, 1884-02-14
ALL CoRECT!
Report and Recommendations Of the
Auditing Committee to Our Ter
ritorIai Law Makers.

The committee appointed by the Sec
rotary of the territory to settle with
the auditor, treasurer and chairman of
the board Of penitenitiary commission
ers report they had under the provisions
of the law defining their duties con-
fined their investigation to the period
between the s1st day of March, A. D..
1888, and the FIRST day Of January 1884,
and carefully examined all the bills and
vouchers in the hands Of the auditor.
and all warrants paid by the treasurer
during the said period Of nine months
and find the same correct with the ex-
ception Of three items, viz: Warrants
numbered respectively 292, 293 and
295. each for the sum Of Ave dollars, is
sued In payment of services of ap-
praisers Of stock condemned to be
slaughtered by order of the territorial
veterinarian.
They also examined the disposition
of the several appropriations made by
the seventh legislative assembly, as
shown by the treasurer's trial balance,
and find that nc appropriation has been
overdrawn.
They believe 1t to be their duty to
call the attention Of the legislature to
the recent decision of his honor, James
B. Sener, chief justice of the territory,
sitting as judge of the Laramie county
district court, declaring forfeitures on
all bonds and recognizances in criminal
cases to be dne to the territory, and not
to the county where the bond is for
feited. Under this ruling one thousand
dollars has been paid to the treasurer
Of the territory, December 8, 1888, by
the clerk Of said district court. This
is the first official action in this res
pect, as they are informed; the several
counties have by custom covered the
amounts paid upon forfeited bonds and
recognizances into the county treasury.
Hence they deem it proper TO refer to
this matter to the end that by suitable
legislation these sums may be passed to
the credit of some specific fund.
These several sums. according to
section II of chapter Al, of the session
laws of 1882, should have been paid by
Laramie county instead of out Of the
territorial stock indemnity fund.
The books of the auditor, treasurer
and penitentiary commissioners show
that the different accounts have been
correctly and neatly kept, and the pro-
per charges entered and made, and that
the books Of these officers agree.
They further find that on the 3lst of
March, 1888, as per the t%reasurer's books
and the report of the legislative COM
mittee, there was on hand in the terri
torial treasury, cash to the credit Of
different funds, except the stock in
demnity fund, $40, 602. 81.
In conclusion, they recommend that
the committee, as appointed by the
secretary, prior to the meeting Of the
legislature, be abolished, and they urge
the following reasons therefor:
LIST. The auditing committee should
be appointed by the legislature, and
make its examination during the session.
The reports Of all the officers and
the message of the governor will then
have been presented and the labors Of
the committee will be much simpliHed
and made less laborious. g
I'd. The officers whose accounts are
now examined are compelled to surren-
der their books and records at a time
when they are needed for the purpose
Of making official reports to the gov
ernor to be incorporated in his mes
sage.
Sd. The examination OF such COM
m;ttee cover a period OF only nine
months, and the same ground must be
gone over by the regular committee of
audit, subsequently, appointed by the
Legislators, three months later.
4th. Considerable expense will be
caused for other and more pressing
purposes.