The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-03-13
Report of Commissioners or Ac-
counts.

To the Honorable II. n. Hutton, Judge
of the St Francis Circuit Court. March
term, 1896.
The undersigned, appointed by you "a
Commissioners of Accounts. for the coun-
ty OF ST. Francis, respectfully present the
following as the report of their proceed
ings since last report:
As required by law, we met at the Of
flee Of the Clerk of tn Circuit Court, on
Monday, February IL. 1896. We proceed
ed to examine all the allowances made 10y
the County Court since our last report
We find that the Court has exercised
care in allowing claims against the coun-
ty. but some errors have crept in. We
find that in several instances the Clerk
has charged. and the Court has allowed
pay for issuing more than two (2) sub
ppnas in criminal cases, in winch the
county was adjudged to pay costs.
We also find that i'm several instances,
Justices of the Peace have charged for adj
ministering oath for each witness in Grim
inal cases, when the oath.:was appearantly
administered to all of them at one time.
We find that the Sheriff often charges.
and is allowed by the Court, expense"
in arresting criminals apprehended out
side the county. These accounts are
not itemzed as they should be. conse-
quently we are unable to say whether
they are allowed in accordance with the
law or not.
We also find that there is some irregu-
larity IN allowing costs in criminal cases,
yet pending in the Circuit Court
This should not be done. All the costs
should be allowed at the same time, and
not until after it is known that the coun-
ty is liable.
We find that in the case OF SafroHia
Martin VS.. Thomas Martin, involving the
coustOdy of their children, the County
Court has allowed the Sheriff his fees.
This was a civil action and we cannot
find that the county is liable for the costs.
We find that the Magistrates of the
county have filed their transcripts prompt
ly. and that all the COnstables have set
tied promptly.
We fnd that L. Fl. Potts, an auc-
tiOneer. has failed To render all account,
and pay the the per centum on sales,
In accordance with his bond.
We find that the county is gradually
falling behind in her finances. The total
allowance made by the October aud Janu-
AIRY terms of the County Court. is $l0.-
$50 10. white the total revenue Tor the
year is little above Sl5.O0 90. Thus it
appears that the time when the county can
promise herself a new court house is a
long way off in the future.
We find that the lrvying court last
October levied IA tax of 2 mil 5 for railroad
bond interest At that date there was
balance i'm the treasury TO the credit of
that fund of 1897 IL. The animal in
terest on these bonds is ST. 500 90. The
levy OF mills will produce about S4 500.
making together with the balance now in
the treasury about S. 500. with which to
pay ST. 500. an excess of S3.700. We can
not see the wisdom OF accommodating
money in the treasury at the expense of
the tax payers at this time OF fnancia al
distress.
We desire to return thanks to Clerk
Folbre aud his deputies for courtesie S
and facilities extended to US during our
session
All of which is respectfully presented.
Il. o. FITZPATRICK,
IT. RAIPoRD, j. n
Il. J. DAVIS.