The age-herald., 1898-10-13
REPORT ON BOOKS
 OF FELL GASTON Office of Buffers Probate Judge Exam
 Ined by Mr. COWan. PAPERS IN GOOD CONDITION Some Fees Which Were Overlooked Promptly Collected and Paid. BuRNETT's RACE FuR CONGRESS The Governor is Confident That He Will Be Elected and is Max
 ing Speeches in His
 Behalf.
PAPERS IN GOOD CONDITION
BuRNE1T's RACE FuR CONGRESS

Montgomery, Ala, october 12-(Special.)- Assistant Examiner Cowan has made the following report upon the office of Zell Cas- ton, probate judge of Butler county, to the governor:
 "I have completed my examination of the office of Zell Gaston, probate judge of But Ter county, and l respectfully submit the following report. My examination em- braced the time between November, 1892, and October, 1898, covering his entire encum- bency in office.
 Licenses
 "I have compared his license reports with the license records in his office and checked his vouchers, and find he has reported all issued and paid the proceeds into the treas ury. By an act passed and approved in February, 1885, the license for retail liquor dealers was advanced 1925 per annum. This made the cost of such license $2G0 in towns the size of Greenville. l find that on July Il, of that year. Judge Gaston issued H. cense for retailing liquors to one J- h. Whittle for the remainder of the year. ana only collected SS7.50, when under the law ne should have collected $l00 Judge Gaston Is. therefore, liable to the state for $l2.oO. Up- on caliing his attention to this matter he admitted the oversight, called upon the party, collected the amount and is ready to pay the same into the treasury simui- taneously with the filing of this report Not having collected the amount at the time, I have not deemed it advisable to charge him with any interest
 Corporations
 By an act of the legislature, passed and approved in February, 1893, al corporations organized under the laws of the state be- fore the certificate of iQcOrDOrat1On WaS issued to them were required to pay to the probate judgee corporation fee. This ice was graded according to the capital stock of such corporations. Judge Gaston over looked this law and issued certificates Of incorporation to three concerns without collecting these fees This makes him lia- ble to the state for the following:
 Stener Land and Lumber company.-$ 75 co The Trade company. ........-------- 70 00 Butler County Exposition company.... 20 UO TotaI. ............. .s125 % Upon calling his attention to this mat ter, he Immediately collected these fees and stands ready to pay them into the treasury when this report is filed. Judge Gaston states in reference to this matter that his attention had never before been called to this requirement of the law; that able and careful attorneys had prepared these articles of incorporation, and that he was under the impression that the law had been fuly complleu Wltn, ana that the failure to collect these fees was due to an oversight on his part. Not having collect ed these fees, have not charged him with any interest on the same.
 Land R Redemptions
 "I have carefully checked and compared his reports of land redemptions with the entries on the land book in his office, and find he has reported all redeemed and holds vouchers from the treasurer for the pro- ceeds find that at times he was a little tardy in making these remittances prompt ly but notice he has never deducted any commissions on the amounts collected, the state receiving the entire amount.
 County Court Docket
 'T find the county court docket in good condition. During his administration find that considerable amounts of board bills refunded, on account of defendants who were convicted and confessed judgment for the fines and costs have been collected and paid into the treasury. By an act of the legislature passed and approved in Febru- ary, 1893, the clerk of the probate court of this county was made the clerk of the county court, receiving the same compensa- tion. for like services as the clerk of the circuit court.
 INT. T. F. Owen occupies this position,