The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-04-02
DeMOcRACv.
Are Our County Affairs Well Managed
Why is not the Law Complied With !?
This Subject Shall be Kept before the
People.
LET US HAVE ECONOMY.

&c cOmplieu Will Dy our OOuuty Col
oe missioners. We did this through I
C disrespect or hostility towards Il
e gentlemen who composed the Boar'
but because we saw the plain provi
ions of q good law neglected by thos
whose duty it should be to CAREFUL
see that these laws are compile
with. 1t was on the eve Of an cleo
ton, and many of our voters n
doubt supposed that it was the oil
cry of corruption, extravaganza,
&C., with which partizan journals ar
in the habit of ushering In elections
, and gave little heed to it. At tb
October term ofthe Court of Common
Pleas, Judge Pillars, (who presided
in the absence of Judge Mott) callet
for the Annual Report as provided
for by this Act. The Report wa'
not ready, but we understand tha
it was promised that it should bs
forthcoming at the next term oI
Court. The next term rolled round
and Judge Mott resumed his seat
ignorant of the arrangement made
by his predecessor, and no repor,
was made. Now we republish the
amendment, requiring this Annual
Report, and we ask why such plain
and important provision for the
protection of taxpayers has been
neglected We say neglected-and
in using that word, we put it in as
mild form as possible. But here
is the section of the law to which we
refer:
SEC. 7. 1t shall be the duty of the
county commissioners annually, on
or before the second Monday OF Sep
tember, 10 make a detailed report, in
writing, to the court of common pleas
of the county, of their official trans
actions during the year next prced-
ing the time of making said report,
giving an accurate statement Of the
financial affairs Of the county, which
shall be printed at the expense of the
county as directed 10y the court to
whom the same is made; and the
court shall cause the same 10 be in
vestigated and examined by two
suitable persons, to be appointed by
the court and the prosecuting atLor-
ney of the county, who, in case OF
any violation of law, is hereby direct
ed to cause the same to be prosecuted
according to the nature of the case.
While on this subject we would
call the attention of our people to
another law, which, for some reason
or other, has been allowed TO re-
main dead letter upon the statute
book, by the officer whose duty it is
to see that il is executed. We refer
to section IL of an "act to establish
the independent treasuary of the
State of Ohio,' as amended March
26, 1860, which reads as follows:
SIC. II. An inspection and thor
ough examination OF all the books,
accounts, moneys, bonds,
securities, and other property in the
treasury of each and every county in
this State, shall be made by the
county auditor and county commits
sioners thereof as often as once IN
every six months in every year and
it is hereby made a part OF the offi-
clal duties of the judge of probate OF
each county, as often as once in
every six months. or oftener, if the
said judge shall deem it necessary !
without notice to any other person,
10 appoint in writing, under the seal
of said court, competent and trus-
ty accountant, who shall forthwith,
without previous notice or iniima-
tion to the county treasurer of such
intended inspection and examina-
ton, enter the county treasury and
proceed Immediately to count the
money therein, and inspect and ex-
anime the books, records and vOuch-
ers thereof and shall certify the
condition OF the same in writing, in
triplicate, one copy of which certifi
cate shall be recorded in tn, books
of the treasury and filed by the treas
urer in his office, and one copy shall
be recorded and filed by the auditor
of the county, and one other copy
thereof shall be duly reported to the
said probate court, and be entered On
record therein. And the account |
ant so appointed, on performing the
duties herein required shall be paid
at the rate of two dollars per day,
for the time necessary to the per-
Torrance of the same, out of the
county treasury, on u warrant drawn
by the county auditor and approved
by the certificate of said court, par
specifying the duty per-
formed and every certificate, as
herein provided, shall also contain a
statement OF the exact amount of
money so found in and counted in
the county treasury, and the exact
amount belonging to each particular
fund, together with all property,
bonds, securities, assets and effects
as aforesaid. And the auditor of
state is hereby authorized, whenever
from information filed in his office
be shall deem it necessary for the
safety and security of the public
funds, to appoint some competent
who shall, in like man.
ner, proceed to examine the county
treasury and count the funds therein,
and shall have the same powers and
receive the same compensation as an
examiner appointed by judge of
probate and such examiner shall,
Immediately after ascertaining the
condition of the county treasury and
the amount of money therein, certify
the same in manner aforesaid, and
ile one copy OF the certificate with
The county auditor, and one with the
treasurer, and transmit the
other copy to the auditor OF state,
10 be filed in his Office. Each exam
ner, appointed under the provisions
Of this section, shall have power to
call before him and examine witness
es under oath, and to administer
such oath, and it shall be the duty
Of the county treasurer and county