Arizona silver belt., 1905-10-05
OHiCid PQpeT Of GI|Q County.
KiBBEYISM exeMPLiFiED

Foster has spent several days m uiope examining into the records of the var ious county officers and other things. From time to time we have noticed his visits to other county seats and the press reported that he performed this duty and as they said nothing further, we suppose he stopped at that.
 Gila county seems to have been re- served for Mir Fosters original exper- pertinent as a noble imitator of his master and official creator, Governor Kibbey. Here he has gone before the board of supervisors rather, assem- bled them before him-and instructed them in their duties and those of all employees on the county roster. He has, by his criticism of their acts, in formed them by implication that they are either ignoramuses or grafters. How much law he knows, or thinks he knows, we have no means of ascertain ing, but that he considers his rulings superior to precedents of the United States supreme court, there is evidence.
 Why is it that outside officials coming to Gila county generally assume the attitude that our officials are imbeciles, our system all wrong, our district at torney unqualified and our attorneys legal asses, we cannot surmise, but they do, and then proceed to shed the lustre of their own ignorance all over the place. We must confess that it makes us very tired.
 Where offices are conducted on the fee system it is customary for the in cumbents in entering their charges ac- cording to precedent, study the sta tutes which provides for the same and, if in doubt consult the county's advis- or. It is customary for the supervisors to examine these accounts carefully and if in doubt on any point, the dis trict attorney is called in and no bill is allowed where the board is not satis- fled that service has been rendered and the charge therefor made according to law.
 It is the business of the public exam iner to see if the accounts of the var ious offices are kept by correct methods and if they are honestly kept. (See act defining the duties and powers of said official when office was created.)
 
 If the gentleman finds that wrong entries have been made or excessive fees collected, (according to his own peculiar co.. i,rJ,,ion of the statutes) it would be proper for him to call the attention of the board of supervisors to the error and let them test with the offender, in the courts the question of the two constructions of the fee pro visions that assumed by the official making the charge and that assumed by the man sent to examine into book keeping methods. Instead of this Mr Foster issu es his orders to the board and officials as if he wore the signet ring of his master, the Czar of Arizona-or more like a Pennsylvania railroad con ductor, who is the standard autocrat of the United States.
 As sample of his methods we select i the case of the district court. When | the present incumbent assumed the duties of his position he conferred with | the clerks of Maricopa and Pima cOun- | ties as to the fees charged by them in | certain instances. He examined care fully the fee entries of his predecessor | and consulted the district attorney of . Gila county as to the customary and | proper allowances for various services.
 When the quarterly account of the clerk was submitted to the board of su- pervisors, who ''hung it up" for several days in order that they might thorough ly examine any item, and they also call | ed in the district attorney who passed | upon all points where there was any doubt as to the accuracy of the charges, not penny was deducted. The mem bers satisfied themselves that all fees | charged were proper and that the ser | vices charged for had been duly rem dered.
 Now comes Mr. Foster and instructs the board that it must compel the dis trict clerk to refund a sum of money because: charges made for entering orders of the court should not be allow ed"
 A recent decision of the Supreme court of the United States is specific in declaring that such charges may be made.
 The SILVER BELT has been credibly informed that when Mir. Foster was clerk of the district court in Maricopa coun- ty he consulted with the clerks of other counties as to the policy of uniting their efforts to have the fees of their various offices increased. His opinion in this matter seems to have undergone con