Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-08-22

for the work inst as the printers would
have received it had they been paid by

in printing the code of 1877 the secre-
tary required OF the printers the same
Observance in rendering their accounts as
in like transactions with the general gov.
crnment, and their bills, now on file with
the auditor. are in proper condition to be
forwarded to the comptroller whenever
the general government shall be graci-
GUS enough to reimburse Dakota.
As to the matter OF actual profit to the
parties who performed the work, your
committee did not deem 1t a part Of their
duty to enquire, but as those parties vol.
unteered an explanation and submitted
corporated herein. The general govern
ment fixes the price for all the printing
done for territorial legislatures.
1t pays 80 much for each kind of work,
type setting, press-work, binding and pa
per. To certain extent this rule has
been adopted by many or most of the
states and even our own statutes are not
free from laws Of this character. We
prescribe legal fees for printing and pub.
fishing legal notices OF any kind and de.
linquent tax lists, fixing the price to be
allowed the printer.
| Your committee did not deem 1t 4 part
of their duty to inspect the Office of the
secretary of the territory, but that officer
has very promptly furnished us with all
the information we required from his de-
partment in reference to the public
printing; and in the examination Of the
from the printers 1000 volumes of the
laws, all Of which he has property &C
counted for by distribution, sale, and
those still remaining in the otfic
| The appropriation for printing the
laws was overdrawn to the amount of
seventy-one dollars, an error which has
been fully rectifed by the auditor who
has returned the amount to the treasurer
and has that officers receipt for the mon
ey now on file in his office.
| We find that there has been audited
and allowed bills to the amount of 1880
for advertising and printing proclama-
tions of the governor. We find that these
proclamations were of local character
and not such as are paid for by the gen.
eral government. One being q procla-
nation for reward for the apprehension
| of felons, under the statutes and the
other special proclamation in reference
to the grasshopper plague, and it was
proper that these accounts should be au-
dlted and paid by the territory.
Your committee find that one great
item of expense to the territory had been
the transportation of prlsoners-the bills
allowed for this purpose aggregating
about $4,000
The law governing in this matter is
chapter 16 laws OF 1877 page 93l, section
G6S page 933, reads as follows:
Sec. 66S. Accounts of sheriff to be au.
dited. 1t shall be the duty of the audi
tor to audit all accounts presented by
sheriiis OF the different counties of this
territory, for services rendered under the
provisions of this act in conveying con-
vlcts to the state prison, at Fort Madi-
son, Iowa, or other prisons designated by
the governor as aforesaid when verified
by the affidavit of such sheriff, that he has
actually and necessarily travelled the dis
tance and rendered the services stated in
his said account, and to draw warrant
on the territorial treasurer for the amount
found due such sheriff for such services
rendered. We find that the auditor in
auditing these accounts has exercised O
sound discretion. In numerous instan-
ces he has reduced the claims presented
and has been very Jealous to protect the
treasury of the territory. The bills on
file i'll his Office gave evidence of this
fact, and, in the opinion of your commit
his Judgment, frequently reduced the
{ ton of prisoners more than he should
have done, and the territory instead of
suffering loss in the auditing of these
accounts isat least equitably indebted to
, these sheritfs in many instances FOR items
, disallowed.
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 accounts were of q nature
and kind that ought to have been audit.
3 ed. and that in andlting these accounts
the auditor did his buty and conformed
, to the law. The bills were not of ma
3 ture that the auditor could question the
5 legality or propriety. All the accounts
r OF the territorial superintendent OF pub
e lie instruction which the law requires
1 should be sworn to were properly veri
/ fed except one bill for m -leage which wa!
e one half of the mileage which the super.
8 intendent was allowed 10y law. The onl,
I item which the auditor, perhaps ought tt
a have refused was a students lamp, pric'
! 500 which sum the auditor, your com
+ mittee is informed, is willing to refunt
r and have deducted from money still due
the superintendent. The item appear,
/ in an account i'll connection with othe
items and was overlooked by the auditor
e The fact whether the superintendent wa
i not resident OF the territory could no
be passed upon by the auditor. 1t wa
o his duty to audit the salary account o
e the superintendent upon the presenta
e tion of the proper vouchers and this tn
auditor has done.
r In conclusion, your committee woul,
r state. that in their opinion both the sec
s retary of the territory and the audito
It have performed their duties faithful
= and honorably.
# The printing of the revised code wa
d in accordance with the intention of Law
d making the appropriation aud the rule
d and regulations which govern the secre
}. tary IN that duty.
The auditors Office has been manage,
g very creditably and his accounts, vouch
8 ers and books have been kept in sys
!, tematic manner, and that officer has un
!. doubtedly endeavored to discharge hi
g duty with justice to all concerned.
I'll All of which is respectfully submitted
j. Q. BURBANK, Chm.
l. j. X. CANDLE,
a j. H. STEPHENS,
Ii ID. w. FLICK,
/. A. b. FoCKLER.
; The foregoing report was adopted b