The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-09-10

|. In asking your support for the Re-
publican nomination for the office of
County Auditor at the Primary Elec-
ton; Tuesday, Sept. 20, wish to EN-
rhasize a few points tending to show
the relationship Of the County Audi
tors office to the taxpayer, and the
Importance of having in that office
a man who is fitted to handle it's du-
ties. Whether I am that man the
voters are in position to know, and
il is mere fitting that those who arc
acquainted with my record as County
Auditor shall decide that point than
|! it is that I, whose case is before
them, should do more than point to
that record and pledge myself to give
to the office in the future, if I am
reelected, the same careful attention
that I have given it in the past.
The County Auditors office is the
business clearing house for St. Louis
County, and it's functions are divided
into five main departments. 4
glance at some of the work done in
each may give an idea Of the import
ance of the office to the people.
Accounting Department..
Under this head come the auditing
of all bills and payrolls, the CLASH
ficatio1 and registration Of warrants,
the keeping Of accounts with the
County Treasurer, and the taking of
daily settlements with that officer,
keeping accounts with all the school
districts, villages, townships and cit
les in the county and all their nu-
merous funds, keeping accounts: on
each road in the county, and the dis
tribution of taxes to $50 different tax
districts.
Taxpayers pay their taxes in lump
sum. The Auditor must divide that
sum up so that the state, county and
each city, village, township and school
district shall get its right proportion.
Not only that, but the apportionment
to each tax division is re-divided so
that each of the several funds #
that division shall be cared for The
County Auditors office has devised
system of accounting that insures
a. perfect check on this important dis
tr1bution of taxes, and a filing system
that affords ready reference at any
time to any transaction where money
is paid out. The amount involved
is about $4,500,00O a year, and of this
sum $4,000 is spent by the county
Under the Auditors supervision.
Department of Taxes.
In this division comes the work of
issuing statements Of delinquent tax
es, issuing delinquent sale and assign
ment certificates, certification of
deeds as to taxes, making and publish
Ing delinquent tax lists, etc. A new
system Of posting subsequent taxes
into the Judgment book has been de-
v1sed SO that a clerk has before him
in one book, instead of in many as
before; the record of subsequent
years taxes-a great saving of tim.
| and expense. All Auditors cert1ri
Gates are checked with this book and
rechecked back on original tax rec
| ords. The records in this department
| are increasing at the rate of 100 TO
150 volumes each year. A transle r
! and division record has been planned
out and completed, and all tax lists
are now copied from this record to
insure absolute accuracy. A tax no.
tee is prepared each year, showing
the valuation, rate Of taxation, and
taxes of every tax district in the
| county, no matter how small. This
( form and system have received much
| commentator from county auditors
all over the state, and is greatly APP
rreciated by the city comptrollers anG
local clerks and treasurers in this
county. A recent letter said: I con-
slider it an excellent piece Of work
| for which v0,, Saaarve q croot dao1
of credit. It rs an example that can
well be followed by auditors of all
| Counties"
| Board of Audit. >s->f>s
| The Board of Audit, of which, the
County Auditor is = member, makes
! a substantial compliance with the Law
and the treasury is examined three
times each year. The Auditors war
rant account is verified every month,
and must agree with the difference
between the Auditors and Treasurer
balances, Road and bridge expendi.
lures are made by the County Boar,
in accordance with the law designed
for counties OF large territory The
system Of pay-rolls and time checks
is SO devised as to insure the county
against loss. sE>: Gs Tz: s
Levy Of Taxes. ss= :Es Pill. 7s7
Each city, village, town and school
district levies Its own taxes in specific
amounts The Auditor must figure
out the rate and must not allow Tito
exceed the limit of the law. jill The law
differs forsevery CITY,. varies In villages
and towns, and Is not uniform for
lschool districts. This necessitates an