The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-10-22

COUNTY
RECORDS
Division of Sentiment
Regarding 1t.
Judge Scott Defends His Plan
TO Have the Work Done.
Other County Officials Say
There is no Occasion and
no Law for Such a Course.

Judge Scott was seen by Journal re.
porter, and seemed TO feel somewhat
surprised that there should be any OBJ
lection on the part Of any one to having
the books of the county examined. He
said that he had recently met Commits
sioner Needhsm, and that after talking
over the suggestion they had agreed that
it would be the proper thing TO proceeod
with the undertaking. He knew that
such proceeding was not the regular
way TO make an order, but says they ex.
pected to ratiiy the matter and make q
formal order at the next session Of
court. Since an objection has been raised
Judge Scott will call meeting OF the
court some time this week and complete
the order. Some time ago he discovered
the law printed below, which provided
that the books shall be examined every
six months, and as some of the officers
had expressed a desire TO have their
books exported during their term he
thought it proper TO proceed. Judge
Scott is convinced that the law is clear,
and says that even il IL were con-
sidered a bad law, which he does not
think it ought to be carried out. The
experts selected are Messrs. Geo. p.
Clark and Geo. w. Buchanan of Port
land. They agree TO do the work under
contract, and give $4,000 bond for the
faithful and accurate performance Of
their work. They don't want the pay
unless the work is satisfactory, and they
agree to leave the quality Of their work
and the compensation to be paid to a
committee OF three citizens, two bank
cashiers, presumably Messrs. Claud
Catch and joe. Albert, aud a third man
is 10 he selected by the court.
Judge Scott is surprised to find that
the county officers object 70 the expert.
ing at thus time, and concludes that their
continued resistance would cast suspi-
cion upon them, but he does not expect
so find anything more than clerical
errors, as he knows them to be compe-
tent men. As for the objection
that the books will again
have 10 be exported at the end Of the
term next June, Judge Scott says that
is provided for ia the agreement OF these
gentlemen to return at that time and
complete the job up to date under the
terms and conditions Of the present con.
tract, and thus no extra expense will be
Referring to the law, Judge
Scott thinks it contemplates that the
County Court shall engage clerical help.
owing 10 the inability OF the members OF
the court 10 give their time. He thinks
the law good safeguard, and believes
that after the large volume of business
done by the present officers it is time
the exporting was done.
The above statements Of Judge Scott
we're submitted to that gentleman, and
he declared them to be his idea of tue
facts in the case.
Below are given the sections Of the
Law under which this is TO be done.
"Sec. 1.-The county court of the
several counties OF this state, while
sitting lorcounty business at the regular
terms in January and July of each
year, shall carefully examine all books
and papers relating to the financial az.
iairs of the county offices, of county
clerk, clerk OF the county court, clerk Of
the circuit court, recorder of convey.
ances, treasurer and sheriff OF the sew
eral counties.
The present county officials seem to be
unanimously against any expense for
exporting at the present time. They
have done good "team work." to use a
football phrase, in pulling the county
out Of debt and do not want the expense
OF exporting added TO their total ex-
penditures which they are pledged to
keep below a certain limit. One of
them goes 30 far as to say that he would
disregard even written order OF the
county court to turn his books over to
strangers and non-i esidents, who even
though they are under bonds would
have no interest but to run as big
bin on the county ss possible. lfthe af-
( urs OF the county and its finances were
called in question, or even criticised,