The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-02-03
THE NAKED TRUTH.

q who have not heretofore interested
themselves in the matter:
I'm accordance with the recommends
ton of the late Grand Jury, we have
! carefully examined the books, bills anC
I accounts of the county officers, effected
by the reports of the experts. In this
!. examination the officers concerned have
been present and given opportunity to
, explain all charges which had apparent.
! ly been made contrary to law, OF
wherein it appeared, there had been
failure to collect for the county the
amounts prescribed by law. As to the
action taken by the experts under an
order made by Judge Cobufn, we find
they have performed their duties faith
fully, under instructions given them by
him, but the board of county commits
sioners find that, with but D very few
exceptions, the bills, as allowed by the
former boards we've correct as many of
the fees reported by the experts as over
charges on the part of the sherifs have
been sanctioned by the district attorneys
of this district ever since the county
was organized, and the commissioners
have acted in accordance with the adj
vice of their legal adviser In such cases
the differences between the experts re-
port and the amounts allowed by the
commissioners is explained below:
Asto the charges made for return of
papers by sheriff and for taking prison
ers into court, for which charges no
specified fees are provided, and which
charges form large Lart Of the fad
ings against the sheriff in the experts
report; the county commissid ners, upon
consulting Deputy District-Attorney
Campbell, concluded to take ND notice of
these charges.
In regard to mileage, we find that the
sheriff's returns show that the sheriff,
with few exceptions, actually travelled
the miles as allowed by the commission
ers.
AS to the bills not being sworn to, we
find that the accounts were substantially
correct, and that the officers now offer to
swear to the same"
Below is presented detal He'd state
ment of the county commissioners exam
ination of each officers account
In the matter of justices of the peace
there ale yet some delinquiencies, ac-
cording to the experts report: N. Stew
ard, Of Livingston, $40 /; E. M. Tower, of
Livingston, $l3.
In the matter of City Magistrate
Dawes, the experts report shows that
there is balance of 81 80 in Mr.. Dawes
favor, and that 'some individuals have
been overcharged. but the commissioners
find that the county has nothing to do
with the recovery of these oveTcharges."
COUNTY CLERKS OFFICE,
"R NJ. Crawford examined the Record
er's books and found but two or three
overcharges-in each case about 25c !;
and found a great many cases where he
could have charged from 25c. toi So more.
He commenced an examination of the
county commissioners journal, when his
time, which was limited by the judge,
expired"
C. p. BLAKELY.
The experts report upon tins gentle
man is thoroughly investigated by the
commissioners, and with the aid of Mr..
Blakely's journal, the county is found to
to be indebted to Mr.. Blake
ly S22s.2J. Every item is reported
upon in detail, with Mr.. Blakely's ex-
plantations. This report is too Folumin-
GUS for our space, but as it ID now a
matter of county record, anyone can see
it. Recapitulation results as follows
G. P Blakely. sis 27 s228 Is
Allie Bailey, deputy 30 ..."."...
Metcalf, deputy. 2O5 80 ...~......
Balance due county :. 50 AZ
TIE report adds: In adjusting c. P.
Blakely's accounts. we found that Blake
ly's mileage was in several instances
under instead Of over, and we further
find that on others he omitted to charge,
which, if made out at the Tins, would
have amounted to several hundred dol
lars; but that we do not think that it
would be legal to allow such claimss
The commissioners find Sheriff Nc
Kenzie to be indebted to the county,
S44.65, through duplicate charges.
1 L M Do.1-.o, x,,oe, ,v.1Jo~or tr,I ssfto f1,e
proper officers collect the amount of
| $1,lI6.O0, which is shown by the experts
report that Mr. Gardner has filled to
collect as jury fees.
W. F. SLOAN.
The commissioners report is as follows:
"After careful examination of the ex-
pert's report concerning the County
| Treasurer, w f. Sloan, we submit the
following:
In the matter of delinquent percent
age uncollected by Treasurer Sloan, for
the year 1884, which forms the larger
part of the delinquent percentage re-
| ported against him, it is in justice to
4 MIN 10 SltbLC bIldb lu4ADCA VI viz AOesA-
ing taxpayers of the county, in body
called upon the commissioners about
Dec. LIST of that year and requested them
to authorize Treasurer Sloan not to
charge the delinquent percentage then
/ due and the commissioners so authorized
him. For the year 1888 the time was
extended to one month. and the terri
tory settled with Mr.. Sloan upon this
basis. In some cases, where parties
sent money from distance, not know
ing OF the charge for delinquent per-
centage. receipts were issued, and in all
cases where the treasurer assessed par
ties after the first of December Of each
year, the delinquent percentage was not
adopted. In some cases where taxes
had haen l,artlv naid before Dec. Isl. and