The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-07-12
Share With the State.
County officials Must Divide Pro-
ceeds of Their Offices.


bly, pertnrbed last week. Pfothonotary San
ner and Register and Recorder Hileman each
received letter from Auditor General Gregg
instrucling them that "the State is entitled
to receive one-half Of all the fees after the
deduction OF 3 ,O0O and the expenses OF their
Offices Both Of these offices yield annual
ly from s. 500 to $1,000 in fees. all Of which
has heretofore gone to the incumbenis. The
enforcement Of the law will therefore take
from $500 to $1,000 per year from each Of
these officers.
Messrs- sanner and Hileman forwarded
their reports 70 the Auditor Generals depart
ment in the customary form but they were
promptly returned for correction.
Auditor General GFeggs letter is ss fol-
lows:
DEAR SIR Your attention is directed to
Section s Of the Act of April md, 1858, Up,
l.. page H. which reads as follows;
The prothonotary or clerks OF the sa-
preme courts, courts Of common pleas, Of
the courts Of nisi prils, OF the courts of
quarter sessions Of the peace. Of the or
phans' court, the Registers Of Wills AID the
Recorders Of Deeds Of this Commonwealth,
shall pay into the treasury, for the use Of
the COmmonWe ealth, after deducting all nee
esRery clerk hire aud office expenses, fifty
per oentum on the amount over and above
the sum Of two thousand dollars, which
shall be found by the auditor appointed BY
the court to settle accounts Of county Oil
GERS, to have been received BY any officer in
any one year Provided, if two or more Of
said offices shall be held by any one person,
the Auditor General shall add together the
fees received in the Offices 50 held, and shall
charge the same percentage on the aggregate
amount Of fees received by such person
holding more than one Of said Offices.
Beginning with the first Monday of Janu-
ary Of the current year, IL is the intention OF
the Department 70 havea full and correct
return and audit Of al. fees Of Office, togeih-
er with clerk hire and office expenses, in or
der 10 determine definitely the liability Of
all county officers under the above act, and
while the fees Of Office are % be returned
monthly, payment will only be required az
ter the close Of the year, when settlement
shall have been made oy the Auditor Gen
eral as based upon tie report made by the
auditor appointed oy tie court Of common
pleas, and the mOa,hiy returns of Officers
to this Department Under the above ac,
all county officers are instructed 70 provide
aud keep special account book in " lich an
entry shall be made Of all moneys received
for fees, specifying the date the title Of the
case, II auy. and Tor Whai service and from
whom received. This boos mast be open
Tor inspection, and iJr the Information OF
the auditor appointed by the court Of CON-
mon pleas 10 audit and examine county Off
Gers accounts.
In making oui the quarterly return for
the quarter ending July 80, ls9j, you are
hereby instructed 10 include fun and cor
rect return Of the fees Of the Office received
from all sources from the frs. Monday Of
January, 1895, to the first Monday Of July.
Is95. No returns viii De considered com
plete and ready for Ming unless these H.
strGctions are carried cut. tSse opinion Of
Attorney General herewith enclosed.
Afier the quarterly return for the second
quarter Of the present year lending July 3,
1895 Is made and placed on tle in this de-
paument, all quarterly returns will be dis
continued and thereafter only monthly re-
turns be required from city and county OIL
GERS. as provided fo- in the recent act Of
1898. New blanks for making monthly re-
turns under this act viii be prepared and
furnished 10 county and city officers in time
TO make the monthly return for July, 1898.
Commencing with the year 1898. no clerk
hire or expenses OF office will be allowed in
the annual settlement Of the accounts Of
county officers, except the auditors report
be accompanied By ilemizsd and properly
receipted vouchers accounting for all clerk
hire and Office expenses, 10 be deducted from
the fees received. County officers are in
s,ructed TO take duplicate receipts for al
money paid for clerk hire and expense Of
office. the originals Of which are to be for
warded with the auditors report for the
year 1898, and annually thereafter.
Respectfully,
D. Nom GREGG,
Auditor General.
Attorney General Hensel's letter referred
to above reads thus.
HARKIsBURG. June 26, 1898.
Hon. D. NcM. grey, Audit0r Geaeral, Har-
Tis5aag, Pa.
DEAR SIR II beg 20 acknowledge Your
favor Of June - iuquiring. inter ala, wheth-
er in counties OF over 10000 the state IS en-
titled to receive 0ne-half Of the remainder
Of ali fees after Ceducting the salaries aud
expenses Of The county officers and calling
my attention 80 tue fact that heretofore il
has been the practice in coun'ies Of over
10000 population 10 pay no portion Of the
fees collected 10 the Commonwealth.
In reply have TO say. that in my opinion
the Act Of March 81, 1876 ,P. L., page 49,.
does not modify or repeal the Act Of March
10, 1910, lP. l. page s0.l 80 rs 20 deprive
the Stale Of lis right TO one-half Of the sur
plus OF The county officers ices in the cOun-
lies Of over 10000 population. On the 9th
er hand, | am of the opinion and / advise
and instruct you, that IN ali counties, lin
Guiding those containing over 10000 in
ha5iiants, IN which c0uaty officers are paid
by salaries. the State Is entitled to receive
one-half of ali fees Of the county officers az
ter the deduction Of their salaries and the
expenses Of their Offices, as provided by law
Yours truly,
" u Hrvuzr