The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-11-05
Report of Late Auditor
Tells Of Evils Wanting
Correct. I.
NEED OF MUCH REFORM
Found in Trip Over State and
Clearly Set Forth in Able and
Fearless Document.

Two hours before his death Nate
Rolf, state auditor of Nevada, deliv-
cred his first report to Attorney Gen
eral Stoddard The dying official de-
livered the report and discussed many
of the points and matter covered in
it with the other state official, call
ing his attention to the needs and
necessities of the state as set out by
the report. The report was the last
thing discussed by the dying Nevadan
before the end came and when he
lapsed into semi-conscious condi
ton he referred to the matter several
times, dwelling on the principal
points of the report.
The report is comprehensive one
and covers the county and state con-
ditions from a financial and also a
moral standpoint and urges many
needed reforms which now speak
with a louder tone. coming from the
last work of an eminent Nevadan
who labored long for his state. An
other point is also emphasized in the
report of the state auditor. Several
persons, some holding official posi-
lions, had sharply criticised the estab-
fishing of the position of state audi
tor and referred to it as sinecure
and a graft. Mr. Rolf heard of this
| after he had drawn one month
salary and expenses and he then re-
| fused to draw any more salary or
expense money until he had demon
| strated that his oftce was worth the
salary and more to the state. In one
case in particular in his report, in
discussing the affairs of White Pine
l. Nt,,tC hot &c n i
CATION of the books there resulted
in the placing of about $500, 900 more
taXables on the assessment roll be-
sides Strengthening out the books. Re
ferring to this matter of his worth to
the state, he says in another place:
Il started out in my work with
the determination to prove to my
own satisfaction, at least, the value OF
| the position | held, to the state and
if | could not make showing OF
benefit to the state and the respective
counties, | had determined to present
no bill of expense, nor draw any sal
airy, hence the reason that no such
bill has been filed and only one
months salary drawn.
Il feel now that the work accom-
plished by me has been of value il
many ways and from the standpoint
of revenue far in excess of the cos
of services including expenses.
Il believe that any reasonable per
son will admit this and bear me out
in the claim that the position has
brought about better service, prompt
closing of county books, the filing OF
proper reports and better system. >
He then talks on the affairs of each
county treating them at length and
going into the details of each one
He says that in Lincoln county the
system of bookkeeping is very cum
bersome and unwieldy and evidently
established by an expert who ex-
pected to return and get job eX-
porting them. Arrangements were
made for a change. In Churchill
county practically no records were
kept outside of the recorders and
treasurer's offices but this matter was
remedied upon his insistence. In
White Pine the books of the assessor
| were in very bad shape owing to the
too heavy duties of the sheriff-as-
SCISSOR and the examination resulted
in the placing of about 100000 onto
the roll which had been omitted.
Elko county is rated in the report as
the banner county of the state with
| the lowest tax rate and over $50, 900
in the treasury and bonds out to the
amount of 1889. Lander county is in
good shape and things progressing.
Legal opinion is asked as to right
of the assessor to collect per cent