The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-04-10

y
Of these examiners have been here at
the same time at an expense to tax
payers of $40 q day each. Usually |
sensational reports are filed and Of
fcials are charged with drawing illegal
fees. then suits are instituted to re-
cover the alleged illegally drawn fees.
The cases are carried TO the supreme
court, at large expense to the taxpay-
ers. and, in the end, in Marion county
at least, the officials are sustained a
great many more times than the state
board Of public accounting and in
spection.
III the honorable court will pardon
the digression we would like to add
that the taxpayers have the impress
sion, generally speaking, that these
accountants are paid by the state for
their services. This is not true, as
the court well knows. They are paid
out OF the county funds, and Marion
county has spent in the payment -
| accountants salaries and in carrying
on unsuccessful litigation, as the re-
suit of accountants reports. sum
sufficient to waterbind a pike from
Marion to the county line in any di-
rectlon.
Burial of INDECENT Soldiers.
I'VE find that the county spent $2,-
400 for the burial Of supposedly indi-
gent soldiers. and INDECENT soldiers
widows and wives during the year
covered by this report. A search Of
the records in the office of the county
auditor alone. warrants the conclu-
uf no
burias OF this kind were not properly
investigated by the committee--usual-
ly old soldiers-appointed by the com
missioners to investigate and sign the
burial certificate Of soldiers, their
wives and their widows A number
Of those who died, left estates which
were amply sufficient to pay all runer-
al expenses and leave surviving rcla-
tives far from need
THE general impression among the
people seems to be that the govern
ment pays for the burial OF "a soldier
his wife or his widow. In case Of
the death of either. the county al
lows S75 on the recommendation of
the regularly appointed committee IN
the different townships to investigate
as to the financial condition Of the
deceased at the time Of death. and
for signing burial certificates The
state provides that every soldier be
assured a decent burial IL is not
general law. however. that every SOL
der be allowed SIS; II Is but a step
from pauper's grave and should be
so considered by the families OF the
deceased We feel that the township
committee appointed by the commits.
sioners for conducting Investigations.
and signing burial certificates should
so explain the law to the family Of
the deceased
Infrmary Directors Expenses.
'In the matter Of outside relief FUR
nlshed by the infirmary directors. we
do not feel that it IS necessary for
the entire board TO visit each sep
arate case reported. and we would
recomend that the three inhrmary di-
rectors divide the county into three
I districts. each director TO have super
: vision over his district thereby saw
@ ing a big per diem expense to the
county.
= I'VE commend Miss " Perle Gar.
& field. commissioners clerk, for the
= neat and accurate manner In which
the records are kept in the office oi
tho county commissioner We com.
mend the county commissioners fol
I, the reforms they have lnaugurated IN
y the purchase of stationery and loollinl
toward the more economical, business
like administration Of their office. w,
y suggest that every caution, Safeguard
. and check be exercised I'm the pay
mcnt of vouchers: that no voucher
be paid unless the same be audited
and approved by every employe, o
official responsible for the same; tina
q complete inventory Of the county
property be made, and that tho com
mssioners work out n plan whereof!
every dollar of the county's propert!
=, can be accounted for by them
"The detailed statement of the com
missioners' financial transactions 70
one year Is a voluminous affair s.
far as we are able TO discover, II 4
q correct in every way, but It does no
show a total anywhere. We thinl
y grand total should be shown, by al
means. But the same condition
shown by the commissioners journal
Frequently the journal contains
page OF typewritten amounts and n
u total Is given. We believe that dali
J. or monthly totals OF all vouchers al
lowed would admirably serve as
check and we therefore recommen
y that this be done in the future"
Ie Prosecutor Justices Statement.
Prosecutor Charles l.. Justice con
ours in all that is said by the exam
u iners except as TO certain dictum con
J. corning state board of public account
n ing. Mr.. Justice. in his separate re
.e port says:
j. 81 truly feel that It is not With
" the province of my office ms count
le prosecutor to comment on the policie
j. of a department OF state which TN
&c legislature, In its wisdom has seen (
T. to establish. and concerning whic
L policies, l have neither the authorit
le nor discretion 10 control"