The age-herald., 1898-04-01
10 H0RTH TWENTIETH STREET !

scribing of certain maps from the old worn- out map records 1 and 2, in said probate courh onto new records. This report is untrue. and is circulated no doubt by zealous par'tisanS not informed as to the facts The facts in regard to the transcrib- ing and recording of these maps are simply as follows:
 The laws governing the matter, as set out in section 790, Code of 1896, and in sec- tfon 1866. Code of 1896, Is as follows: s.s966 Q9W, (96D, GAO. Recopy of Books.2The judge of probate of probate, deeming tt necessary to reeopy rebind any books in his office, fin order to secure their con- tents from damage or loss must submit the same to the examination of the court of county commissioners, which, if 1t deems such rebinddng recopy necessary, must, upon dts minutes, order the same to be made and the judge of probate must make the same in good and substantial books of binding, and such court must allow him reasonable compensation therefor" l AS directed by said section, the comms- sioners' court of this county made an or l der, ordering me as judge of probate, to recopy these maps onto these new records After this order was made by the commls- sioners' court I asked MT. J. F. Stiles if had g. clerk working for me in the office who could record these maps on to these new records He replied that did not have a CleTk 1 SoulQ SI]af6 IIOul ihS Otliti uuutSo to do this work. I then instructed him to employ some competent person to do that work; and instead of agreeing to pay such person a stipulated monthly salary to make contract with him that such person was to receive for such work two-thirds o6 whatever compensation should be allowed me for the same by the commissioners court. and George w Chambers was ern- ployed by me to do the work With Vha@ understanding and agreement.
 Acts 1888 and 1889, page 55. provides that the cornpensation to the judge Of probate for recording maps Is 15 cents for eacn hundred words and cents for each lot contained therein.
 That the account rendered by me to the comm6ssioners court and sworn to py George w. Chambers. who did this work. showed that thens were 42S73 lots on saAd map and at cents per lot the amount quo me would be $a143.65; and this. without charging anything for lettering, as allowed by the statute.
 The commissioners court allowed ana paid to me for this work the sum of $l, ,sco. r nasS to MT. Chambers for his services the sum of s1,20o as agreed. MT. J. T. Stiles had no connection with this matter except as above stated, and received no manner of benefit therefron.
 T desire further to state that had I re- ouested 1t, and the commissioners court had allowed the statutory compensation Ior recording maps, the amount would have been more than g. 3Oo
 The probate office is sustained by pees and the compensation to the judge Of pro hate consists in the difference between the nrices paid by him for the doing of the work and the fees allowed him by law.
 The probate judge Is responsible, upon his official bond, for all damages arising from mistakes and errors made on work in his office by all parties employed by ham including the recording and transcribing of deeds and maps.
 This March 3l, 1898
 Respectfully submitted,
 M T. PORTER. The statement as to the contract or agreement between Judge Porter and my self as herein set out as true. and he paso me as per contract
 G. W. CHAMBERS.