Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-07-25
TRAVELLING AUDITOR.
What a United States Census o.
ficidl Has 10 Say,
PRAISE FOR AUDITOR Stafford.


United States census office at Wash
ngton. who is charged with the collec
ton OF data concerning the financial
condition and liabilities OF certain
counties In the territories of New
Mexico and Arizona Is in Santa Fe
where he will remain until he com.
pietes his work In Santa Fe county
With the exception OF six counties he
has finished his assignment in this
territory. As to his work. MIR. Bar
rows told a representative of the Kew
Mexican that in some counties he
found things in first class shape, with
competent. painstaking officials. while
In other counties the condition of af
fairs was not 50 good as IL should be
With reference to the new travel.
ing auditors" law. he says that he
drmly believes from what he has
seen OF It's workings that II will bring
about a great change for the better
in New Mexico. and tina. at very
early day Mr.. Barrows Is well &C.
queinted with c. V. Stafford. the trav.
cling auditor, and says that ne Is an
excellent man for the position. As
MIR. Barrows followed the same line of
WORK for a number Of years. he is ia
miliar with II and Is competent
Judge of the work being done by Mr..
Stafford. He Is also thoroughly con-
versant with the methods adopted by
the auditor and says he IL a faithful
and conscientious worker: and he fur
Their states that the passage of the
law and the creation OF the Office of
travelling auditor will save the people
OF this territory very large amount
Of money and that II will bring about
n much better financial accounting
system than at present prevails in
many OF the &C antics he has visited;
that II will result in 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 while his work
has not yet really commenced, he is
already doing great deal OF good,
and Mr.. Barrows has found II bearing
fruit in some of the counties he has
visited where the travelling auditor
has previously been at work. He says
that Mr. Stafford Is introducing a mod
ern. 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 sheriffs Of the different counties
In the collection of gaming and liquor
! licenses. Mr.. SPfford has adopted and
perfected system which will enable
the travelling auditor TO check up on
these licenses infinitely and TO the last
cent, and one which will compel the
sheriffs TO account for all the monies
collected on these licenses and to turn
the same over 10 the precinct and
county school funds. In several of
the counties IL was found that the as
SCISSORS had been collecting a commits
sion OF per cent upon the liquor and
| gaming licenses, which Is clearly IL
|
the statutes. Mr.. Stafford proposes
10 put a stop to that as soon as II Is
| possible for him 10 make his report to
the governor. Again. in some coun-
ties. It was found that while the liquor
and gaming licenses were properly
collected, the entire amount was cred
tied TO the county school fund, when,
according to law, two-thlrds 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.. SAT-
ford and he gives the travelling auditor
a high commentator in every re-
spect. He SAYS that the enactment
and approval Of this law is a credit to
the present administration. In this
connection II is proper to state that
the New Mexican was the hrst paper
In the territory to use It's influence in
favor OF the passage OF this law Gov.
ernor Otero during the last three leg.
lslative assemblies has recommended
the creation Of the office OF travelling
auditor. and since his ircumbency OF
the office OF governor, has used all le-
Ultimate means for the passage OF the
law and succeeded in having Il en-
acted by the thirty-Hfth legislative as
sembly.
In Socorro county Mr.. Barrows was
able 10 obtain hut very crude and
meager statement OF the condition OF
the finances OF the county as the
books o; ex-Treasurer Abeyta could
not be found. and there was not
enough data for him TO make a report.
Mr.. Barrows has yet TO complete his
work In the counties of Santa Fe.
Taos, San Miguel. Union. Colfax and
Mora.