East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-07-14

What have the experts that are now
working on the books OF the sheriffs
office found. and what will be the
final result of their investigation? :?
These are the questions that are be-
ing asked on every hand today, but
there is little to offer in answer.
Nothing can be learned from any of
the officials, for all say that they are
waiting for a complete report from the
experts before saying or doing any
thing.
The experts are now working on the
1902 and 1903 tax rolls mainly. and
il any shortages are found 1t is be-
lieved that they will be in those rolls.
While further examination might dis
close something wrong with the. roll
for this year. it is not regarded as
probable. The $4,000 which Sheriff
Taylor paid to Treasurer Sommerville
on Wednesday was in settlement OF the
amount due for collection on this roll.
According to those in the office the
rolls were being footed with the in
tention of making this payment during
the first part of the week, but the
work had not been completed when
the books were asked for by the ex-
perts Consequently 1t is felt that the
$4,000 is in no sense a shortage as
the turnover" of the money would
have been made anyway, in the nat
ural course of business.
Regarding the work back of this
year and that of the Blakeley admin
istration. there is. apparently nothing
definite known by anybody unless by
the experts themselves.
Unusual interest has been aroused
as the result of the sensational stories
that were sprung regarding the al
legged irregularities in the office, and
many conjectures have been made as
to the situation, and numerous rum
ors have been started. However, there
is now a general tendency to wait
until complete examination has been
made and something definite ascer-
tanned before passing judgment, or
accusing anyone of wrongdoing.
Meanwhile complete confidence in
Sheriff Taylor has been expressed al
most unanimously, and the general
hope is that he will not suffer any
great financial loss as a result of the
affair.
Owing to the lack of further infor-
nation on the subject the sheriff de-
clined to make any further statement
today other than to reiterate that he
was ready to make good any amounts
found to be due the treasurer from his
office. and that there would be no
shortage.
1t is generally felt that great injus-
tice has been done Sheriff Taylor by
the manner in which the alleged
shortage was heralded before the
work has scarcely started, and before
the situation was really known. Since
the sheriff stood ready to pay any
amount that might be found due. and
was apparently free from any person.
al wrongdoing. It is said that the mat
ter should have been withheld until
more was known. At no time did the
county stand any show of losing, as
the sheriff is under $4,000 bonds,
which easily protected the county from
loss.
This afternoon II was stated by Dis
trict Attorney Phelps and also by the
county commissioners, that the eX-
perts have been ordered not to disclose
information to anybody, even to the
commissioners, until their complete
report is ready. 1t is estimated that
it will require about two weeks for
this, and during that time 1t Is the
desire to keep matters absolutely Sc
cret. District Attorney Phelps VIII
leave within a day or two upon a va
cation, but will hold himself ready to
return whenever the report is ready,
should his services be needed,
Ex-Sheriff William slakeley re-
turned last evening from Portland,
and when Been this morning stated
I that he had never been more surprised
In his life than when he heard the
reports Of the irregularities. How
ever, owing to the fact that nothing
definite is yet known concerning the
accounts Of his administration ne
could say but little, other than INA. INA.
he would right any errors that mish'
| be found.
Idle Men Plentiful.