Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-16

NAChA NJ NIO IL.
sections of The County Government Act: Five.
8, 2. s. 9, Sc, So ID, i66 III, and subdivision %
III Section / Of the amende1 County Govern
| ment Act.
! AL of which is mos respectfully submitted,
W. II. RoBINSoN, Foreman.
| ELpRED INDICTED.
The Grand Jury also filed with Judge
| Armstrong an Indictment, charging G. H .
Eldred with felony, in having, on Tuesday,
| March 18th, unlawfully deposited num-
Der of ballots in the box in Precinct Four
and-a-half, after the ballots in such box
had been counted, preparatory to being
read of by the duly qualified election
officers
Judge Armstrong Immediately issued a
bench warrant for the arrest of Eldred, and
| fixed his bail at $1,000. The warrant was
placed in the hands of Deputy Sheriff
Coggswell, and shortly after 3 o'clock that
officer came in with his prisoner TO the
Sheritf's office, accompanied by w. j.
O'Brien and Supervisor Ross, who mad
volunteered TO serve on his bond.
THE EXPERTS REPORT
]. G. Hogan reports as follows concern
ing the books and accounts OF county Off
Gals:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, March 7, 1889.
To the Honorable Grand Jury Of Sacramento
County, ACCOMPLISHMENTS After most
careful and searching examination of all the
books and accounts of the various officials of
this county for the years of 1887 and 1855,
herewith submit for your consideration my re-
port upon the same, which l trust may be suffi-
GENTLY clear and comprehensive as to merit
your approval.
In the course of my investigations in the
various Offices, discovered las might have been
expected) some mistakes or clerical errors, and
in some cases fees that had been omitted from
the tee books or overlooked by accident, and in
one case a fund that had been overdrawn
through an oversight, and few other errors of
SIMILAR character, IAN account of which
pears in the reports under the heads of the re-
spectlve departments in which they occur and
which is hereunto appended). Yet it must be
SAID In justice to all the officials of the county
that nothing has been discovered during the
whole course OF this examination that would
warrant suspicion of Intentional error or
wrong-doing on the part of any one of them. On
the contrary, found them as anxious to be set
right as was TO perform that service, and i'm
meolately upon my ascertaining the exact
amount OF their arrears in every case the same
was paid into the county Treasury forthwith.
The general system of bookkeeping now in
operation throughout he several departments
OF the county i found to be excellent All the
records and books are neatly kept and fully
written up to date, and all documents properly
filed.
The officials I found to be uniformly courteous
and obliging, with readiness to afford every
facility that might aid in the prosecution of my
work, and desire to thank them one and ali
for their kind attentions.
have examined the records and all claims
allowed by the Board of Supervisors of this
county for the years of 1887 and 1855, and have
carefully compared all demands upon the
county with the register OF claims allowed by
the Board and the warrants drawn by The Au-
ditor in payment of the same, and have found
them all to agree without single discrepancy.
In every case the necessary affidavits are found
accompanying the claims, the same being prop
erly made out on blanks furnished for that pur-
pose duly audited by the Board, countersigned
by the President, and also by the Chairman of
the committee, and attested by the Jerk thus
conforming to all the necessary requirements of
law in that particular.
As to the legality of all the claims sanctioned
by the Board it must be said Of exception be
made of those matters already taken cognizance
OF by your honorable body, and published with
your partial report of February IA, 1887 that
nothing of questionable character has chal-
lenged my attention during this entire exam
nation of demands upon the county as allowed
by said Board.
] have not deemed it practicable to make
detailed statement of all the claims paid during
the above-named period, yet, inasmuch as
various impressions seem to exist as to the cost
OF the new bridge now spanning the American
river at Twelfth street, will here state for the
information of the Jury that the said structure
cost the county the sum of S34 $40, which
amount is found to agree with the price speci-
fed in the contract for the construction OF the
same
Regarding those salaries drawn by three of
the supervisors in excess of their legal stipends
| would state that the sums SO overdrawn have
all been returned in full and paid into the County
Treasury in conformity with the decision of
Court, (the amount being 1850.
The record of the proceedings of this Board
has been carefully kept and is written up to
date, likewise the claim register.
In regard to those cases where property was
left off the asses ment roll last year. would say
that complete list has been made OF such
omissions, and in making up the roll for the
present year the Assessor will double the assess
ment In every instance where. property escaped
assessment last year lin accordance with Section
3649 OF the Political Code, which specially pro-
yides for such contingencies.
desire to make favorable mention here of
the new map books now beiuy gotten up for
this years assessment purposes (by Deputy AS
SCISSOR VI. J. McManus). They are models of
neatness, comprehensive, and exhibit great
care as to detail.
In my examination of sschool orders drawn
by the Trustees of the various districts on the
County superintendent for acquisitions on the
school fund, / observed in MANY instances
lack of proper care in the matter of filling out
the b anks, the amount of the order frequently
being indicated by figures only whereas the
number OF dollars should always be written out
in full in order TO guard against or altera-
ton This practice should not be allowed to
continue, as 1t affords too convenient an oppor-
tunity for fraud should such orders get into the
hands of dishonest persons.
| noticed also that while The orders invariably
bore the required number of signatures. that in
some cases las was clearly evident to my prsc-
ticed eye) the names were each written by the
same hand. This plan may be great convent.
ence to the Trustees, but in the absence Of a
properly filed power of attorney delegating such
powers it hardly meets the legal requirements.
The County superintendent some time ago ad-
dressed a circular to the Trustees of the several
districts, instructing them in relation to their
duties in all such matters, but they seem to have
given it very little attention
| would recommend that the Superintendent
be instructed not TO honor any orders for money
hereafter unless they properly drawn.
In conclusion, your expert would most re-
specially suggest the ACCESSIBILITY of having
these examinations of the county's affairs made
every year in future, instead of but once in two
years, as the custom has been.
There is much to be said in favor of such q
change, and it should be of no additional ex-
pense to the county, as but half the time would
then be required TO accomplish the work that is
at present found necessary.
Thanking the jury for their kindness in wait
ing so patiently for my report. and also for the
confidence shown in assigning 10 me this i'm
portant duty, ! am, gentlemen, your most
obedlent servant, j. G. HOGAN,
County Expert.