The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-16

NNt. the uu0tIci2utu 4AuQllOI> OF the Otltl-
" Of Somerset. in the Commonwealth OF
Pennsylvania, do certify that in pursuance OF
the Eth section Of the Act entitled. AN Act
Relating 10 Counties. Townships. etc passed
OF justice in the county Of Somerset on the "A
day OF January, a D., ls9S and after being
duly sworn, did audit. adjust and settle the
several accounts required by law. agreeably To
the several 4 cts of Assembly, and the snpple-
ments thereto according To the best OF our
judgment. ability and knowledge. and the
! foregoing Is a true and correct statement Of
the following accounts respectively:
lst. William Winters. Esq. Treasurer Of
the County of Somerset with the said County
OF Somerset
2d. Henry F. Barron ESD Proihonotary
and Clerk Ofthe Courts OF the County OF Som
erset with the said County Of Somerset.
Sd. Martin ii HarTzell. Esq sheriff OF the
County OF Somerset with the said County OF
Somerset
4ih George F. Kimmell. County Commits
sioner OF the County OF Somerset with the
said County II Somerset.
5ih. Gabriel Good, County Commissioner
o. the County of Somerset with the said Coun-
6th. L. A. Kretchman. County Commits
sioner OF the County OF Somerset with the
said County OF Somerset
All for the year ending January 3. iSiS.
And we further certify that we ind a bal
ancc due the County Treasurer. William Win
ters, E-G, Of nine thousand. forty-seyen dol
lars and Efty-siN cents, 'Si,0f7.jS
We further certify that each Of said officers
named above were duly summoned TO appear
before the Auditors, and they did appear be-
fore us and produced their books VOUCHERS
orders. bills and papers, etc
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF. we have herauu-
to set our hands and affixed our seals, this ith
day OF February. A. ID iSfS.
II J. BOWMAN, lSRAL1
PETER SIPE. SEAL
JEREMIAH RHOADs. SEAL
A ]. HrLEMAS,
Clerk.
Before concluding our report, we deem
il onr duty to interpose objections to the
system OF bookkeeping pracsieed in the
Office Of the County Commissioners.
whereby large sums Of the county funds
are careleSsly, If not illegally, drawn
from the county treasury. II is manifesily
the duty Of the commissioners of the
county to draw orders on the county
treasury for every cent expended, aud
not 10 withdraw funds from the treasury
upon the mere presentation of bills or ac-
counts stamped " Approved by the Couu-
ty Commissioners" We are Of the oDin-
ion that the practice has resulted i'm great
injustice in the past, and 1t is unnecessary
to point out the fearful consequences It
may have in store for the taxpayers of the
county If longer continued.
Objection is interpOsed to issuing orders
from two or three different sources, " hich
of itself must be regarded as unsafe busi-
ness methods, as we'll as confusing to
those charged with auditing the same.
Objection is interpOsed to issuing coun-
~ orders bearing interest, which we be-
lieve has been done without warrant of
law and to 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. IL
is farcical and unbusinesslike to make
a minute Of the fact that the commission
Saturday, without giving the names Of
the commissioners present, and full ac-
count of the public business transacted
by them each day they were in session.
Serious objection is interpOsed 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 it is against pub
lie policy and without warrant of law.
objection j. interposed 10 drawing war
rants upon the county treasury upon pre-
sentatiOn Of unitemized bills.
Objection is interposed 70 letting public
contracts In secret without public notice.
as We believe il u be prejudicial 10 the
best interests OF the taxpayers.
Objection is interposed u the granting
Of rebates npon taxes properly and legal
ly assessed. without due notice, as the
same is without warrant of law. and can
only be done in the interest Of favored
parties
Aud we further certify and find that
there is a balance due the County Of SOM
erSet from ex-County Commissioner
Henry +. Barnett ard S. u. Shober o /
500 90. amount disallOwed on order No |
$50 of lSg6. and was issued in Tart ray (
ment for metallic file cases for the Pro- !
thonotary's office. II has not been made
TO apDear that there was any public nee, q !
sity for sGeh extravagant expenditure of
County funds at thai time; whereas it