Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-03-18
THE REPORT or THE LATE
GRAND yURK.
IDAHo Cry, March u, 1879.


alleged deriliction Of duty during the
years 1877 and 1878. Being one ofI
the parties blamed trust you will al
low me, through the columns of yourI
paper, to make the following expIana
tons:
An implied csnsure i, by the re-
port, cast upon the late Board If
County Commissioners for rot ofteiler
having counted the county money III
tie hands Of the late Treasurer. The
law, as quoted in the report, makes il
the duty Of the Commissioners to ex-
anime the money in the Treasurer'sl
hand once in every year. The evi-
dence shows that Commissioners
counted the money in Tompkin's
hands every quarter Of the two years
above named. True, as stated in the
report, the money was at the October
session, 1878, counted on Sunday, and
during my absence, but the Jury for
got to state, when commenting on this
fact, that the reason for this action
was the severe Illness of Tompkins,
who had been confined to his bed for
over week, the Board adjourning
from day to day waiting fol him to
sufficiently recover to make his quar-
terly report and showing.
Instead Of censuring them for such
action, it strikes me that every fair
minded man would rather praise the
spirit which impciled the Commission
ers 10 neglect, for week, their own
private business for the purpose Of
serving the county, when such service
was not actually required by law.
/ Again, the Grand Jury censnres the
Board for neglect in the matter q
official bonds The law gives the
Commissioners powerto inquire into the
sufficiency Of the bond Of any county
officer, either upon their own motion
or on the showing BY affidavit of any
other person. | will say to the Crane
July and to the public generally, thai
the Board were always satisfied witt
the bond given by Nj Tompkins, anc
have had no reason since the occur
renee Of the defaication to doubt til,
correctness of their views. That III,
county will lose one dollar by tn,
defalcation is not even limited in til,
report, nor to my knowledge has i
ever been charged by any person.
believe the only danger Of loss eve
apprehended by any ne, was throusl
the possible action Of the last Legis
lative Assembly, which gravely con
sidered u measure releasing in par
the boudsmen Of their liability.
Blame is thrown upon Mr.. German
late Assessor and Tax Collector, 70
not settling monthly i'll full, as direct
ed by law. Every man knows that
is simply impossible for the AsseSso
to do his whole duty in the collection
of poll taxes, without leaving numeI
GUS receipts with employers, who turl
} the same over to their men when SET
Ting with them, and then remit tn
| amount of the polls to the Assessor
This compels that officer to wait 70
the money, in some cases 70
; months, aud occasionally con
! pels him to settle the amount
: himself, on account of the failure {
: the parties to either send him receipt
or money. Although it is not in stric
: conformity with the statute, thi
: course is of such manifest advantag
! to the county. that it has been el
= dorsed by every Board of Commission
ers since the present Revenue La
was passed, and believe meets wit
r the appreciation of every man VIII