The Daily Texarkanian., 1895-11-26

AuN dlluWduNES NtlC iudNG ny ANN
County Court IN the past year, and
while our County Judge seems to
have been careful in many respects,
in passing upon such claims we
think he has allowed claims that
should have been rejected. In
nearly every instance of claims pre-
sented by parties who have furnish
ed merchandise and materials for
the county, the parties have charg-
ed the county from 80 to 10 per
cent more for the goods and mate
rials than the price at which they
are sold to individuals. Especially
is this the case where parties have
furnished records andstatiOnery for
the office and wood and coal. We
find the county charged $4.60 per
cord for wood and from $3.50 to
$500 per ton for coal, when wood
can be bought for $3.50 per cord,
and coal for $500 per ton, for cash,
The claims are all sworn to as the
law directs, and it may be that the
Judge was Influenced to some eX-
tent by that fact. 1t is to be re-
gretted that the county is forced to
submit to such extortion because of
its financial condition.
We notice also that the Sheriff
and the Clerk IN some instances,
present to the County Court Tor
allowance their claims for services
rendered in the Circuit Court with
out first having the same certified
by the Circuit Court, and in one
instance this has been done by our
Prosecuting Attorney and the
claims allowed, This is all irregu-
lar and contrary to the law. The
County Judge, we submit, has noju-
dicial knowledge of services per
formed in the Circuit Court, or
their value. The Circuit Judge IS
the proper person to adjust and
certify such claims.
We also find in the accounts for
stationery, etc, that the county is
charged with and made to pay for
everything used in the offices of the
Clerk and Sheriff, from a record
book down TO a lead pencil, and this
includes all blank books and blanks
of every description, letter paper,
printing letter heads, and for enve-
lopes. The county is also charged
with and made to, pay for publish
ing the notices of the Assessor for
the assessment of property and the
printing of his posters and for like
notices and posters of the Collector
for the collection of taxes.
We also find that the Sheriff in
his accounts for services in the Cir
cult Court has charged the county
in the sum of fifty cents for each
extra juror or tailsman summoned
by him, and obtained an allowance
for the same, and has also charged
the county with the services of q
porter IN the Circuit Court. The
Clerk has aSo in his accounts char.
ged the county for cancellation anC
fling scrip cancelled, ten cents on
each piece in each case and also ter
cents for registering each piece OF
scrip. 1t would seem but just that
they should be paid something for
such services but therefs no provi
sion ia the law to pay them for the
same. 1t is pIope"to say that the
last item of the accounts of the
| Clerk for such services was disallow.
ed and the accounts of the Sheriff
were allowed,
We also hnd that the Sheriff in
one of his accounts charges
the county the sum OF
$4,000 for furnishing the Clerk
with a list of persons who have paid
their poll taxes, when his fee for
the same as fixed by law is only $4
When his attention was called to
this he said the charge was a cleric.
al error, and that he would refund
the overcharge to the county.
We suggest that the Clerk should
be required to use the taxes he col
lects on writs, marriage licenses,
etc, which amouts to about S4OO
per year, in the purchase Of records
and stationery for his office, 1t is
sufficient in our opinion to purchase
all the records and stationery which
the county should pay for,
We most respectfully submit that
the county is paying too much for
feeding prisoners in Jail, The char
ges made by the Sheriff for he
same was for a while 60 cents, and
is now 80 cents per day for each
prisoner. We think the County
Judge should make a contract with
someone for feeding prisoners who
will do so for the least sum