The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-16

MI. wade as contractor Agenl
Synopsis of the Report.
Ogden. May 15.-The report of Ex-
pert w. J. Bateman was submitted to
the board of county commissioners yes
terday afternoon, and is a REMARKABLY
clear and concise resume of the county
fine 1ces; especially interesting to every
citizen of Weber county. Mr.. Bateman
was simply commissioned TO examine
the books and records and prepare a
comprehensive statement. He has done
Sc, using the facts and figures left
behind by the officers of last year. If
his report shows a discreditable state
of affairs and reflects against certain
eX-officials, they are responsible. An
examination warranted the conclusion
that all is not right. Among Other
things, over $1,000 of county money was
discovered as unaccounted for. About
$500 of this sum was returned by eX
Clerk Ledwidge when his attention was
called to the matter In all the report
seems 10 show that transactions
amounting to nearly $4,000 need either
an 'explana ton or a refund by the ex
clerk. Doubtless he viii explain or
refund, as he has shown a disposition to
be fair about the matter.
From the report it appears that
nearly $1,000 was not properly ac-
counted for by ex-Conmissioner E. w.
Wade, part of which is for double sal
airy. Something over 500 appears
against ex-Commissioner Child.
The report shows lax methods of
bookkeeping and carelessness in the
handling of public funds. The lack of
proper entries and other data has made
the experts task a particularly difficult
one. AS an evidence of the system in
vogue, the public is cited to the fact
that no warrants have been preserved;
in fact. were systematically destroyed
a few days before the retirement of the
old board of county commissioners.
Just why there should be such haste to
destroy these papers is not clear.
The report teens with evidences of
past mismanagement of county bust
ness and corrobcrates in countless ways
the charges of lavish expenditure and
illegal transactions made last fall by
The Herald and denied. but not refuted
by every other paper. The history of
the action resulting in the experts re-
port is familiar. The present county
commissioners, on taking office, were
dissatisfied with the financial report
presented by the outgoing officers. 1t
did not at all give an intelligent sum-
mary of the financial status of the
county. They first invited the eX-corn-
missioners and ex-auditor TO explain or
correct their report The invitation
was ignored. The present board then
did the only thing left for il under the
circumstances. ordered a new report.
Criticism has been heaped on them for
their extravaganza in this act. On this
subject il is only necessary to point
out that while Mr.. Bateman's services
viii cost only about $500. 5000 more than
that sum has been returned already as
a result of errors discovered by him.
The first part Of the report is q finan-
cial statement. exclusive of bonded in
debtedness Of Weber county for the
year 1894. The assets and liabilities are
itemized. The report shows a surplus
of assets over liabilities of S25,G34.79.
The report for 1895 shows that by the |
end of tsat YEAR the surplus assets /
only 10 S93778.
BY another year this surplus had di- /
ninished 70 balance on the ether |
side of nearly 100000, as shown by the /
following very interesting detailed |
FINANCIAL STAT EMENT.
Showing condition for the year ending /
December 81. 1856. exclusive of bonded .
ASSETS
Amount estimated due from
Collector Hulbnrt for settlement
of 1896 taxes after allowing all
credits and deductinG trust
funds ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -Sl2.929 Il
State warrants on hand
No. 16l April %. se..-.......... 705 90
No 81. October il. 95....-...... 43 a
Balance due for 1895 and 1S95. 1.262 30
:2.olo %
Ogden City warrants on hand
No. 235S2 ~ 81
No q $50 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. sos 50
Sal saia1es ss due on 1895 taxes -. 3 3 % %
s1.olo 80
Tax sale redemptions of 1886 paid
4 acknowledgements. 1.121 80
for fees 10 December 81. 1896,
paid into county treasury. COS 50
Amount due from state OF Utah.
being proportion Of salaries of
county attorney. treasurer and
assessor fc- year endipc De- {
cember 81. 1895. Observation-Disclosures. 1500 90
AMOUNT due from she-ins Office {
for fees for six months ending
December 81. 1886. 72S Al :
Cash on hand with treasurer f
General fund. j. lSS 20
contingent und................... l64 81 T
Zee fund observation-disclosures. SO e5
:4O6S 20 S
LIABILITIES.
Bis Payable
tote. favor Utah National hank,
dated December 81 1895. due De- a
cember 3, 1896, interest per [
cent $1,000 90
Iote. fa,or Wells Fargo & Co.
dated June G. 1896. due February
s. 1897. interest s per cent. Is 200 90 :.
ote. favor D. II. Peerv. dated y
Jus,r .. 1896. due July S. 1897. in
terest oer eenf.................. $500 90
ote. favor ID. u. Pecry. dated e
August >. 1876. due August B 7
1897. interest s per co-lr..... 5 900 90 r
CITE favor Utah National bank /
dated Julv .. 1885. due Januar-v q
+ 1891 interest g per cent t.. 10000 90 n
ltarest due the above rotes f.
AMI unpaid on December 81. 1895 /. 456 81 =
mount Of juror certificates in