Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-07-23
TRAVELLING
AUDITOR
What a United States Census
Official Has to Say
About It.
Words of Praise for Audftof
CIV. Stafford and
His Work.

w. J. Barrows, am official Of the Unit
ed States Census Office at Washington
who is charged with the collection O.
} data concerning the financial condition
land liabilities OF certain counties II
the territories of New Mexico and Ari
zona, is in the city where he will re-
main until he completes his work II
Santa 5Ee county. With the exception
of six counties he has finished his as
signments in this territory. AS to his
work, Mr.. Barrows told representa-
tive Of the New Mexican that in some
counties he found things in flrst-class
shape. with competent, palnstaking of,
fcials, while In other counties the con-
dition of affairs was not SO good as it
should be.
With reference to the new "Traveline
Auditors" law, he says that he firmly
believes from what he has seen of Its
workings that II will bring about a
great change for the better in New
Mexico, and that at very early day.
Mr.. Barrows Is well acquainted with
C. v. Stafford. the travelling auditor.
and says that he-i Is an excellent man
for the position. AS Mr. Barrows fol-
lowed the same line of work for num-
ber Of years. he Is familiar with it and
Is competent judge of the work being
done by Mr.. Stafford. He is also thor
oughly conversant with the methods
adopted by the auditor and says he is
faithful and conscientious worker;
and he further states that the passage
of the law and the creation Of the Of
flee of travelling auditor will save the
people of this territory a very large
amount of money and that it will bring
about a much better financial account
ing system than at present prevails In
many Of the counties he has visited;
that it will result in a better and more
efficient collection Of taxes than any
revenue law that has been placed up
on the statute books of New Mexico for
years. He says that Mr.. Stafford Is very
conscientious in the discharge of his
duties, and that whife his work has not
yet really commenced. he Is already do
ing great deal Of good, and Mr.. Bar
rows has found 1t bearing fruit In
some of the counties he has visited
where the travelling auditor had pre-
viously been at work. He says that
Mr.. Stafford is Introducing a modern.
sensible and easily-understood system
of bookkeeping.
One thing which. both Mr. Stafford
and Mr.. Barrows have discovered Is
that there is very little checking on the
sher:ffs of the different counties In the
collection of gaming and liquor licens-
as. Mt. Stafford has adopted and per-
socted a system which will enable the
II ayelirg auditu to check up on these
| ,cnses infinitely and to the last cent,
and one which will compel the sheriffs
to account fos all the monies collected
Tn these licenses and to turn the same
', er to the rrctinct and county school
lfnrds. In several Of the counties 1t
was found that the assessors had been
collecting commission of per cent
upon the liquor and gaming licenses,
Which is clearly illegal and not at all
Il In keeping with the statutes. Mr.. SAT-
ford proposes to put a stop to that as
soon as 1t is possible for him to make
his report to the governor Again, IN
some counties, 1t was found that, while
the LIQUOR and gaming licenses were
properly collected, the entire amount
was credited to the county school fund
when, according to the law, two-thirds
of the amount so collected should go to
the school fund of the precinct IN
which the liquor and gaming licenses
were collected.
Mr., Barrows has spent several days
at the county seats Of number OF
counties in the territory with Mr.. Saf-
ford and he gives the travelling auditor
high commentator in every respect.
Hc says that the enactment and ap-
prc\ al of this law Is credit to the
preeent administration. In this connec-
tion 1t is proper to state that the New
Mexican was the first paper In the ter
fritory to use it's influence In favor OF
the passage, Of this law Governor
Otero during the last three legislative
assemblies has recommended the crea-
ton Of tn, Office Of travelling auditor,
and siac. lis ircumbency Of the ofstce
| Of governor. has used all legitimate
means for. the passage Of the law and
succeeded, in having 1t enactedrby the
ssth legislative assembly. =
In socorro rdunty. Mr.. Barrows was
able to obtain but very crude and
meager statement Of the condition OF
the finances of the county as the books
of ex-Treasurer Abeyta could net be
found. and there was not enough data
for him, to make report. Mr.. Barrows
has yet to complete his work In the
counties of Santa Fe. Taos. San Mig
uel, Union. Colfax and Mora.
I