The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-01-06

II due regard is had to economy and the de-
sire To properly administer the office on bust.
ness principles, there surely can be - reduc-
tion Of the number Of clerks in this office.
and the reduction Of the compensation of
some Of these clerks.
salary Of $1,000 per month for ty Dewriter
is rather cStryagant, and the servi aes rem
/ uercd by other clerks does not requirc tn, il
lime continually in any of the special duties
for which they are set apart.
The assigning Of one clerk as Docket Clerk.
whose services are principally confined to the
various terms Of Criminal Court, continuing
at the highest twelve weeks each wear. is
surely not necessary, when, in fact with two
other clerks, one from the Controller office
aHd the other from the District Attorneys
Office, and assisted also by representative of
the sheriff office, the administra ion of this
branch of the work would permit of much
change IN order to be economically and wisely
managed.
The salaries of all clerks are higher than
those paid for similar work not done under
public administration.
CONTROLLERS OFFICE.
While upon the proper administration of
the Controllers Office depends the iudicious
expenditure of the county funds, if the
work Is to be participated in by the Control
Ter himself there is no need of two deputies
and one clerk, drawing the salaries as fol.
lows:
lN....
Second Deputy. ,... 900 40
IlerR''....''.. ..... .......... 900 %
Making a total of $1,000 for salaries in this
Office alone
The remarks referring to the Clerk as
signed to Docket room by Commissioners. re-
lers equally tothe clerk in this office assigned
to similar duty, and the salaries are equally
eXtrayagant in all positions.
TREAsURER's OFFICE.
In, 4
clerk was employed in addition to the Treas.
urer himself In 1897 the Treasurer has two
assistants, drawing salaries as follows:
900 90
DeputN'.'... 500 90
Clerk. ....... g0O 90
s7,loO 90
If the Treasurer himself should attend to
any of the work in the office, but one as
sistant a deputy, should be able to fully ad-
minister the work to the satisfaction of the
public.
REGISTERS OFFICE.
In other offices unnecessary and additional
clerks have been assigned, to wit, in the
Clerk of the Courts Office Registers office.
Recorders Office, aud the District Attorneys
Office. The officials, elected and paid
salaries to do the work, should be expected
to GO some OF the work. In these offices the
work has not increased in extent to require
u. !
some cases the compensation is also too large
whether 1t is advisable for any of the clerks
or court officials to draw one salary in regular
work, and another for work in the Contest
Court we cannot say, hut surely one man
cannot properly perform his duties in two
different places at the same time
When the six of the present salary list is
considered, and that its amount is more than
ohe-thlrd OF the entire revenue of the county
from taxes, there need be no excuse In call
ing your attention to this branch of the
county's work, aud which is entirely in your
power to prevent extravaganza.
SAVING IN PRINTING.
In the question of printing and furnishing
supplies for the county offices, if these re-
questions were made and bids received for
the work at one time, in the amounts that
are usually known to he wanted, great
saving could be affected In nearly every
instance these acquisitions would be far
amounts over 500 and even if under this
amount, competitive bidding would greatly
reduce the coarges. The amount paid for
this work each year is very large If it is
advisable to receive bids for coal, why not for |
printing stationery and binding, as well as
Office supplies.
There is another point that might be men
toned without interfering with your duties
and that is the keeping of all public offices |
open continuously from say 8 o'clock in the |
morning until o'clock in the afternoon !
With the force Of clerks employed there
should be no trouble in so arranging the
work. There is no reason why the employees
of the county should not render services for
that length Of time each day. 1t would |
surely give the public the benefit of their
work FOR which they pay, and in any other
class of work this would be expected
Trusting that these recommendations may
be considered as being only for the benefit of |
the taxpayers of the county, and brought to |
your attention alone for the purpose of in |
ere ising the efficiency Of the work done in |
the county Offices, | remain, Yours very truly, |
VIM. l.. SHEAFER,
Executive Officer.