The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-01-14

courts and without any change OF
modification of their statutory duties
law should be enacted requiring
each OF the County Courts Of the sew
eral counties 20 employ a competent
expert al least once a year 10 exam
inc into and report upon the books
and official records Of the several
county officers. This has been done
| by some Of the County Courts In the
absence Of any statute, and such
course has had salutary effect where
ever IL has been tried.
/ ESpe ting Books Of State Officials.
In this same connection IL may be
proper 20 add that detalcatiuns Of
State officials have In times past elud-
ed the inspection of legislative com
mittgas and experts employed by them
10 is recent history. that a defalcation
of a clerk of the State Land Board
of more than s30OOOOO, was not dis
covered by a committee of your body
on the contrary. his books were eX
amined and reported 10 De correct
/ Nor was discovery thereof made until
/ prosecution Of the detaulter was
/ barred by the statute Of limitations
/ and there is not only now no prospect
of prosecution but very little hope
I that the State will ever recover the
stolen funds In the rush and con.
fusion incident 90 q session OF forty
days Il Is impossible for a committee
I of your body. however ably assisted
| by the most capable and trustworty
accountants. 20 examine into. and ar.
rive AZ. a proper understanding con
ICerning large money transactions run.
ming into the millions annually II Is
! beyond the power OF any man on set Of
men under thee Onditiuns surrounding
legislative session 10 DO effective
and thorough work in the time allotted
TO them and no reflection upon the
integrity OF this or any former legisla-
ture is intended I'M what Is here said
II may be- objected that the present
State officials are honest and that
therefore no necessity exists for eX-
aminiug into their books To such
objection ! answer. that II can then
do no harm to look into thir accounts
Certainly no honest official can or will
object 20 having his work opened 10
Inspection. For his own protection
against pOsthumous misrepresentation
investigation should bee COurted rather
than Stunned
With no suspicion OF irreguarity
1 nthe books and accounts OF any
State officials but rather for their
protection and In the interest OF the
people of the state az large. I earnest
ly recommend that You empower the
executive 90 employ a competent ac-
countaut 90 examine into and check
mp the accounts of officers on the
payrolls OF the State reports 20 be
made 20 him from time 10 time and
finally 20 the legislature and that
provision be made for the payment OF
the person So 20 be- employed.
Transporting conviets 10 the Peniten.
tiary.
Former executives have recon-
mended the adylsability OF legislative
action upon the subject of the conduct
OF prisoners from the place of trial
and conviction 90 the penitentiary. No
action has been taken by any former
legislative body on these recOmmen.
dations, but / earnestly trust that the
matter Will receive consideration al
your hands Ct this session. This
works now done boy the sherins of the
several counties FOR which they each
receive a per diem for every day ar.
tually engaged In conveying prisoners
besides necessary travelling expenses
Tor themselves and the convict con.
Yeyed. and the necessary expenses In.
eurred In guarding such convict Jur.
ing such conveyance, the money being