The Forrest City times., 1899-03-24
Commissioners Report.
In st. Francis Circuit Court.
March Term. 1899.


In St. Francis Circuit Court.
March Term. 1899.
To his honor. II. n. Hutton, judge -
The undersg ed by your honor appointed
commissioners of accounts. beg leave to pre-
sent the following as their report, to the pres
ert term of court:
We have made examination Of the alIowan-
ces and expenditures made by the county
court during the two quarters last past and
find that economy has prevailed IN the man.
agement OF the county's affairs. as q general
rule. In few instances accounts have been
allowed for articles of various kinds which
were not sufficiently explicit. and the use to
be made of the articles bought could only be
surmised from the fund from which the pay
was drawn.
In the case OF the State VS. willbite. the
county judge allowed the claims OF the officers
for fees in the committing court. but refused
TO allow the claims of witnesses, most of
whom came from smother county. and the
papers in the case and the county court record
fail to show any reason for this apparent dis
elimination.
We find the accounts OF most of The consta-
bles of the county in their usual condition,
unbalanced. 1t is not the custom of those
officers to make settlement with the county
court quarterly. as the law requires. but the
most of them wait until the opening of circuit
court and then pay over the fines in their
hands, at time when the clerk is pressed by
the duties of the court. aud has not the time
to balance and adjust their accounts.
1t seems from the reports of the constables.
in regard TO persons convicted of ofrenses
and hired out for their fines. that this hireing
out process in this county is n farce as moth
ing ever appears to be collected aud their re-
ports fail to show why nothing is collected.
They ask credit for fines charged to them
against such persons and simply say they
were "hired out"
The retiring county judge in his report to
the county levying court last October. in re-
fering to the jail, recommended certain sani-
tary work to be done, estimating the neces-
sary expense at from $1,000 to $1,000. Atthe
suggestion OF the present judge we examined
the jail and the work he has done there, and
II is our opinion that with vigilant official
in charge of the Jail it is now quite sufficient
to keep any prisoner securely. The sanitary
arrangements are rs nearly perfect as they
can be made in an institution of that kind,
and that if a vigorous and frequent use of the
white wash brush and other means of disin-
fecting be employed. there will he no danger
for the health of the prisoners or anyone else.
The total cost of these repairs was about ESQ.
In this connection we will make this sugges-
ton. The county EMPLOYS janitor at the
court house at a salary of SIS per month. and
his time is not entirely occupied. II a proper
addition were made to his compensation be
oil ha m off ha tail
and. under the direction of the jailor keep
that institution absolutely clean and health
fu.
We find that the county has paid something
near 300 for pictures during the past year.
for the court house. In view of the fact that
the county enjoys the burdensome distinction
of paying the highest county tax rate OF any
county in the state, and that the operation of
amendment No. TO the constitution had to
be fores,alled in order to raise bridge fund,
your commissioners believe it would have
been economy TO defer this expense.
We find that while o. f. Hambleton the re.
firing treasurer made proper settlement of
his accounts. and payed over all balances to
his successor, that said settlement has not
been presented to the court or spread upon
the record.
We again call attention to the fact that the
requirements of Sec. 1868 Of the statute are
totally ignored and dsregarded by ali county
officers. Your commissioners do not wish to
be understood as suggesting that the severe
and sweeping penalty, provided by this stat
ute should be visited upon anyone, but the
makers of our organic law had u purpose in
view, which this statute WAS made to carry
out. That purpose was that the public might
known just what compensation is being paid
to public servants. An examination of the
acts of legislature will disclose the fact that
our commonwealth presents the anomalous
spectacle of paying to county officials in some
localities about four times what Is paid for
identically the same service in others.
In closing our report we desire to express
our thanks to all the officials with whom we
have had to do for courteous atten ton.
Respectfully submitted,
TT. DAVIS,
THos. o. FITZPATRICK,