The herald., 1894-05-26

believe that poor inspection and care
less work has been done in this line and
that in many cases infected orchards or
nurseries have been lett untreated
amongst those forced TO fumigate.
Whether orchard pests once fully es-
tablished can be eradicated by artificial
means is open to question. We suggest
that the best present use OF the horti-
cultural law would be to prevent the
introduction OF new pests and to arrest
the spreading of those here.
The horticultural commission cost in
1898, $10,78l.97 OF this very large sum
the district attorneys approval appears
on only $48 90. One specially question
able item is the allowance by the super
visors of 1898 to the commissioner for
railroad Communication ticket to and from
Duarte, where he resides.
We believe the cost of this Office should
be reduced and the present methods re-
formed.
We recommend that printed receipts
be provided for inspectors, to be slgned
by parties for whose benefit services are
rendered, whether inspection or fumiga-
ton, and these receipts be attached to
the several demands of the inspectors.
1t is important that all inspections be
made thorough and conclusive, and that
a certificate be attached to each lot of
trees inspected. A proper system of
this kind would obviate the necessity of
reinspection whenever such trees were
transferred to another district.
Large Investments Of energy and
capital have been made in developing
the fruit-growing industries OF Southern
California. Still larger development ia
IN, Il Il 4 a
and the future prospects OF the fruit in
terests should not be destroyed nor
marred by any negligence on our part.
No effort should be spared nor pre-
caution neglected for the prevention OF
the introduction OF injurious insects.
A majority OF the grand jury recon-
mend that the supervisors appoint three
comm sioners, at compensation of
$2.5 per day for time actually engaged,
and 81 per day for railroad iare or buggy
hire, when required. The following is
a classified statement of the demands
allowed the commission: From Sep
TENDER %, 1891. to May l, 1894. commu-
tation tickets $685. miscellaneous rail-
road fares, $3l6.70; livery, $3.50 80 /;
salary, s4020: fumigating. $33lS.55; ex-
pense, $2l49 90.
COUNTY AUDITOR.
The duties of the county auditor are
not as broad and general as those of the
city auditor. With regard to the keep
ing and ms pection of the county books,
the board of supervisors has employed
an expert bookkeeper and assistant to
supervise the county officers accounts.
Besides this the supervisors employed a
bookkeeper at an expense of over $500
to introduce q system of bookkeeping
Both of these acts of the supervisors
are commendable and in the public in
terest.
The only careful examination of the
demands on the county in the way OF q
check on the supervisors now comes
from the district attorneys office.
The deputies employed for such extra
work "a the extension of the assessment
roll were apparently not selected by the
auditor for their fitness as expert &C.
countants.
The Moore system introduced over the
auditors head has two defects, viz: First.
it does not cover the entire county bust
ness, and second, it is accompanied by
royalty on copyrights that is unjusti-
fed by the contract for the system.
The district attorney should take such
action as will end all OF this constant
tribute to Mr.. Moore or his assignees, or
to any other person who may be drawing
money OF copyrights not enforceable by
law.
We would recommend the supervisors
to use their present expert bookkeeping
staff for the introduction of simple and
effective system of accounts for all pub
lie Offices, together with proper record
system for all public property.