The herald., 1894-05-02

The recorder has recently followed the
present usage in many OF the northern
counties in endeavoring to secure uni
formity in the forms of deeds and mort
cages, so that the books of records may
be printed to correspond. A considera-
BILE saving has already been accom-
plished in copying by this method. We
urge the public, and especially the
members of the bar and real estate
dealers, to assist in this commendable
effort to reduce the cost of this work.
COUNTY CLERK.
This Office for the year cost $19.94s.3l
and brought in 500, 0420l, showing a net
profit to the county OF $909370.
The work of this Office is we'll system
affixed, and the different departments no
longer conflict with each other. By
this means the public business ia facili-
tated.
Asystem OF indexing has been adopted
by which much time is saved when it
becomes necessary to search for any
document, record or exhibit. The ar
rangement for the preservation and care
of blanks used in this office, and the
plan of having the books made with the
body Of the documants which are TO be
recorded therein already printed, are
greatly in the interests of economy.
By the preservation of great registers
and other supplies left over from the
last election, a saving OF several thou
sand dollars win be effected in the ex-
penses OF the coming election.
COUNTY ASSESSOR.
We find some work in this Office fairly
we'll done.
The assessor has not exercised the
proper care in the collection of the per-
sonsal property tax, nor in placing
checks upon his deputies. The depu-
ties in this Office have q particularly re-
sponsible position and almost all handle
a considerable amount of money, and
more care should be exercised in their
selection than seems to have been done
heretofore.
The assessor took no measures to
check up the accounts of AL Cobler
when informed by the members OF q
former grand jury of the embezzlement
of taxes by this deputy; while the pres
emit grand jury continued the investiga-
tions, resulting in the several indict-
ments against Cobler which have al
ready been made public.
We find discrepancies in the ASSESS
ment OF personal property between the
county and city assessors to the disad-
vantage of the county; and there are
similar discrepancies in the assessment
OF land
A former deputy district attorney gave
an opinion to the assessor that he was
entitled to deduct commission of Is
per cent. for collecting the road poll tax
The district attorneys Office now de-
clares this to be an Illegal charge. A
case covering this point is now before
the supreme court from San Luis Obispo
Co. land by stipulation of the county
assessor the decision of this case will de-
termine whether or not the sl34S.50
commission on road poll tax retained by
him shall be returned to the treasury.
The county assessor now receives in
salary and fees about 100000 for his
four years of service, In our opinion
this large sum should have secured the
people better administration of this
Office than we have had.
Under the new county government
bill this excessive compensation will
cease with the present administration.
We recommend the system Of ASSESS
ment by blocks and by grouping lots in
the same block owned by the Same per-
son, as pursued in other counties OF the
state; as it would materially reduce the
volume OF the assessment roll and the
expense of preparing the same; and
would result in great convenience to the
taxpayer and facilitate the collection OF
taxes.
SLAUGHTER HOUSES.
In the beginning OF our session COM
plant was made of the condition of
slaughter houses supplying meat to this
city and county.
The jury entered into thorough in
vestigation of the same, resulting in the
Indictment OF three offenders. Since
then We have caused some of these
places TO be re-examined. and find a
commendabe improvement, except in
the place of Charles Gassen, where the
condition OF affairs seemed to be evsn
worse than when the indictment was
found. The jury have therefore in
structed the district attorney to bring
civil action for the abatement of this
nuisance.
THE PEST HOUSE.
The jury found everything here in