Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-13
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.
Ex-Auditor Nelson's Books Found in Bad
shape.

Ex-Auditor Nelson's Books Found in Bad
shape.
1t is said that IA man never gets too
old TO learn" and surely the commits
sioncrs of Brookings county must be
learning something right along. There
was considerable stir among the coun-
ty dads at their recent session when
they found that ex-Auditor Nelson
had vacated his Office, leaving his
books incomplete and unposted, thus
involving trouble for the commits
sioners and expense TO the county.
An attempt was made to bring Mr..
Nelson before the board and have him
fix up the books in proper shape, but
he failed to come to the court house as
requested, though the board remained
in session to meet him, and finding
that he had left the city they were
compelled to adjourn without receiv-
ing any satisfaction from the ex-audi-
tor. w. II. Cornell, ex-deputy auditor,
came before the board and when ques-
toned regarding the auditors neglect
to complete his work, stated that he
didn't know anything about the mat
ter. He supposed the books were all
right.
The commissioners cautioned the
county officials not to say anything
about the matter, but the chairman,
Donohoe, is reported to have given
the matter to friend in confidence
and soon it was the talk Of the town.
Knowing how often rumors become
exaggerated the REGISTER sent rep
resentative to get the facts in the
case, which as near as can be learned
by hasty glance through the audi
tors books, are as follows:
The original tax list for 1898 is very
incomplete. In this book record Of
the taxable lands and town lots are
kept, along with the valuation and an
apportionment Of the taxes to the diff
ferent funds. This is called tax ex-
tention. The valuation or extention
is not entered for seven of the town.
ships, and the town lots are not enter
ed at all. The "Bond Record" Ia
which should appear the names of the
township officers who are required to
give bonds should be entered along
with the amount Of the bond and
name Of bondsmen, has not been kept
since 1895. The Warrant Register"
which should contain list of all
county warrants issued by the COM
missioners-th fund from which the
money was taken-and to whom the
warrant was issued, is incomplete. No
warrants having been entered since
January /, 1899, and for many months
the number of warrant and to whom
issued has been left blank.
| But the worst feature of the whole
business was the disclosure made In
examining the Miscellaneous Ledger
Accounts" in which should have been
kept an accurate account between the
school book supply houses and the
county repositories. No entries have
been made in this register since Sept.
30, 1897, neither of the amount Of
books purchased from the wholesale
dealers nor In the individual accounts
with the county repositories.
There can be no excuse for such
negligence. Brookings county fur
nished the auditors office with COM
petent deputy and the duties were not
so arduous as to furnish any reason
for such slack way of conducting the
affairs entrusted to his care. Mr.. Mel
son was competent and capable and
this makes the state Of affairs SO
much worse.