Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-12-25
state Auditors Report.

Hon. James Williams, Auditor Of
State, has filed his annual report with
the Governor, and We are indebted to
the Journal for synopsis, from which
we take the following as of interest:
The valuations for taxation upon the
duplicate Of 1873 exceed those of 1872
by nearly S43, ,00U, 200, the whole amoun-
ting to 81, ,567 ,374 ,639. The increase is
principally i'll personal property, which
amounts on the duplicate TO S525 ,5l0,-
70S. The States proportion of the az
gregate tax is only one-tifIh, and the
Auditor says the burden OF taxation is
local.
The abstracts of the tax duplicates in
the counties were received promptly.
The reports Offices and salaries OF cuun-
ty officers were more laggard, but more
complete than ever before. For the
first time since the passage OF the act
requiring these returns, the tables show
reports from every county officer re-
quired TO report, except the Probate
Judge and County Cler!, of Butler
county.
The Auditor refers to the reports OF
the examiners of the Fairfield and But
Ter county treasures. On this subject
he says:
81 deem it proper in this connection,
! to suggest as worthy of consideration,
the propriety of providing by law for
the appointment of special examiner
into the affairs of every county in the
State. Under existing statute, the du,
ty devolving on the Auditor of State Of
making such examinations IS only re-
quired to be performed when upon au'
thentic information being lodged in
this office it is deemed necessary for the
safety and security of the public funds
to appoint some competent accountant
to make the examination. The same
act provides that the compensation FOL
such competent and trusty account
ant, shall be two dollars per day. The
act of pril II, 1858, provides that the
Probate Judge in each county may. i
he deems it necessary, without notice
to any other person, appoint an exam
iner to inspect the county treasury
Although this law is occasionally en-
forced, with beneficial results, not
withstanding the restraining clause o
of two dollars per day, it seems to me
the liability of being examined at any
time, and the certainty of being so eX
amined occasionally, without warning
by competent expert, would induce
greater watchfulness, more rigid adhe-
renee to the laws, and more faithful
discharge at least of the financial truS'
reposed in the Auditors and Treasurer
of counties. Such examiner ought Il
be free from local influence or preju
dice, and should be well versed in tn,
laws regulating the duties of county of
ficers."
j The amount of the debts of counties
townships, cities, incorporated villages
and schools in Ohio, is $40, O,033, l23 81
an increase over 1872 of S2,442,575 30
The city debts are 75 per cent of th'
whole Indebtedness, and the debts o
the three cities of the first class, ,amoun
ting to SIC, 0,276,S49 %, is 67 per cent
all the debts of cities, and more thai
one-half of the total reported debts.
, Chas. J. Wetmore was last year ap
pointed by Auditor Williams to go t
Washington City and procure full list
of all the lands donated by the Genera
Government to the State for education
al and religious purposes. He went
land found for a few Ohio township
the lands have lever been selected a
all, and for few others only PARTIAL
selected. The deficiency can only u
made up by act of Congress, as ther
are no public lands left in the State
2 Mr.. Wetmore's statement, with lists G
2 the lands heretofore selected, is mad
r part of the Auditors report.