The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1872-01-04

ION oe ~ lnIS oCeo ~ Jay "
the theatre, and nade some remafks to her.
The evidence being closed, The counsel
proceeded to the argument Of the case.
The testimony ev,dencs conflicts between
the s,atensnta Of both uifnes.es and parties
10 shieh - ell saAsaaisa without comment
''Somethiss il rotten IN Denmark.
Preeeeasngs 81 The Ciaf.en's Asssets
.aa00.
To the Pres.sen, and Members Of fse Cu;-sss Isso
cation:
The special committee appointed to look
into our county Affairs and make such recon-
neodatioM - they deem necessary to reduce
oar Expenditures, report:
That, after carefully examining the mode
Of conducting our county Affairs. and then
examining the laws now on our statute boil
relating to counties and county officers, a
we'll - that the great wrongs inaicaed upos
our people In the way Of salaries and fiaudu
lent allowances should not be attributed I,
the laws 20 much rs to the unwarrsnted con
stitution, and improper administration o
the same;
That, although the salaries and fees IKE.
BY Law are unnecessarily large, vet tn,
amount paid for constructive fees, and for as
sistants and extras, is double or treble vba
the law cootemplate..
That the prices paid by the county on CON
tracts and Otherwise, are too high, but lhs
great fault il, We pay for more than we'need
We therefore recommend strict compliance
with the laws, ard rigid enforce r.enl Of
h., e.. srG-s r
We further recommend,
That the Criminal Court Of Leavenworth
county be abolished, anal that the powers and
jurisdiction OF the same be transferred to the
District Court.
That the salary Of the County Attorney
shall not exceed $500 per annum, and
that he be required to attend 10 the county
business in all the courts Of the State.
That the County Clerk he allowed $4,000
from the County treasury, which shall be in
full for all fees or other allowances now Maid
BY the county.
That the County Treas,iser be required to
deposit the county funds in some bank or
banks to be selected BY the County Board,
and that the interest received on said depos-
is be paid into the County treasury, and
that said banks shall be required to give
hond.
That the Sheriff shall not he allowed con-
stsuctive fees in any case.
That the Sheriff shall be allowed 20 c.nts
per day for boarding and taking care OF
prisoners, which shall include everything
except the use Of the Jail and the necessary
beds and bedding, clothing, medicines and
medical attendance for the prisoners.
That the Clerk of the District Court shall
be clerk of the Criminal Court, and shall
perform all the duties of that Office, and
shall be allowed $500 for the sane out Of the
county treasury, and he shall be required to
pay into the county treasury an fees collected
in criminal cases.
That the physician employed to attend TO
the poor Of the county shall attend to the
prisoners at the jail, and that his salary
shall exceed 81 600 per annum.
That any Of the above named officers may
employ deputies or assistants, to be paid out
oftheir own salaries, but in no case shall
they be paid BY the county, nor shall any
extra allowance be made.
That the present unfair manner of assess..
ing railroad property be abolished, and tba
said property be assessed a other property.
That the sworn statement of insurance
companies, made to the State Auditor, be ia
ken as the basis of assessment for their prop
cry.
That the basis OF assessing personal prop
erty shall be the average value Of the same
during the year, after deducting legal ex-
penses.
That the place Of assessing shall he where
the property is held or capital employed.
That county scrip issued after the first dsy
of January in each year shall not he received
for taxes Of previous years, and all money
paid into the county treasury on account OF
the various funds, shall he applied TO the
liquidation Of the Indebtedness Of the respec.
tive funds as nearly as practicable in the or
der the same was created.
We believe that BY adopting and carrying
out the foregoing suegestions, many of the
smaller items Of expense would be curtailed
To make it e6ectual, and to meet some Of
the larger and more subtle means Of deplet-
ing the treasury, such as printing, opening
and establishing roads, taking care of the
poor, jury fees, and court expenses, supply
ing Offices with fuel, stationery, ETC., it will
be necessary 10 have the assistance of the Of
6cials who contract these obligations, and a
more scrutinizing examination Of the bills
presented before they are allowed.
To meet many Of the difficulties here re-
erred to, we recommend the appointment Of
! County Auditor, to whom all bills and ac-
counts shall be referred. and whose approval
hall be necessary before any bill or account
9 presented to the County Board fer allow
lnce
That the County Auditor he appointed by
he County Board, from three persons, to be
dominated by the Judge OF the District
court.
In conclusion, we will here express our
irm conviction that no law can be framed
hat will efiectually remedy The evils COM
'lained Of unit: the people 1.-THE source Of all
'OWer) cease 10 cOuntenance bribery at the |
oils, TO intOlerate imbeciliiy in Office, and
0 excuse public plunderers ON the plea that
obbery under the color OF law Is not robbery
all, and that whatever is stolen from the
ublic is legitimate private gain.
J. w. NORRIS,
JOHN WILSON, Committee.
HENRY FOOTE,