The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1873-10-02

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ed in the county during the last year, are
unreasonable or exhorbitant. They find
that the expenditures for the year for
bridges have been $40, 1885, 81.
The bridges are mostly constructed CT
wrought iron, and are of such a permanent
character as not to heed renewing for
many years to come. The Committee who
examined the Commissioners report for
the year ending September ], 1871, called
attention to q number of items of expen-
ditures, some of which were unauthorized
by law, and some which they deemed ex-
t~ravagant, and suggested that means be
taken In the future 10 discontinue the for
mer and reduce the latter, and among
these were the items for postage for coun-
ty officers, gas for the Public Buildings
and printing and advertising for the coun-
ty.
The item for gas for the year ending
For the year ending 1872 it was--..------ss96,is
This seems to US an enormous bill to be
paid for gas for lighting the Court House
and offices, and just for one year, and We
therefore Join the other committee IN re-
commencing that the Commissioners en-
ploy some means to ascertain whether in
fact the amount of gas is actually consum-
ed which these bills call tor. and whether
the consumption cannot be decreased.
The amount paid for printing and Gduer-
ttSLag for the year ending September
For the year ending 1872 it was......--.s3,O2225
A difference which would indicate that
the suggestion made by the former Com
mittee had not been needed.
Your Committee are convinced from an
examination of the vouchers which make
up the latter oun that the same is
too high, and needs reformation. For in
stance. a bill for $500 was presented for
300 quires of Assessors blanks, the same
was allowed and paid. On enquiry W.
find that the same could have been pro-
cured for 5000, and even for q less sum of
money. The same ratio of charge and al
lowance runs through the other items for
printing blanks, &c.
Nearly all the advertising for the coun-
ty is done in duplicate, the same notices
&c being published in the Stark County
Democrat and in the Repository and Re
publican. Here we find prices charged
and discrepancies in the several charges
for the same advertisements, which are in
excusable. The following area few of the
many instances of this kind:
For publishing the list of items for hold
ing the Courts, the one charged and re-
ceived $50, while for the same thing the
other charged and received 500.
Fol the publishing the statement Of re-
ceipts and expenditures for 1872, the
one charged and received $50, AMI the
other sos.
For publishing the Auditor of States
nnual Statement, the one charged and
eceived 500 and the other SIS.
The same ratio of charge and discrepan-
cy runs through the other advertising for
the county.
For several years pastithe Commission
ers have been allowing and paying bills
presented for postage stamps furnished to
the several county officers. In the aggre-
gate this item of expense for the year 1872
amounted to $l76.62. There is no author
ity of law or equity for this, and it should
be discontinued.
The Treasurer charged and received
$l46.75 as percentage IN $29,350 of bor-
roVed building funds. This was without
authority of law. The same officer eharg-
ed and received $500 for Clerk hire. On
examination We find no authority of law
for the payment of this item.
For the year ending September l, 1872,
the Recorder charged and received for IN
dexing deeds and mortgages, and making
certain registers, the sun of $3.50. The
D6YH6ub OF Iulb WAS uuduIuOIlL6u Oy ldsW.
By arrangement, witnesses and jurors
receiving from the Clerk OF the Court GER
~tifcates for fees payable out of the County
Treasury, would 20 with them directly to
the Treasurer without obtaining an order
from the Auditor, who would pay the
same, after each term of Court, himself
receive from the Auditor an order for the
aggregate amount thus paid out. This
is open TO objection, and should be discon-
tinued.
On the 9TH of September, 1869, the
Commissioner by contract in writing
leased the basement rooms under the east
wing of the Court House, to Capt. W. S.
Williams for an Engineers Office for a
term Of five years from April l, 1870, and
at his option at the end of said five years
for a term of five years longer, for which
rooms and all the coal and gas necessary
for heating and lighting the same he is to
pay the sum of $3.50 per annum. Some
time sfterward Mr.. Williams subleased
the rooms and appurtenances to the City
Bank of Canton, which has ever since and
still does occupy the game as a banking
house, using large amount of fuel and gas.
The Commissioners had no authority to
make this lease and contract, to furnish
Capt. Williams or any other person with
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banking house, And in view Of that fact
and the further fact that said rent is IN
considerably too loW-the gas and fuel
used being nearly equal to the rent reeeiv-
ed-youricommittee feel constrained to say
that said pretended lease should be put an
end to, and said Bank required to pay
reasonable compensation for the use and
occupation of said premises, and the fuel
and gas consumed.
The law comforting criminal jurisdiction
on our Probate Court, provides that the
Judge for his services shall be paid out of
the county treasury not less than 5000, nor
more than 800, the amount to be deter
mined by the Commissioners. The uni
form practice for some years has been to
allow the Judge $500 for these services.
In view of the factthat Daring some years,
the criminal business in this Court is
much less than others, the allowance by
the Commissioners SHOULD be commersu-
rate only with the services performed.
We observe that during the year 1872
large sums of money in the aggregate
SIS, 1887. 90 have been paid out for the max
of bitches under contracts previously
made by the Commissioners, with other
for making the same. The law in
force at the time of making the contracts
required mat the work OF cutting the
be divided among theIlahdi oRners
to be benefited bV the ditch, and upon
the failure Of any land owner to cpt the
Of the ditch assigned to him, 1t be.
came the duty Of the oouaty auditor 10
make 8 contract for the doing o such work,
and, upon its completion to place the cost
upon the dgplipats against the
and of such land owner so falling to do
ais part of the work, and the Auditor was
to give tie contractor a certif-
iate enabling HIM to obtain the amount
wheA paid in ss taxes, Instead
Of this course being pursued, the commits
'ioAers assumed the payment of the con-
,-act prices for doing the work, and agreed
20 pay the contractor as the work was com
pleted. This we can find no authority for,
the laws in force at that time. 1t
also be stated that the cost of the
work has been carried upon the duplicate,
md q considerable amount has been paid
IS taxes by the land owners, and probably
he larger portion Will be SO paid butt
o. the course Pursued will be TO cast