Il
Mr.. Ms account, and recommends in tn
close that the reports of the Commissioner