The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1899-09-22
Report of Commissioners.

III OF. TfhNcts At4tnh toGft- CrFtTA~~t
term. 1885. His Honor, II. y Hutton
Judge
The Undersigned, BY your honor sp
pointed commissioners o. accounts. Be.
leave TO present tile following as their re
port. to-wit:
We met az the oetee OF the clerk OF th.
circuit court on the date fxed by law and
proceeded with the duties required 0f u
We End that all revenue, fines. etc :.
due TO tiie county have been paid over by
The Officer responsible for the same and
that the proper vouchers and receipts
therefor are on file.
There was an error discovered in the
collectors settlement for taxes on persona
property, but the collector when Notified
OF the same. paid over the amount prompt.
ly and cheerfuIly.
We have examined The allowances made
by the county court, for the two past
quarters. and fnd that the judge has
been careful and economical in the con-
duet Of the couniy's affairs, but In order
TO meet all the county expenses he has
found IL necessary on several occasions to
Issue county warrants at 50 per cent OF
their face value. Tie supreme court has
been invoked upon more occasions than
one in regard TO this matter. and in III
last decision in that behalf that court
used the following language:
lit may have been ditfcult for tie
sheriff to procure guards and feed
them at ordinary money charges, when
the county, owing to its financial condi-
ton, could not meet its current expenses.
otherwise thereby the issuance OF drpre-
ciaied scrip. but the enlargement of al
Iowances on account OF such depreciation
enhances the evil, is ruinous public pol
icy. and forbidden by law All who
serve the public must receive such com.
pensation for their services as the Law
provides -
We find in the two cases Of the state OF
Arkansas VS.. wm. Dickert and the state
of Arkansas VS.. Bill Gossett, taken b,
change OF venue to Lee county. that the
costs aggregated the unreasonable amount
OF sf2o0. We do not attach any blame OF
c.nsure to any official, connected with
this matter but this sum was certainly
Out OF all proportion to the magnitude OF
the offense charged. ON the value OF the
property involved, and we call attention
TO the matter In order that the general
public may take notice OF the matter, and
that all Iaw-abiding citizens may lend
helping hand in preventing repetition OF
such things.
Uuuef The provisions OF act No. lis OF
the legislature OF 1892. 1t is made the dut,
Of these commissioners to examine al
school warrants presented for cancellation
by the treasurer. In the Performance OF
that duty we find that considerable sun
OF money has passed out OF the treasur,
OF the several school districts Of the count,
for expenditures not warranted by law
but II appears that 1t occurred through
ignorance of the law aud not from crmi-
nal intent,
1t is also made the duty OF these com
missioners under this act TO compare al
county warrants, and district school wal
rants, turned in by the treasurer in his
annual settlement with the orders of al
lowance made and entered of record, an,
then in conjunction with the county judg,
to burn the same. We found these war
rants to correspond exactly with the rec
ord, and then In accordance with the Law
destroyed them, We believe, however
the law referred to requires the destruci
ion OF these warrants prematurely. Al
some Of them were not yet sixty days OLD,
and In case Of fraud in school warrant,
the strongest evidence Is thus put out tn,
way. The act referred to requires lis
of the school warrants and county war
rants thus exomined aud destroyed to b.
attached to this report, but said list bein.
long and tedious to make, and the sam
being duly recorced I'm Record Book A o,
county warrants and school warrants, can
celed. on pages So to IS both inclusive
we have referred to the same and ask tina
IL be taken in lieu of said list.
We have been engaged In our dutie,
seven days. In closing we desire to r.,
turn thanks to all officers with whom ",
had business, for prompt and courteou.
responses.
All of which is respectfully submitted
Il, q. FITZPATRICK,
sT. J, DAVIS,