Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-12-06

450 81 450 q
*Total shortage of Vawter Craw ford
County Clerk.
| In commenting upon the conditions o
the Office of County Clerk we would SAY
that We found it impossible to check a !
the instruments filed for record with the
| fee book from July lst, 1900 to Jan. lst,
1908. The fee book was not fully or
sufficiently kept to guide us in identify
ing instruments filed with those record
| ed. No space was allowed for the
named OF the parties to CONVEYANCE, or
other instrument, and the columns for
Book 'Vol.,' Page, were lef, entirely
unti led. 1t was only possible 10
ascertain the amount of fees due the
County during that period by comput-
ing the amounts due on each iostru-
ment or other matter of record and com.
pairing the total with that of the Receiy-
Ing Book. We found balance OF about
$40 in the County's favor, which might
easily have resulted from difference in
estimates on the length of Instruments
Beginning with the wear 1903. each
instrument was numbered and by that
means as we'll as the names OF the
parties we were able to check quite
clearly all matters filed for record.
We did not recite in the report the
entire amounts collected, inasmuch as
it was unnecessary and rendered the re-
port unnecessarily cumbersome, but we
have referred to turnovers only where
there occurred any shortage or excess.
Treasurer receipted for such money
on the Receiving B ,ok until 1908 and
after that by separate receipt. Turn.
overs we're made regularly uotil about
Oct. 1905, when they were allowed to
accumulate to a sum little less than
$1,000. At that turnover, which oc-
Cured on June 30th, 1906, We find the
amount to be short $240. 80.
There is practically no system of
accounts kept in Office of County Clerk.
One Journal and one General Ledger
are kept, but never checked up or
balanced. Accounts have been opened
with the Sheriff and Treasurer and
numerous entries made, but no bal
ances we're made from year to year and
no comparisons with records that
should appear IN other offices. So far
as the value o. those accounts go, they
are worthless, except as mere memoir
anda. The County Clerk has fallen far
short of his duty, failing to exercise the
principal functions of his office.
Merely to keep an office open, receive
and record such matter ss comes in.
and turned over the fees earned to the
Treasurer, together with other minor
duties, does not constitute the import
ant part OF the duties Of the Clerk of
County. In fact, recording, correspond
ng and such work abou. the office is
made the duty OF a Deputy.
The Clerk should keep the recor u OF the
County's business above all. All
1DaDCldl lfHHsdCtiOlls VI lilc Ndi 'OisS
,fices should appear IN that office.
Regular accounts of all the functions OF
he Couuty should be diligently kept, |
~ which the interests OF the County |
Gould be vigilantly guarded.
Taxpayer, officer and County, all
ike need that same protection. Without
{ the County Court is at sea. 1t cannot |
inter upon its various duties Intelligent
v, not promote the best interests of the
County without being in full possession
# it's financial standing, a knowledge OF
ts resources. and the data pertaining to
Is previous undertakings. Without
he officer cannot feel certain that the
unctions of his office are properly
or that his obligation to the
county has been properly fulfilled.