The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-01-21
REPORT
OF Committee to Examine the
Annual Report the Commits
siOners OF Portage County.


for the County of Portage and State
of Ohio:
The undersigned, the Prosecuting
Attorney of said County, and the 9th
ers appointed by your Honsr at the
January term of said Court, AID. 1875,
to act with said Prosecuting Attorney
IS Committee Or Commission TO eX-
anime the Annual report of the Com
missioners OF said County for the year
ending September 9th, A. ID. 1874,
which Report was duly filed the l0th
day of september A. ID. 1871, have the
honor to report as follows:
1st. That we have made as thorough
an examination of the transaction OF
said Commissioners and of the iinan-
cial affairs OF the County coming un-
der their supervision, as lies in our
power. We have found no evidence
OF any frauds or serious irregularities
in any oftheir actions, either in the
disbursements, the letting of contracts,
the expending of time in looking after
the interests of tho County, nor in
passing upon, approving and ordering
payment of claims presented against
the County; and we are of opinion
SAID Commissioners been guilty of
negligence i'll any matters pertaining
TO their duties, so far as we have been
able to learn.
ID. That said Commissioners report,
and the facts show that during the Pc
riod aforesaid the affairs of the Coun-
ty have been economically managed
in so far AS the iinme, ,iiatc administra-
ton of the Commissioners extends.
We would say, however, that as 10
the matter of the construction and re-
pair OF bridges, all bridge and contract
work, and the service of the Commits
sioncrs in connection Herewith, we
are unable to make a definite report,
for the reason of our inability TO in
vcstigate without incurring great ex-
pense. 4JJ;f = a5.s:
Sd. That the legal amounts Of tax
es W ere lvied for all purposes author
lied by law, and the same much more
closely collected than would be sup
posed possible or probable e
4th. That the taxes thus levied and
collected were duly apportioned.
9Th. That vouchers were found for
all funds paid i'll the way of the dis
tribution TO townships and corpora
tions, and that such payments were
properly made in manner and amount.
9th. That, all disbursements i'll the
way of tho payment OF claims
against the County were properly
made and full and accurate vouchecs
taken: therefor.
7th. That payments and allowances
made to the different County officers
were carefullyeXaInined and consider
ed, and found to be in legal form and
proper in all respects except us fol-
lows:
1st. A payment of $S 80 to one OF
the Commissioners as expenses and
Que days service for journey To
Cleveland on business Of the County.
Said account being correct and a prop
er Que to be allowed and paid, but
which by statute of 1872, vol. 50, page
Isl, should have been itemizcd, veri-
fled by the affidavit of the Commits
sinner incurring the expense and per-
forming the service, approved by the
Prosecuting Attorney and allowed by
the Court of Common Pleas,
2nd. We find that since the year
1864, an annual allowance OF $l00, pay
able quarterly, has been made to the
Probate Judge, ostensibly under the
statute giving to the PROBATE Court OF
! oft SoUuis
criminal cases, Under said act of
these Commissioners payment of said
amount has been made 10 this date,
and seemingly without regard to the
amount of labor performed under
such jurisdiction, or whether any was
performed hereunder. We are uuan-
imously of the opinion that the action
of the Commissioners in l164 in pass
ing a resolution making said allow
ance in the manner aforesaid, and sub
sequcnt Commissioners in paying
hereunder is not in accordance with
the true interest and meaning OF the
statute (see 5. " G., page 1929. The
true construction being, i'll our opin-
ion, that this allowance should be
based upon the actual amount OF labor
performed by said Court under said
Jurisdiction, and allowance made
therefor at the end of each year. The
practice in that regard should hereai-
ter conform to the true intent and
meaning of the law.
3rd. We find that under action OF
the Commissioners in office in 1913
and 1852, an annual allowance, osten-
sibly for stationery, but which, at the
time of the passage OF the resolution
by the Commissioners was intended
to cover the purchase Of gold pens,
has been made to the following officers
of the County, to-wit:
TO the Auditor the sum Of 81 90
{. d" Clerk 6 GO
f" Probate Judge '' 6 90
g C. Treasurer 3 90
d" Recorder 9. 800
These amounts having been paid to
these officers annually, in addition TO
their legal. foes and compensate on,
without regard to the fact OF such pens
having been purchased or not and in
addition to the general allowance for
stationery, which latter allowance, Or
rather payment of all bills therefor,
in practice always has and still in
cludes all necessary and proper Sta
tionery and pens. In the opinion of
yeur Committee this allowance and
payment is improper in form and pur-
pose and manner of allowance, and
ought not to be made. .-s
Sth. In examining the proceedings
of the County Commissioners, the SET
tenement sheets of the different
| Township Treasurers OF their school
money accounts, incidentally came
before us. We find an existing def
cheney of money in Franklin Town
ship of the sum of $l95,G6, which
arose from what is known as the
"Peck" defalGation that occurred
many years ago.
In ShaIersville Township there is
also a deficiency amounting to S427 ,OS,
that has existed some years. The real
foundation of this deficiency was not
ascertained by us, and was not inves-
tigated, it being a matter outside of
the jurisdiction of the County Com
niissieners. We have deemed it prop
ei', however, to call attention to these
deficiencies, and TO suggest the pro-
priety of some action by the proper
Township authorities towards an ad-
justment of these accounts.
9th. AS the bridge and other con-
tract work done under the superin :
! IL, L,1,.,.,txr