The Topeka state journal., 1908-05-05
State Accountant GaffOrd and
School Land Sales.
His Work Of Checking Up Near
Iy Completed.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Shortages Anticipated Have Not
MaterialiZed.
Some Counties Claim They Have
Overpaid.

The investigation of the school land
accounts, which has been in progress
for nearly year in the Office of the
state accountant, J. c.. Gafford. will
reach some definite results in about a
fortnight. 1t is not likely that there
will be very much money due the
state; it is doubtful whether any could
be collected if it were due. There is
even some possibility that in some
cases the state will be found to be
indebted to the counties.
The method of keeping track of
school land sales has not been perfect
by any means, and in the course of
the states history many mistakes have
no doubt been made, and very likely
there has been more or less crooked
ness. 1t is the business of the county
clerk to keep track of all school lands
sold in his county. and amounts re-
ceived on sales or leases. But the
money is paid to the county treasurer,
and the county treasurer sends it in to
the state treasurer without knowing
or caring whether he is in balance
with the county clerk. The county
clerks reports go to the auditor; the
county treasurer's money goes to the
state treasurer, and in going through
the voluminous and musty records Of
school land sales for score of years
back, State Accountant Gafford has
discovered what appeared to be large
shortages from some of the counties,
according to the records in the aud
itor's office and the treasurer's of11ce.
After checking up about half the
counties in the state in this way-a
very long and tedious job-Mr. Gaf-
ford sent his men out on the road to
inspect the county records of every
county examined. and see if the ap-
parent discrepancies could be ex-
planned.
According to reports which are COM
ing in through the newspapers printed
in counties where the accountants
men have been at work. the county
officers and the county records have
wiped out many apparent deficits. In
Bourbon county. where there was
shortage of $500, according to the
state records. the county records clear
ed this up, and now the county officers
are going to check over their own
books and see if the state does not
really owe the county because of the
fact that for some time the county did
not deduct from it's remittances all the
fees which it was entitled to deduct
Mr.. Gafford declines to talk about the
progress of the work or the possible
deficits which will accrue to the state
| until he is ready to make his report to
| the governor. which he thinks will be
L
| there will be no shortages, in which
| case it is likely that the examination
| of the accounts in the remaining fifty
| counties of the state would not be
undertaken.
| If it should develop that there are a
| good many thousand dollars due the
| state on school land transactions, 1t
| will be up to the attorney general to
| find a way to collect the money. 1t is
| doubtful whether a county could be
| fnrna6 Wy
occurred 10 or Is years ago. The state
! could not sue the county for the short
age. 1t might be that if the state could
| locate the county treasurer response
| ble for the shortage he could be forced
to pay up. but this would be a long and
| tedious route to travel.
| The Fort Scott Republican, in speak
ing of the result Of the school land
examination in Bourbon county, says:
"The examinations of the records of
| the sale of school lands in, Bourbon
| county made a few days ago by repre-
sentatives Of the state auditors office
| for the purpose Of locating an alleged
discrepancy of $500, disclosed the fact
that the books as kept by officers OF
Bourbon county in past years are alb
solutely correct, and that there is now
| nothing due the state on this account
For many years the difference Of $500
has existed between the two offices
| and the error has now been checked
| up to the auditors office.
| LAS a result of the examination OF
| the books by the state, another will
be conducted by County Clerk Hol-
| stein, in an effort to show that the
| state is indebted several hundred dol
lars to the county.
THE law which provided for the
sale of school lands to settlers on
payments, stipulated that the expenses
| of making the sale, which included the
cost of appraisement, survey and max
ing all records, should be borne by
| the state and deducted from the
amount due the state from the county
In many cases these expenses reached
| considerable figure, and the total will
reach we'll into the hundreds and pos
| sibly thousands. In many cases wher
| remittances were made by the county
| treasurer to the state, no deductions
! were made for these expenses, thu:
leaving it to be borne by the county
The first of the sales of school land was
! made in 1886 and a thorough search
will be made of sales and remittances
| to the state, also expense deductions
| since that time AS it will be neces
sary to again go over all of the old rec
ords, which are now in the vault il
the office of Clerk Holstein, it will re-
quire several days time to complete
the task. If it is found that any ac
| count is due the county, a bill for i
| will be filed with the state auditor"
,
Burned Fifteen Stores.
San Francisco, May 5.-A fire which
| | started in the Mentone restaurant or
) Geary street between Kearney ant
Grant avenues at 10 o'clock last nigh,
: consumed about fifteen stores in tn.