Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-21
HOT SPRINGS SOUTH DAKOTA, FRIDAY OCTOBER II, 1885,

HOT ,SPE
tor, hence in April, 1895, the board en-
tered into an agreement with the audi
tor to pay him cash salary Of $50 lin
warrants on the special sinking fund)
the auditor agreeing to pay ::his own
postage bills and to make no claim for
fees for certificates. This system has
been in operation since that time, and
as shown by the comparative statement
submitted herewith, has saved the
county annually over $50. The net
salary Of the auditor under this sye-
tenn is about equal to that realized un-
der the old plan, but as before stated
and as can be plainly seen, it costs the
county great deal less per annum.
A comparative statement of the cost
of maintenance of the county audito RS
office, including auditors salary and
clerk hire for the past seven years,
carefully compiled from the county re-
cords will perhaps suffice to prove
that the present system is saving to
the taxpayers of the county. Begin
ing with March /, 1892 (the auditors
term begins in March) the record is as
follows:
For the year ending March l,
Ao0o. .cAOSo IL
For the year ending March l,
1894. Observation-Disclosures. 1867 20
For the year ending March 1,
1895. Observation-Disclosures. 1899 70
For the year ending March /,
1896 (under present plan) 900. 1856 50
For the year ending March 1,
1897 7....................... 14s9 Is
For the year ending March l,
1898 first year of present au-
ditor) ....................... 1899 SO
From March l, 1893, to October
l. s736, Tor at the same ratio
for entire year. 1862 90
The average annual expense of the
office for auditors salary and clerk
hire since the present system has been
in vogue has been $l351.OO, while prior
to that time it was sl665. 90 or a saving
of s3l4.OO per annum by the present
plan. The saving to the county is
really more than this, for the auditor
pays about S5 per month for postage,
out of his own pocket, which wa, not
done previous to the present plan. In
other words this is an additional saw
ing to the county of $50 per annum, OF
a total of s374 over the old system.
am asked "under what law do you
hire deputy?"
II there were no law at all bearing
on this question it would of course be
within the province of the
board of county commissioners to
employ assistance for the auditor il it
was deemed necessary for the prompt
and accurate dispatch of business, but
the compiled laws of 1887 make provis-
ion for the employment Of help as
does section 2 of chapter AZ of the ses-
sion LAWS of 1897, which provides that
if in the judgement of the county COM
missioners it shall be deemed neces.
sary for the prompt and accurate dis
patch of business in the Office Of coun-
ty auditor that deputies or clerks be
employed therein, they shall Ak the
number of clerks to be employed and
the compensation they shall receive.
Any one familiar with the work of the
auditors Office in this county knows
that it is actually necessary for the au-
ditor to have assistance at least two or
three months each year on tax lists
which are in duplicate and comprise
four large volumes OF $40 double pages
each, and in equalizing. the assess
], ments of the county. This must
necessarily be done promptly and &C.
curately, and novice in the work
would likely be seriously embarrassed.
might add in connection with this
question of the employment of assis-
tance that while help can be employed
at from $50 to $40 per month when
paid in special sinking fund warrants,
it would cost the county from $50 to
$50 per month if paid in general fund
warrants. Thus by paying in this
manner, the Taxpayers are saved from
$50 to $40 per month.
s.M#
The facts and figures herewith given
certainly make it clearly apparent to
any reasoning, intelligent and fair.
minded person that the present policy
of conducting the auditors office is
cheaper for the county and admitted
~ more satisfactory to the auditor,
and whoever may be elected as auditor
would not make himself SO ridiculous
as to declare that he would prefer to re-
turn to the old policy, thereby making
it much more expensive for the coun-
ty and less satisfactory to that officer.