Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-24
In. The general government hzes the
price for Ill the printing done for serritos-

In. The general government hxes the
price for ell the printing lone for terrises'
islleGislaaures.
IL psYe'' 20 much for zach. q work
typs sstdns, pfess.work, bindiuk and paper.
To y certain extent thit rule hss been
adopted BY many or most OF the states and
even onr wi statutes are not free from laws
for printing and publishing legal. notices
Of many kinds and delinquent tax Lists, FIX
ing the price to b. allowed the printer.
Your committee dtI not deem II q part
of their duty to insptCt the office OF tho
secretary Of the territory. but that officer
has very promptly furnished US witt all
the informa,'rn we required from his de
partment 10 reference TO tho public plint.
iag; and in this examination of the score.
tary we find that he had received from the
printers 1000 volumes Of the laws. all ot
which he has properly accounted for by
distribution, sale. and those still remaining
in the Office as slta Faesa 80
The appropriation tor printing the laws
was 0vefdrawn IL the mOun of seventy.
one dollars. an error which has been FULLY
rectitird by the auditor who has retained
the amount TO- tho treasurer and has that
officers receipt for the money now on file
In bis office.
We find that there has been audited and
allowed bills To the amount Of $93 30
for advertising and printing proc
lamations Of the governor. We find
that these p~roclamations were of a local
character and not such az are paid for by
the general government. Que being a proc
lamation for reward for the apprehension
Of felons, under the statutes and the other
n special proclamation in reference to.the
g~rasshopper plague, and it VA proper that
these ccounts should be audited and paid
by the territory.
Your committee find that one great item
Of expense to the territory had been the
transportation Of prisOners-thc bills al
lowed for this purpose a%ggrega.ing about
$4,000.
The law governing in this matter is chap
ter Ii laws Of 1877, page 93l, section 868,
page 933, reads rs follows aA i.
Sec. G6S. Accounts Of sheriff 10 be aud.
dited. 1t shall be the duty Of the auditor
to audit all accounts presented by the sheri1s
of the different counties Of this territory,
for services rendered under the provisions
Of this act in conveying ~convicts to the state
prison. at Fort Madison, Iowa, or other pris-
on designated BY the governor as Aforesaid
when verified by the affidavit Of such sher.
if, that he actually and necessarily travelled
the distance and rendered the services
stated in his said account, and to draw a
warrant on the territorial treasurer for the
amount found due such sheriff for such ser
vices rendered. We find that the auditor,
in auditing these accounts h4s exercised q
sound discretion. In numerous instances he
has reduced the claims presented and. has
been very Jealous to protect the treasury of
the territory. The bills On file in his Office
give evidence OF this fact, and, in the opin.
ion Of your committee, the auditor has, in
the exercise Of his judgment, frequently re-
duced tie bills Of these officers for the trans
portation Of prisoners more than he should
have done, and the territory instead OF suf-
fering q loss in the auditing Of these &C.
counts is At least equitably indebted to these
sherifs in many instances for items disal-
lowed.
Another feature of the investigation which
came under the province Of your committee
was the affairs Of territorial superintendent
of public instruction. We find these &C.
counts were of a nature and kind that ought
to have been audited and that in auditing
these accounts the auditor did his duty and
conformed to the law. The bills we're not
Of a nature that the auditor could question
the legality or propriety. All the sccoun.s
Of the territorial superintendent of public
instruction which the Law requires should
be sworn to were properly verified except
one bill for mileage which was one half Of
the mileage which the superintendent was
allowed by Law. The only item which the
auditor, perhaps ought to have refused was a
students lamp, price 500, which sum the
auditor your committee is informed, is will
ing to refund and have deducted from mon
ey still due the superintendent. This item
appears in an account in connection with
other items and was overlooked by the auditor
The fact whether the superintendent was
not a resident of the territory could not he
passed Upon by the auditor. 1t was his duty
to audit the salary account Of the superiu-
tendcnt upon the presentation of the pro.
per vouchers andstbls the auditor has done.
10 conclusion, your committee would
state, that in their opinion both the secre,
tary of the territory and auditor havc per.
formed their duties faithfully and honor
ably.
The printing of the revised code wa in
accordance with the Intention of law
making the appropriation aud the rules and
regulations which govern the secretary in
that duty.
The auditors office has been managed
very creditably and his accoun vouchers
and books have been kept in a systematic
manner, and tina officer has undoubtedly
endeavored to discharge his duty with
justice to all concerned.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
j. q. BURBANK, Chm.
j. Il. GAMBLE,
J. II. STEPHENS.
ID. w. FLICK,
A. 3. FOCKLER.
The foregoing report was adopted by un-
animous vote of the house and the commit.
tee discharged.
We hhve no further. comments TO make
upon This subject. The report of the house
committee is our defence. 1t was fairly
and honorably conducted and an impart'al
| verdict rendered.