Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-02-21
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.
TERRITORIAL TRAVELLING AUD
ITOk.

Ilth.
Hon. James,. Duncan has introduced a
bill in the council which provides for the
appointment of a territorial travelling
auditor of public accounts, who shall re-
ceive a salary of 81, 900 per annum. The
measure provides that the governor is
authorized to appoint a suitable person
who shall be u skilled accountant to the
position of travelling auditor who shall
serve for two years: he shall give Il
bond in the sum OF S5 5000 for the faith
full discharge of his duties; he shall
maintain his Office at the territorial
capitol, in that of the auditor of public
accounts. Salary is made payable month
ly; one-half of which amount must be
paid by the territory, and the other one
half by the several counties as follows:
Bernalillo and San Miguel counties
shall each pay $3.50, Santa Fe, Socorro,
Dona Ana, Grant and ColfaX, each, 500:
Rio Arriba, Taos, Mora, Chaves, Eddy,
Lincoln, Sierra and Valencia. shall each
pay $15:/Union. San Juan. Guadalupe
and Otero, shall each pay S25, which
amounts shall be paid by the respective
counties to the territorial treasurer by
Ullt COlilbN u tilSllt u VI futH CoulibN -oH
or before the first day Of July in each
year, out of the county general fund.
In addition to his salary, the travelling
auditor shall be allowed, his actual nee
essary travelling expenses incurred in
attending to his official duties, such
allowances to be made upon his affidavit
that they were so incurred. and sup
ported by vouchers for expenditures,
provided, that in no event shall such
travelling expenses exceed the sum of
Sl 900 per annllm.
1t shall be his duty to personally visit
each county seat in the territory, at
least once in each year and oftener if
necessary, or on the request of the
board of county commissioners or direc-
ton of the governor. 1t shall be his
duty to adopt and prescribe a simple
and uniform system of keeping accounts
in the several counties of the different
officers; he shall examine and audit the
several accounts of the different officers
and report to the county commissioners
in writing the result with his recon-
mendations in reference to the same;
and it shall be the duty of the county
commissioners and of the several county
officers to conform their several ac-
counts, methods of bookkeeping and
making reports to the recommendations
made by the said travelling auditor; and
it shall be his special duty to examine
into and report to the governor in writ
ing, the character and amount of all
outstanding bonds of each county, the
time and law under which the same
were issued, when by their terms due.
rate of interest and the steps that are
taken to provide for the payment of the
also, to so examine and report
upon all outstanding warrants, open ac-
counts or other evidences of debt
against the several counties.
In his report ne shall also state the as
sessed value of each county for taxation,
the amount of levy of taxes made in
and for what purpose, the char
acter and condition of the public prop
erty, and such other information with
to the fiscal affairs of the county,
us he may deem necessary for the infOr-
nation of the governor. 1t shall also
be his duty to consult with and advise
county officers, with reference to the
OF assessing property and levy
ing and collecting the territorial and
tax thereon,
1t shall be the duty of the county
commissioners and other county officers
20 assist the travelling auditor in his
iuties as prescribed in section 3, and to
lllow him full and free inspection of all
records, books, papers and documents
pertaining to their respective counties,
IND any person holding a county Office
Who shall obstruct or interfere with the
performance of such duties or fail in
my ann to assist him in the.same as
in this act, or shall refuse to
lllow him to examine the books, records,
and documents pertaining to said
Df1lce, shall be deemed guilty of mis-
earsance in Office, and may be sumarily
'emoved therefrom and fined in any sum
lot exceeding $500 in the discretion of
he judge hearing the complaint against
aid officer.
When not actually engaged in his du-
les in making examination of the sew
raj counties, or preparing his report
hereon, the travelling auditor shall as
list the auditor of public accounts in his
f1icial duties in such manner as the
uditor of public accounts may desire,
nd require him to perform when the !
lme will not interfere with his special :
as herein provided. =
The council adjourned until 10 o'clock c
morning. /
. Il = n