Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-08-26
Investigation by Assistant
Travelling Auditor Reveals
Somewhat Startling State of
Affairs.
AMOUNT INVOLVED WILL
REACH INTO THOUSANDS
Governor Mcdonald, Aroused
by Evidences of Graft, May
Order District Attorney to
Begin Prosecutions.

Especial Dispatch TO The Morning JournalI
Santa Zee. n. A., Aue 2a.--Gover-
nor Mcdonald has received from n. j.
Guilfoil who for some time this
spring was assistant travelling audi
tor. the report on his Investigation
into the records of Socorro county.
The report would have been made
sooner, except that Mr.. Guilfoil has
been seriously m for many weeks
The report makes very voIumi-
nous document, covering thirty-seven
closely typewriter pages ana includ-
| ing scores of vouchers, bills, docu-
ments Of various kinds and papers re-
ferred to IN the report. The latter
amounts to a good armful and accom-
| panies the report In every state
ment that Mr.. Guilfol makes in his
report he has the documentary evil
dence TO prove It, Some of the
statements certainly need proof for
4 the average citizen would mover be-
lieve that such a condition existed un
| less it We're proved.
TO explain the conditions existing
on the grounds of gross carelessness.
lax methods of bookkeeping and in
competency would be putting It
lightly. SERIOUS charges may result
before the matter finally Is disposed
| VI. III Itti, lIltIt ~ WHY oit tUIl-
mcndatory remark in the whole re-
port. and that relates to the hooks of
j. r.. Torres. county treasurer. which
the travelling auditor reports in good
shape and correct. except for one mi
nor Item. 1t appears from the re-
port OF Mr.. Guilfoil, however, that
MIR. Torres would have had Il much
! bigger Job on his hands had all the
revenues OF the county been paid over
TO him and disburSpd Inv him
To so into details would make
narrative worthy OF serial story, but
| 1t Is suffice to say for the present
that there Is unaccounted FOR ON the
books Of the treasurer the sum of
$500, which was paid by the federal
government at the rate Of $i00 a year
for the use Of the Socorro county
court house for federal court pur-
poses. The wild animal bounty fund
has sworn vouchers awaiting payment
amounting to in round numbers, al
most S25. 600, accumulated only dur
ling the past four years. The wild
animal bounty vouchers were not paid
cunsecutivcly as filed. as the law re-
quires but some were paid in fun and
others simply filed. Vouchers ac-
companying the report seem to show
that II. o. Bursum and Furr Broth
crA always got their wild animal
bounty money and there was u lot
Of It. too. although Mr. Bursum APP
pears to have assigned some $1.i00
of his to his wife. who rcceipted for
1t in the name of l.. NJ. Bursum. In
fact, as a Wild animal killer the rec
ords show Mr.. l,ursum TO almost RI
val the mighty hunters. Theodore
Roosevelt. Nor IL there any record of
the fact that the money raised yearly
by the wild animal bounty levy was
pro-rated among the claims filed as
provided by the Batcman act.
There are also evidences that n
county officer discounted county war
rants and then cashcd them for their
run value ont of the current reVe-
nucs. although the fund from which
they should have bcen paid was at
that time depleted.
In one instance the sum of S5,37S
was transferred from the sinking fund
for the payment OF the county's bond
I'd Indebtedness to the general county
fund. an act which is said to have
been Illegal.
Warrants were drawn for current
claims without number
wcer paid and IN many cases the bills
were never approved ana tho amount
paid was frequently MANY dollars over
he amount of the original bill, even
double the amount in some eases.
In one Instance the county commits
'ioners borrowed $4,000 from n So-
zorro bank. but the money was never
,aid over tu the treasurer aud there
s no record Of how the money was
lisbursed, although the commission
RS repaid the money out of the coun-
y funds.
There is over $4,000 In unpaid
axes against the Santa Zee Railway
'ompany and this unpaid account
uns back for scNcrnl years, but there
$ no record Of II, being paid or of
my steps having been taken to coli
cct it,
Although the taxes OF one of tho
ounty's most prominent citizens. IL.
,. Hursum. are shown on the books
o have been delinquent annually
ince 1905. his name does not appear
n the delinrucnt tax list as publish
a. e. Baca. county assessor for
lany years, was paid SiO1 for a
Cense but there is no record that the
ioney ever reached the treasurer. The
nncclled check shows il was cashed
he same date as issued and il is en-
orscd by Mr.. Baca
one voucher was drawn for S9O.3O
,r putting In a crossing at Lemitar.
AT the Santa 'e railways itemized
III for putting in the crossing. which
al been filed. amounted 10 but
l5.30.
In 1911 vouchers were drawn TO paw
" six fountain pens. yet the report
lys these articles were not found on
and. Five of these vouchers were
rawn in the month of December.
here Is also county voucher drawn
favor OF the Hilton Mercantile
ompany for one box of cigars An
her voucher for $70 was drawn In
lvor OF an Albuquerque furniture