The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-03-02
5 80 COS $50 90

We. the undersigned Addition, OF the tOun-
" OF somerset in the Commonwealth Of
Pennsylvania. do certify that in pursuance OF
the 9Th section OF the Act entitled. ." An Act
Relating 10 Counties, Townships. etc passed
the 10Th day OF April, 1881. we met at the seat
OF justice in the county OF Somerset on the Sd
day OF January. A d., 1925, and afier being
duly sworn, did audit. adjust and settle the
several accounts required by law. agreeably 20
the several Acts OF Assembly, and The snpple-
ments thereto. according 10 the best of our
Judgment. ability and knowledge, and the
foregoing l. "A true and correct statement OF
the following accounts respectively:
LIST. William Winters Esq. Treasurer %
the County ofSomerset with the said County
OF Somerset
2d. Henry F. Barron Esq. Prothonotary
and Clerk OF the Courts Of the County Of som
ersCt with the said County OF Somerset.
81. Martin II HaTtzell, Esq sheriff OF the
County Of Somerset with the said County Of
Somerset
attn. George F. RimmcII. County Commits
sioner OF the County OF Somerset with the
said County 4 Somerset.
5th. Gabriel Good, County Commissioner
of the County of Somerset with the said COun-
u OF Somerset.
9th. T. A. Kretchman, County Commits
sioner Of the County OF Somerset with the
said County OF Somerset.
An for the year ending January 3. 1855.
And we further certify that we ind a bal
ance due the County Treasurer. William Win
ters, E-q., OF nine thousand. forty-seven dol
lars and fifty-six cents, sa,047.55
We further certify that each OF said officers
named above were duly summoned to appear
before the Auditors, and they did appear be-
fore rs and produced their books, vouchers,
orders, bills and papers, etc
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF. we have hernun-
TO set our hands and affixed our seals, this 4th
day OF February. A. ID lssS.
PETER SIPE- SEAL
JEREMIAH RHOADS, lsEALl
Attest
A J. HnENAN.
Clerk
Before concluding our report, we deem
il our duty to interp0se objections TO the
system of bookkeeping practiced in the
office of the County Commissioners.
whereby large sums Of the county funds
are careleSsly. ii not illegally, drawn
from the county treasury. II is manifestly
the duty Of the commissioners of the
county to draw orders on the county
treasury for every cent expended, and
not 10 withdraw funds from the treasury
upon the mere presentation Of bills or ac-
counts stamped Approved by the Coun-
ty Comm 'ssioners." We are of the opin-
ion that the practice has resulted in great
injustice in the past, and it is unnecessary
to point out the fearful consequences it
may have in store for the Taxpayers Ofthe
county if longer continued.
Objection is interpOsed TO issuing orders
from two or three different sources, " hich
Of itself must be regarded as unsafe bust
those charged with auditing tha same.
Objection is interpOsed to issuing oOun-
ty orders bearing interest. which we be
lieye has been done without warrant of
law and 10 the prejudice of the taxpayers
of the county.
Objection is interpOsed to the manner
in which the minute book, in the Office
of the County Commissioners, is kept. Ii
is farcieal and unbusineSSlike to make
a minnie Of the fact that the commission
ers met on Monday and adjourned on
Saturday. without giving the names of
the commissioners present. and full ac-
count of the public business transacted
by them eaeh day they were in session.
Serious objection Is interpnsed 10 isSu-
ing orders on the county treasury for
services rendered by county commission
ers and their employees before the same
have been furnished, as Il Is against pub
lie policy and without warrant Of law.
Objection Is interpoSed to drawing war
rants upon the county treasury upon pre-
sentatiOn Of unitemized hills.
Objection i interpOsed TO letting public
contracts in secret without public notice.
as We believe il Ia be prejIdicial TO the
best interests Of the taxpayers.
Objection j. iDterpOseG tn the granting
Of rebates upon taxes properly and legal
ly assessed. without due notice. a. the
same Is without warrant Of law. and can
only be done in the interest of favored
parties.
And we further certify and find that
there is a balance due the County Of Som
efset frofn ex-County Commissioner
Henry +. Barnett and $. Z. Shoter O
$500 90. amount disallowed on order No
$50 Of lS96. and was issued in part paw
ment for metallic file cases for the Pro-
tbonetary's Office II has not been made
10 appear that there was any public necr s.
~ a. frar ca amt a
County funds at thai time; whereas