Amador ledger., 1901-11-01
THOSE UNPAID WARRANTS.

ing of money on warrants issued
against the road fund, of which we
made mention last week, we have
this further to say Both bills were
the special road fund, and
were for work done on the lone road
in district two. One bill presented
in September called for 1898. 80.
and the other, allowed in October.
was for $247. So. Both bills were
allowed in favor of w. NJ. Amick,
supervisor of district two. 1t has
been the custom in this county-a
pernicious and illegal custom, and
one that pertains in no other county
in the state-for the supervisors as
road commissioners in their respect
i've district, to present bills in their
own names for all road work done
under their supervision, and draw
the money therefor. Beyond the
allowance of the claims in this way,
the board of supervisors as a board
is not implicated in any hypothe-
cation of the bills or warrants.
There is nothing in the minutes in
regard to the borrowing of money,
or providing money for the pay
ment of these claims. These war
rants were not presented to the
treasurer. That officer intimated
that if presented he would indorse
thereon Not paid for want of
funds, thereby generating himself
from all blame in connection there
with. If they have been hypothi-
Gated elsewhere as is commonly re-
ported, the responsibility rests
mainly with the party hypothicat-
ing the same. The matter would be
a very ordinary occurrence were it
not for the fact that it is so wrapped
up with an illegal course which has
been pursued in this county so long
namely, allowance of claims outside
of salaries-to supervisors indi-
vidually. OF course the county is
not responsible for interest on these
claims. 1t is doubtful under the cir
cumstances if the face of the war
rants can be collected. The law is
very plain on this point. We quote
the following provisions to show how
jealousy the law guards against any
dealings in evidences of the county's
Indebtedness by officials:
923. The State Treasurer and Con-
troller, the several county, city, or
town officers of this state, their depu-
ties and clerks, are prohibited from
purchasing or selling, or in any manner
receiving to their own use or benefit,
or to the use or benefit of any person
or persons whatever, any state, coun-
ty, or city warrants, scrip, orders, de-
mands, claims, or other evidences of
Indebtedness against the state, or any
dences of indebtedness issued to or held
by them for services rendered as such
officer, deputy, or clerk, and evidences
of the funded Indebtedness of such
state, city, town, or corporation.
4077. No member of the board must
be interested. directly or indirectly, in
any property purchased for the use of
the county, nor in any purchase or sale
of property belonging to the county.
nor III any contract made by the board
or other person on behalf of the coun-
ty, for the erection of public buildings,
the opening or improvement of roads,
or the building Of bridges, or for other
purposes.
1910. The board must not for any
purpose contract debts or liabilities.
except in pursuance of law, or under
ordinances of their own, adopted in
accordance with the powers herein con-
ferred; and whenever debts and liza
bilities have been created which, added
to the salaries of county officers and
other estimated liabilities fixed by law
for the remainder of the year, equal in
the aggregate the revenue of the coun-
ty for current expenses, no further
allowance of any accounts must be
made.
These sections will suffice to show
how jealousy the law guards all the
points covered by this article. 1t
will be seen that every step in the
proceeding-from the ordering of the
work done to the alleged discounting
of the warrants-was in contraven-
ton of law. We ventilate the mat
ter because it is our duty to do so,
and regretting that party friends
as well as opponents are concerned
in the expose. Republican officials
may as well understand that politi-
cal foes are on the alert to seize
every opportunity to try and manu-
facture political capital out of the
actions of republican Office holders.
They know that their only chance of
success lies in republican miscon-
duct, and they will not hesitate to
help them along in that direction.
That this matter of pledging the
credit of the county has got beyond
official circles is traceable to demo-
cratic sources. 1t behooves repub-
licans to be ever on their guard.
MINING LEGISLATION.
At the recent state miners con-