The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-04-09

ment III the appearance Of the Office /,
apparent. So far as we can tell from
the cnrsory examination made, every.
thing is ia good shape.
County Treasurer.-Wc fi.d that j
W. SteStns the fOrmer treasurer OF IN.
0aiit Y. - ls.itiId in his accounts wuI
he e~uny, NJ follows: County school
und Sol lS.C3, and The various COUNTY
funds, S45sS.2l or a total of $l2. 69S. 81
The most of these funds, il seems
were IN the Merchants National bank
al the date OF its suspension. The sc
funds stand in two accounts, one of j
w. stevens, county treasurer, and the
other ia the name of the board of pub.
lie instruction of Marion county. The
account of the treasurer, deductinp
the funds TO his credit in the defuncf
bank, show discrepancy of $2l3.l2.
which he seems to not be able to give
any explanation of, claiming that the
| discrepancy between his account and
the account charged him by the audi
tor has been running for year or
more, yet no effort has been made To
| correct it.
The facts presented to US show that
Mr. Stevens could not, or did not. At
| tend TO the duties of his office person.
ally, but that he farmed the treasury
out to the Merchants National bank
whose officers manipulated matters in
an INSCRIPTIONS way TO suit themselves
one OF his accounts being ia the name
oil the school board, for which there is
no authority, and which fact Mr.. Stew
ems claims he knew nothing of.
The item of $4,000 borrowed from
the state treasurer and placed to the
credit Of the school board, seems spec
tally to have been used by this bank
IN manner never contemplated by
anyone,
Steps should be taken To collect this
shortage from the treasurer and his
bondsmen, so that the county may as
certain the amount of its loss. We
recommend that not more than sixty
days be given in which the treasurer
may adjust this account, and if not
paid, then SUIT be instituted for its
recovery. The loss of these funds is
directly attributable 10 the negligence
of the treasurer, the county commits
siOners and the school board.
We have examined the books Of 4.
r. Griffin, the present treasurer, and
find them neatly kept. There being
no place provided for the safe keeping
of the county's money, We recommend
that the commissioners at once pro-
cure fire proof safe or vault, place it
in the court house and require the
funds to be kept therein. This will
make the treasurer responsible, should
his accounts be short. without the us
nal excuse that some one else had the
funds in custody.
Tax Collector The auditors books
show that the collector is due bal
ance of $4l46. 81 on the assessment of
1894. He claims to have n certificate
Of deposit in>the defunct First Nation
al bank of Ocala for this amount,
showing that the funds were deposited
there when that bank suspended. He
also claims to have had a deposit for the
state tax at the same time. and that he
is applying to the legislature for re-
lief at its next session. This matter
has been allowed to drag along unne-
cessarily, and should have been closed
up in some way before this. Ii the
amount is going to be allowed Mr.
Poser, 1t should have been done al
ready; if not, the funds should have
been collected, and the county had the
use of The money.
We find that the books show bal
ance due on the taxes of 1895 of $751;
600 40, and that the books were closed
in October, 1896, the sales for delin-
quent taxes having been made i'll the
months of November AMI December,
1895, yet no settlement has been made,
and the account closed up. Against
this apporent discrepancy the coilec
tor is entitled To various credits. in
Guiding sales to state, double assess
emnts, railroad tax, ins0lvencies, ETC.,
settlement should have been made be-
fore this. and We trust that, in fu-
ture, the business of his Office will be
expedited, and settlements made at
the proper time. The 1896 taxes sire
not in such shape, owing TO the fact
that the books were turned over to the
collector in February, 1897. which has
not given time for collections to be
made IN sufficient amount to be report
ed upon.
County Commissioners find
that the board has not been as dilIgent
as they should have been in looking
after the affairs placed in their charge.
The collectors accounts for 1894 should
not have been allowed to stand so long
without an adjustment; the final set
element for 1895 taxes should have
been made before this. aud We consider
the board remiss in their duties in not
keeping MP closely with these matters.
We call their attention 10 the fact that
it is their duty to keep check contin-
uously. on all the officials of the county,
especially so as to those charged with
collecting and disbursing the finances.
We urge them, in future TO have all
moneys paid over promptly when col
lected. and to supervise closely the ac-
counts of the collected and treasurer,
and see that the funds are in the pro-
per condition, as required by law, for
use by the county as they are collected.
The extraordinary powers possessei
by the board Of commissioners make II
a matter of grave Importance to tax
PAYERS as TO who fills the position.
And, as experience has demonstrated
that one political party is check on
the o-her, we do not think it good
policy for any one party to have too
great power for any length of time.
Therefore, in appointing county COM
missioners, we strongly urge upon the
Governor that he appoint at least one
representative of each political party
on the board. feeling that a non-parti-
san board will more zeal0usly guard