Arizona silver belt., 1904-10-13


 and allowing his claim.
 Probate Judge and Ex-Officio Schoo
 Superintendent
 This office I found in charge of Pro
 bate Judge P. c. Robertson, and ol looking into his fee book, which h,
 keeps In good shape, according to law
 found that he has his estates in pro.
 bate well cared for and closely car. ried up. The fees going to the judge, he does not have to report them tC the county. He has carried out the fees in his record, in items, which is an improvement on former probate judges, who were neglectful of that requirement. and did not show the fees, as the intent of the law is to per. init opportunity to see if any extor tionate fees have been collected. It is apparent that the former records look neglected" There is no need of this, for officials are presumed to acquaint themselves with the law governing their offices and duties, and this is a requirement..
 The office room occupied by the pro. bate court, like in the case of the sher- iff and Justice Carico, is very poor one, and emphasizes the necessity that this county has of a new and proper court house. It is difficult to keep 1t clean, as it is below the level of the street; the dust and dirt blow, roll and tumble in, and it is surprising that the officials who have to occupy them manage tO keep their health and lives. Should the county ever examine plans for better building, it is to be hoped that they will accept only such as are above ground, for the "dug-out" idea m the matter of jail is very poor one in this climate. The effluvia aris- Ing from the present jail, have had a chance to sample, and as it comes up through the floors and permeateS the offices in the court house, it seems to ne that it is liable to breed disease for ack of ventilation, not only in the | all proper and in the basement o fiices, l put in the upper rooms, where that )ad air gets in so much. The books and register of the coun- y school superintendent were checked | ID, and found in very fair condition, nd correct, the posting to the various | Iistricts is done in very good shape. n the matter of vouchers for "sup- lie" and services rendered, I find that hat the same habits are here as else where, the trustees using the word to cover too much. There , business way to do everything, nd if the clerks of boards of trustees 'ill make such q showing on their ouchers, as will explain to anyone, a ear after all about the item or items, nd at the same time to give the chool uperintendent a show to have good record behind the warrant he rawS, it will prevent any unjust sus- icion, and clear itself. The issuing warrants for teachers salaries, I 'ould recommend, that in the war mt, the name of the teacher appear, l any event, even if the voucher was Ssigned, it can be written to show lat it is payable to John Doe, as- gnee of Richard Roe," and "for ,acher'S services for the month end lg June 30th, 1904" The present stem was to issue warrants to "P. Robertson," then he to sign that 2 arrant, and it would state on face, r "teaching.h The facts were that !, me outside teacher would, and did, nd in his or her voucher, assigned, Id the judge would draw the money Id remit it back for accommodation, itting his own name in the warrant, he could draw the money, but that | arrant, of itself, would never con y to anyone the facts in it's case, and I ) means of connecting it with the lrty who truly did the service of I nor fix the time, or date to hich payment was made, which can 1 silly be done.
 Warrants were similarly drawn to s . c. Hitchcock, and for teaching" i'd when looked up, it was the same l, ,y, the parties sending in vouchers tn requests, and he getting from I ldge Robertson warrant in his me, for "teaching.' The whole is O 0 loose, and can so easily be reme- F ed, that l recommend that it be anged There was no evidence of T. y thing crooked or wrong in the alter, but neither official should car o out the business requests in that f, amer. It will look better to do a herwiSe, and prevent other officials z, 10 may not be as honest as are these e, 70 from having an opportunity to h mmit wrong. l met with kind o, d courteous treatment by the judge