Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1889-01-25
TIE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Proceedings at Their January, 1889,
Meeting.

Me6tluBs
The official bond OF 7. y. Dellin-
ger Is Assessor approved.
N. Al. Ruick appeared on behalf Of
ex Assessor and Collector w. w.
Yeates, and claimed that there was no
warrant in law for such q report as
that presented by Deputy Assessor
and Collector Van Ness TO be made.
The proceedings in this matter had
by the Board of County Commission
ers at their October session were il,
legal; and until Mr.. Bellinger's bond
was approved, just now, Yeates was
the de facto Assessor and Collector.
There was only one way to make the
office vacant That was to require
him to file new bond. If he failed
to DO so, the Office became vacant by
operation Of law; but it could not
become so otherwise, except by death
or resignation. MIR. Yeates has been,
at all times, the Assessor and Tax
Collector of this county. The Octo-
Der proceedings were therefore in
violation of law, utterly absurd and
void. No Board of Commissioners
had any power to override the law in
regard to the manner in which money
must be paid into the county treasury.
Mr.. Yeates is responsible for the acts
of his deputies, Mr.. Van Ness il
cluded; even if any shortage occurred
after Mr.. Van Ness took charge, in
pursuance Of the agreement with the
bondsmen. The report seemed to
show that 5000 had been paid out in
violation of law.
Mr.. Van Ness THAT was paid for
help in the ottice--as necessary ex-
penses.
Mr.. Ruick That is for the bonds.
men TO CONSIDER.
Mr.. Plughoff.-I as one of the
bondsmen of Mr.. Yeates, was called
upon by the Board of Commissioners,
last October, to consider a shortage
of about $500. Mr.. Yeates was
present at the meeting, and entered
into this agreement, to protect his
bondsmen. He did this Of his own
free will. [Agreemcnt read. This
agreement is made by the Assessor;
it should have been by the Tax Col
lector. 1t is not dated, and is not
legal; but Mr.. Yeatcs seemed anx-
ious to save his bondsmen. The old
bondsmen had Withdrawn, and the
new bondsmen wished to withdraw
Immediately. Mr.. Ycates saw that
it would place him in a bad light be.
fore the people, and leave his bonds
men to lose. Now, this agreemen.
. was the result of the meeting; and i,
was done to save the county, to save
the bondsmen, to save Mr.. Yeates.
, Now, Mr.. Yeates has rights in this
matter; but the agreement should
stand.
Mr.. Rulck did not deny this; bu,
, the expenses Of that Office should be
!. collected from Mr.. Yeates and no,
4 from the county. According to this
e report Mr.. Yeates was short $4,000
! That amount must be paid into The
h county treasury before any percentage
t is allowed Mr.. Yeates. 1t is an in
justice to him to require him to pa.
I that into the treasury before he car
;, obtain a settlement.
II Mr.. Plughoff said it was under
a stood that the cost of running tn,
office was to be paid. When h
agreed to this he did not know tina
I. he would be County Conmissi oner
). -aughter.]
n Mr.. Van Ness said he could Civ,
1t an itemized statement OF expenses
a that it was ready.
Mr.. Wilton said it was an irregn
lar proceeding right through. But a
there seemed to be no other way out
the Board should Try to do justice q
around.
Mr.. Ruick said there was som
$1,000 or over due Mr.. Yeates fc
10 commissions. Let the county retail
the shortage, whatever it may be, an
,e pay the balance over to Mr.. Yeate
~ There would be some $4,000 coming
"a 1.-THE accounts were then examine