Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-03-30
A STATEMENT IN DEFENSE OF
THE AUDITOR.


ges preferred against the Auditor by
the Prosecuting Attorney in his Mi
nority Report on the Commissioners
Annual Financial Statement, pub
lished in the last issue of the NORTH
WEST, l will say that the Legislature
Of Ohio has fixed the salary of Prose-
cutting Attorney. and Auditor for the
duties common to all the counties in
the rates of about 80 to 100. In Hen
ry county the salary of the Prosecut-
ing Attorney is SAL so per month, and
that of the Auditor $134.34 per month.
The compensation of Miscellaneous
and Special work not expressly pro-
vided for by Statute is left to the
judgment of the commissioners of the
several counties to determine and al
low, and by referring to page 327 of
the State Auditors Report for 1891, it
will be seen that the total compensa-
ton paid auditors in the SS counties
in Ohio for the fiscal year ending Nov.
15, 1891, was 1851 1926. .25, being an an
nual average for each county of $4,106.
And by referring to page 342, it will
be seen that the total compensation
paid prosecuting attorneys was $l02,-
444.07, being an annual average for
each county of $l164.00.
The Prosecuting Attorney alleges
in his Minority Report that the Audi
tor is poor itemizer of bills, and the
Auditor emphatically asserts that the
prosecuting Attorney is prolix and
superfiuOus itemizer of bills; and if
the Auditor had never objected to that
kid of superfuity, there never would
have been Minority Report.
The Prosecutor further asserts that
the Auditor is an expert when it comes
to a representation in "Gross and
Lump" I will therefore make a
comparison of "Gross" receipts.
took charge of the auditors office
Sept. IA, 1891, and for the 18 months
ending March l, 1898, have received
from the Treasury of Henry county
the sum of S417S.15 which includes a
few dollars of express and freight
charges paid by me which 1 will not
deduct; and from all other sources
about $75, making total of $4, ,253.15.
This amount represents compen-
sation in full for myself and two
very worthy, faithful and efficient
clerks for 54 months office work and
all other work performed outside
of Office hours, and includes all the
unfi nished work of my worthy prede-
cessor, which falls to every new in
cumbent to complete, which will Off
set all unfinished work now under
process of completion. This makes an
average of $78.76 per month.
The Prosecuting Attorney has re-
ceived from the Treasury since the
14th of Sept, 1891 to March 1st, 1898
for all services rendered, the sum of
1892 90, which is S69.94 more than
the Auditor received for the same
time, including the 25 per cent. ille-
gal fees alleged to have been drawn by
the Auditor In order to avoid taxi
ing any advantage of the Prosecuting
Attorney in making this comparison
between us for compensation received
for services rendered for 18 months
ending March l, 1898, / have examin-
ed the records In the Auditors office
for the year next preceding Sept. IA,
1891, and find that the record shows
that the compensation received by
the Prosecuting Attorney for the pre-
ceding year has not been infringed
upon to any very great extent, if any,
by including In this statement what
should have been credited to the year
before. The record shows that no in
justice has been done him, but that
his receipts for that year exceeds the
annual state average by several hun
dred dollars.
Now, by taking the State Rates
of 30 to 100 for basis, it is evident
that If the Prosecuting Attorneys Of
fetal and other services are worth
$4322 ,09 for Is months. then the Aud
itor's services are worth $14 ,406.96.
If l were possessed of superlative
skill as an itemizer of bills, and would
spread them on every commissioners
board in Ohio, and employ language
more fluent, persuasive and fascinat-
ing than angels use, should even
then fail to convince the taxpayers of
S14, 406.96 Cor Is months official and
special services as Auditor.
On the other hand, If the Auditors
services from all sources are worth
$4, 253.15 for Is months, then accord
ing to the state basis of values, the
Prosecuting Attorneys official and
other services are worth 81 1855 forl
18 months. The Auditors compensa-
tion for 18 months will harmonize
with the State Auditors Report, and
be on the side of economy when COM
pared with the compensation of audi
tors. The Prosecuting Attorneys
compensation will have to be modified