The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-02-09

Inc surroundings, IaDQT anu uetdlIS, OF Cno
Auditors Office are precisely the same to-
day, as when the article was written; and as
[ am no longer connected with the Office
the mputation of interested motive" can
not apply. [ re-iterate and reaffirm the
statements in the article as true and correct,
and | think, worthy of attention and con-
sideratiOn.
Yours Respectfully,
JONES S. HAMILTON.
THE QUESTION OF RErRENCHMENT AND RE-
To the Editors of the Clarion:
In the matter of retrenchment and re-
form we are of one accord, but whether
there is either wisdom or economy in Ger
tain curtailments is matter OF inquiry
and investigation. If great public duties
and responsibilities are imposed, the means
of faithful and efficient performance OF
the same should not be denied. Proper
checks and balances are invariably estab-
li>hed in wise financial legislation, as well
as ordinary business, Tor a more certain de-
lection of errors, as well as the prevention
Of frauds; and as these entries are multi
piled by their passage through different
hands, the more labor must be done. Leg
islatiOn, therefore, should not be had upon
the business and employees of the Auditors
and Treasarers offices, without thorough
investigation as to duties devolved under
the law, and work necessary to be per-
formed
Then let us see the work to be done in
| the Auditors office, and the comparative
increase since the adoption OF the Code OF
| 1857. In Hutchinson's Code it will be found
| (lS43) that the Auditor was allowed IA Dep
uty Auditor and Clerk, the former a5 a
of 1 nd f no eft
annum. In 1913, the Auditor was allowed
an additional Clerk at a salary of $500, and
| this was continued and carried into the
| Code OF 1857, with this exception. one of
| the Clerks was allowed $1,000 and the other
$500. In 1859. Col. Madison McAfee, in his
| report to the Legislature, stated that this
force was inadequate to the discharge of
the complicated duties Of the office, or tn
| salary sufficleuttO pay competent clerical
force. Here is what he says:
st is necessary that there should be an
additional clerk in the office. The labor to
| be performed is too much for the present
force, and it is not to be expected that the
Auditor will obtain additional help with
| ont being authorized to do so.
| Il would respectfully suggest that as the
| duties of this office are arduous and compli-
| Gated. and of great responsibility, and de-
mand the very best clerical ability on the
! part of the assistants, it is OF the utm Ost i'm
! portance to the State that the Auditor have
accom- pliShe clerks, and such clerks cannot
| be obtained at the present salary paid by
the State. | have had two clerks. Messrs
| Brown and Swan, who are entirely compe-
tent, and take this opportunity to express
nv obligations to them for the energy and
efficiency they have displayed in the dis
| charge of their duties. | could not ask their
services Tor less than they could get else
where, and have had to retain them at a
| personal cost of six hundred dollars annu-
ally. The salary paid by the State to the
| Auditor will not justify this expense. and
trust you will relieve my successor of this
outlay by increasing the salary of the
| clerks" .t.-..
The clerks were thereafter allowed $4,000,
or 81 200 each. Alter the war (Acts 1865, }
the work was done by the Deputy Auditor
and two clerks, the former receiving 81, 800
and the latter 81 200 each.
The business of the office at that time
consisted in settling with Tax Collectors,
aud redemption al d sales Ofiand and cover
ing the revenues into the State Treasury by
receipt warrant.
Tax Collectors settled once year. Under
| the Code of 1857, they were required to set
tie within thirty days after the lst day of
June, annually. The fines, torfeitures, IL
| cense to haWkerS and peddlerS, went to the
counties, and were paid over to the County
| Treasures. The Auditor had no accounts
| with County Treasurers Justices of the
|
make, receipt warrants to issue and VOuch-
ers to file away among the records after
passing the hands, for entry, of three differ
ent clerks. Nor was any settlements of
privileges or liquor licenses by debit, re-
port and credit. See the difference The
warrants issued alone, under the Code of
1857 and laws of 106S-pay warrants on
Treasurer issued in 1878 were, 1.344; in
1852 ITO; in 1861, l,727 in 1867, 1852 !;
in 1868, 2059
Now take the last three years-in 1873,
there were issued 5000, in 1874, 3S7, and in
| 1875, TO- Now when it is to be consider
ed that the voucher upon which each war;
rant is issued has seven entries upon the
books of this office, besides examination
and filing, passing through the the hands of
four clerks, the difference in this respect
alone is apparent. Salaries were formerly
drawn quarterly, now monthly. Since the
adoption of the present Constitution and
laws now in force, the work has increased
not less than five hundred per cent.
settlements are now required to be made
monthly instead of annually, and with sew.
enty-three counties instead OF sixty as for
merly, with Collectors, and they are reuuir-
ed TO report whether any collections be
made or not ana payments of some kind
are made monthly, arising either from priv
ilege tax or liquor license, general State
tax or inselvencles. Thus this department
requires twelve times the amount of work
it formerly did. Now license to retail and
Privilege Tax license are issued by this
office and charged TO Collectors, which is
alone work for any one competent man.
| Blank licenses from SIS up to 81, 900 to sign.
stamp with seal of office, charge and register
and upon payment, to issue receipt warrant,
enter on check boo k, make and file voucher
and make general entry. Now, this office
:. is in separate account with every County
Treasurer, every Justice of the Peace, eyery
Circuit and every Chancery Clerk, and
every District Attorney in the State, tor
| fines, forfeitures, emercamentS, land re-
demptions, etc. A Common School Fund
account and enumeration of educable chill
dren, and distribution of fund under the
Constitution, is required. Formerly none
OF these accounts were kept by the Audi
| tors Office.
In view of the immense and increasing
labor under the new order of things. sala-
i RIGS allnrxrn6 in frllo