Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-09
THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.

Mr.. Zirkle, clerk of the special House Of
Delegates committee appointed to continue
the examination of accounts in the Auditors
Office, &C., has gone up to Albemarle to do
some preliminary work under the direction
of Mr.. Moon, member Of the committee.
The committee will print and send out TO
each clerk of court series of questions as
to payments that have been made. La this
way, it is not doubted, large amount of
valuable information can be obtained, aud
under oath, without the trouble of bringing
the clerks here at the expense of the Com
monwealth. Where the information thus
obtained is not satisfactory, the clerk will
have to be summoned to come here at an
appointed time and testify before the COM
mittee, and to take down such testimony
Mr.. George @. Laferty has been employed
as stenographer.
The committee, of course, will have moth
ing to do with any prosecution. Their duty
is to ascertain what is the state of affairs,
and to report what Legislation is necessary.
There is already great rush of work up
on the Auditors office, growing out Of the
discovery that payments of clerks Of courts
for several years have not been regularly
credited. Clerks are writing or calling in
person for statements of accounts and a
great deal Of time is occupied in waiting
upon them and in searching the records.
Auditor Marye is kept at his desk long after
business hours. Much of this matter it will
he quite impossible for him to dispose of.
1t will have to be left to the committee.
Some legal complications will arise, as in
the Petersburg case, whore the clerk of court
sent in check which was not sent forward
for collection, and some months afterward
the bank suspended. In another case re-
ceipt was given for check which was re-
turned protested. 10 one or more casts
checks given were collected but not credited
to the parties who paid them in; but inves
LEGATIONS have not been pushed far enough
to disclose all the circumstances attending
the collections.
1t is admitted that some of the customs
CT the office-customs of long, long dura
ion-are in conflict with the law; but it is
contended that the law Is, az to money
forcement of 1t would, it is alleged, create
such Inconvenience as to be an embargo
upon much business. The law prohibits
both the Auditor and Treasurer receiving
money. 1t says that money 80 paid shall
not discharge any debt. 1t requires the
debtor to get warrant from the Auditor
and to pay the money into State deposi.
tory. Il is claimed that to require small
debtors-clerks of courts for instance-to
do this would be hardship, as they would
either have to come here in person or EN-
ploy an agent in Richmond to do it for
them. Hence for ever so many years money
coming to the Auditors Office by letter, and
much coming by hand, has been received
and sent to the bank with the warrant.
In number of instances checks paid into
the ofice-some as far back as TWO years
ago-have not been collected and the money
therefore still remains in bank uncollected.
For this year, the first year of Mr.. Marye's
incumbency, clerk of courts taxes are not
due until the 18th of this month.-Richmond
Dispatch of to day.