The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-03
Consolidate the Offices of
Treasurer and Tax Collector.


The question of abolishing the Office
Of county treasurer is being agitated
oy some of the state papers, and it
Is a question which should seriously
engage the attention of the next legis-
lature.
A majority of the papers which have
discussed the question have been in
favor of the adjustment of the Office,
and those few which oppose the
scheme do so because they think it a
bad idea to tamper with the constitu-
ton; that as long as the government
is running smoothly we had better
let well enough alone.
When one stops to consider the du-
ties of a county treasurer and the
actual work he does he is impressed
with the soundness of the suggestion
for the adjustment of this office.
The argument that because We are
getting along we'll enough with the
law as it stands to-day is not sound.
We are living in an advanced age, and
We are advancing with the age. If
there are parts of our organic law
that by amendment can be made bet
ter and more practicable it is our
duty to change that law to meet tie
present conditions. If the duties of
the Office of county treasurer can be
performed by another county official,
without prejudice to that officials du-
ties. we should transfer the work of
the treasurer to him and save to the
county the salary which is being paid
the treasurer.
The suggestion is made that the du-
ties of the county treasurer be i'm
posed on the county tax collector as
Il would not interfere with the col
lector's other duties. When one stops
70 consider the matter it will be seen
that this official. the county tax col
lector, is really the only county official
who handles the funds of the county,
and that the county treasurer is treas
urer only in name. The banks receive
his deposits, pay the warrants issued
against him and in great many In
stances keep his books. When the
time comes for him to make his bond
the banks look after this also
The tax collector collects the taxes
and turns the money over to the bank
and it is deposited to the credit of
the treasurer, to be paid out on he
warrants issued by the county commits
siCners. So it will be seen that the
duties of the treasurer are, in the
most extreme cases, very inconsider-
az with the compensation drawn ny
these officials. In the larger counties
of the state, and those counties which
are heavily bonded, the commissions,
which constitute the salaries of these
treasurers net them handsome re-
turn, and this amount could be turned
back into the county treasury if the
duties of this officer were imposed
upon the collector.
The bond of the tax collector could
be made sufficient in amount to guar
antee the county against any loss.
and the disbursement of the funds of
the county, which the treasurer at
tends to, would be but little additional
work for the collector.
The general practice in paying
money from the county treasury is
for the county commissioners to au-
thorize the payment, by a voucher;
the county auditor then draws his
warrant on the treasurer and this off,
cial draws his checks on the banks,
or, as is done in some of the counties.
the warrant from the auditor is made
payable direct al some bank.
The suggestion for the consolida-
ton of this office with that of the col
lector seems a good one and the mat
ter should be discussed thoroughly
so that when the legislature meets in
April il will be in position to handle
the question wisely and for the best
interests of the people.
The Tampa Times in discussing the
- o.rorfiOpp,on+ oo-