The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-05-15

cepting 81 In the quarter ending Aug.
81. 1896. These sums are on account OF
Tees Tor recording and filing instru-
ments. collected. and all entered on fee
book Except sl3 for filing 10 instrIl-
ments, omitted in Zee book In the
months OF January. February and
March. 1891 and which. up to this time.
have not been paid To the county treas
urer.
Accordingly. Charles q. Johnson Is
short In his accounts with the county
In the sum OF S,i16.05, as shown above.
And In addition To the said sum OF
3l'6.Oo, he Is liable. In my opinion, to
the county for all moneys collected for
any and all services rendered as county
clerk and recorder. and therefore owes
the county all OF the sum or sums OF
money collected by him for the making
OF abstracts and copies during his
tenure OF Office and not already In that
behalf accounted for. and insofar as
that amount can be determined, the
county should take immediate action
for Its recovery. AS TO the amounts coll
lected and due the county hereon. I
cannot report. for the reason that | had
no data at my disposal or within my
reach from which 10 determine the
same; but | am informed that the grand
jury employed two experts to look into
the county affairs. and that these ex-
perts took up the plan OF collecting re-
ceipts. etc. issued by MIR. Johnson for
money received for this sort OF work,
and that they will he able To report at
least the larger part of this line OF
shortage.
There seems To have been another ir-
regularity in the affairs OF the record
ers office as administered by MIR. John
son. viz. that Of collecting 81 for GER
titicate Of filing, etc, In addition to the
folio charges. on each deed, mortgage,
bond for deed. etc. recorded and ac-
counting for only so cents OF such
charges on his fee book. This charge.
In my opinion. was an illegal one, AMI
therefore the county would not be en-
titled to recover thereon. However.
that il "a matter for your decision and
reference To the legal adviser OF your
county.
Mr.. Johnson's official bonds are as
follows:
First bond. In the penal sum OF 5000,
signed by Mr. johnson and James III.
Lynch and Frank Lynch as sureties
dated Nov rs, 1882. Second bond. In
sum OF S., ,O00 signed by principal and
J. 4. Murray, A. +. Bray. ]. y. Beck
and a. W. Barnard as sureties. dated
Nov. IL. 1885.
Before passing from the accounts OF
Mr.. Johnson. l feel constrained to OBJ
serve that the county auditors office
did not exercise sufficient care In audit
ing and verifying county officers re-
ports. II seems evident that little or no
scrutiny could have been given them In
the matter OF settlements, or this short
age would have been spotted at the
| lima IA. h.4 ntnnifasf ntItN af the
auditors office to see 10 II that county
officers make regular settlements with
the county treasurer for fees collected.
OF course Ii may he said that the board
OF commissioners should have had the
various sums paid Into the county y
treasury before approving and ordering
the various reports filed, and for 80 fall
ing were negligent; but In their multi
farious duties and cares. II is much
easier to excuse such neglect on theil
part than To overlook the derelictioT
of the auditing officer. who. primarily
| In charged with this duty, and especial
| ly easy IN II for the county clerk and
recorder. who acts as the clerk and
secretary of the board. to hide his owl
peculations and mislead them as To re-
ports. etc.
Having, as I believe. taken up and
disposed Of the accounts of such retired
officers. as In my judgment was OF i'm
portance. l Will now submit report on
affairs OF the present officers Of your
county. on which the examination was
made to April 1. 1887
Office OF County Clerk and Recorder
under Mr.. John Weston.
| To fees collected. January. 1883,
S5Ss. 10. To fees collected February, 1897
I az s..I tSa-
S10i. go. by cash paid treasurer, 81, 1S2. %
! General management OF the office 1,
very good. In this Office MIR. Weston
has been using an old style fee book
the same form used by his predeces-
sors. At my suggestion, this form vii
he discarded and the form OF fee book
prescribed by the state examiners sys.
tenn OF accounts put In.
Office Of Clinton c. Clark. Clerk OF tn,
District Court.
To fees collected from Jan. 1. 1897
To April l.. 1897. y2.0i3.40; by cash I,
treasurer. $2,013i0. total, $2.oi3t0.
Administration of Office Is very efii'
cient.
Office OF Mr.. =, IA. Regan, Sheriff.
To fees collected for civil business
from Jan. 1, 1897. to April l. 1897, s6y9. 80
by cash To treasurer. f6s9.s0
Books are well kept. and the genera
aspect Of the administration Of tn,
Office is good.
Office of Mr.. r. X. Kinds. County
Treasurer.
1 found all moneys belonging to tbs
county under date of April l account
ed for and kept In good. solvent banks
found also that license collection,
were being closely looked after, result
ing In a substantial increase Of revenu,
from that source. The books Of thi,
Office present a very good appearance
Office of George NJ. Allan. County
| Assessor.
Owing to the fact that fnal settle
ment for road and poor tax collection,
had not yet been made. was unabl,
to check this branch Of the assessor
Office. This settlement. I believe. is moi
due until the first Monday In December
OF each year. and while the law re
quires monthly settlements. 50 many %
the receipt books are scattered gener
ally throughout the county In the dit
ferent offices of mining and smeltinl
companies. that this is u pretty hare
matter In Silver Bow county. but inso
far as IL can he done. this monthly set
tlement should be made. However,
found that Mr.. Allan had paid into tbs
county treasury a good many Thousand
dollars on account OF these collections
As To- the matter of the assessment %
property In your county, from the list,
already In. | would estimate the assess