Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-24
LET THE 8 N o

Travelling Auditor Charles v. SAT
ford has discovered that in more than
one county financial matters are in q
deplora1le condition and that II the
taxpayers are M being robbed put.
right. they ere at least losing large
,.sas through ignorance 81 negligence.
Unfortunately. the authority vested
in him is not sufficient TO compel
county treasurers to produce the
funds with which they are charged
or To remedy some Of the gross negli-
gence, II not fraud. OF some county
officials. Ii will be the task Of the
next legislature 70 devise legislation
TO compel county officials 70 give a
slricter account OF their financial
stewardship. However. the fact that
d travelling auditor Is keeping close
TAB on them, that he Ii unearthing all
Irregularities and is willing to in
stract Them In d better way Of keeping
accounts, is having a good influence
in itself and 1t Ii hardly likely that
the taxpayers will suffer financially
as much from the hands Of dishonest
III Incompetent county officials as
they have done In the past.--New
Mexican.
However. Mr.. Stafford can make
public the irregularities Of county Off
ciais and public sentiment will 80
d long way towards rlghting wrongs
AS great as many which are made
crimes on the statute books. Any
misapprnpriation Of the peoples
money IL d serious crime and any
gross negligence on the part OF q
public oilclal should be followed by
his Immediate arrangement. II not be-
fore The tribunal Of the court, at least
before the tribunal of the people. The
day has happily gone by in New Mex
leo when public oiIice can be consid-
cred a private snap. The time has
come when malfeasance In Office
should BIO summarily and effectively
dealt with. There have been rumors
before Or Irregularities found by the
territorial auditor and San Miguel
county officials are fatd to be con-
nected with the rumo. The matter
pertains TO the public AIT feets the
public, at least rs mucL 4oes tho
territorial auditor.
The public wasn't wholly satisfied
with the prompt hushing up Of the ir-
regularities In Eddy county. II there
are other examples OF infractions OF
the laws, OF Irregularities and gross
negligence. as the New Mexican says
there are, by all means let the terri
torial auditor give them the fullest
publicity in order that the people
may know how they arc being wrong
cd and take steps to protect them.
selves. Mr.. Sanford will have the
support OF al tho honest and right.
! thinking people Of the territory IL he
will expose wrong doing In oiicial cir
Giles wherever he finds II. Mr.. Stafford
Is paid by the people OF tho territory
10 ferret out Irregularities and make
them public. Various rumors have
been circulated concerning the Off
cials OF this county. Certainly II Ia
due to our oficials, II the rumors are
~unfounded. that the auditor should
testify to the fact. 1t Is unfair to
every innocent county oflcial in New
Mexico that charges such as Mr.. SAT.
ford makes should be made IN
general terms. As far rs San Miguel
Is concerned. the people want to
know whether matters we're found
right or not.
It Is up 10 the territorial auditor.
who are the guilty or negligent ON.
ciais? Hew to the line. Mr.. Sanford,
and let the chips fall where they may.
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