White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-12
NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN
"RETRENCHMENT" ADMINISTRATION
OLD BOARD CAUSES SLIGHT SQUEAK WHEELS
INCOMING COUNTY GOVERNMENT BEGIN TO TURN
OFFICIALS QUALIFY

&. McDOndld ana Mike tOnen, the
recently elected officials, took the
oath of Office. c. c. Caperton. the
hold-oyer member of the board, call
ed the meeting to order soon after
10 O'Clock, and the first business pro-
ceeded with was the election of a
chairman. The opening session of the
new board was attended with some
what strained relations, owing to the
choice of Mr.. Mcdonald as chairman,
an honor that Mr.. Caperton natural
ly expected would come to him. The
nomination was made by MIR. Cohen.
and seconded by Mr.. Mcdonald. Mr.
Caperton refused to second the ac-
ton. On the vote, Messrs, Cohen and
Mcdonald voted for Mcdonald. and
Mr.. Caperton voted no. Mr.. Nc
Donald did not question Mr.. caper-
tons right to aspire to the chairman
ship, but opposed the choice on the
grounds that In his (MeDonald's)
opinion, Mr.. Caperton was not the
right man for the place, stating that
several acts had been done by the
commissioners during the past two
years, that in his opinion was not
regular nor legal. principally in the
matter of bills against the county be-
ing approved that should not be ap-
proved. For this reason Mr.. Nc
Donald thought 1t no more than right
that he second his own nomination.
Mr.. Caperton took exceptions to Mr..
MoDonald's statements. declaring in
effect that as he was a new man on
the board two years ago. he had been
influenced more or less in his actions,
although he had not always agreed
with his constituents. He denied that
any bills had been settled that were
not right, and If there were any such
he would like TO see them.
After the election of the chairman.
Mr.. Mcdonald as the self-eonstitut-
ed watch dog of the treasury. made
a little speech in which he set forth
his views as TO the conduct of county
business. which he intended TO con-
duct on business principles and in
strict compliance with the law. He
called attention to the fact that the
county treasury was depleted and
that economy and retrenehment were
things necessary TO consider. along
with the question of good govern
ment.
Following the reading of the min
utes of the last meeting. Chairman
Mcdonald took exceptions to the
contracts whereby William Mcknight
was engaged to assist the district at
torney in the suit of the county VS.
Warwick. Mitchell q Co. for audit
ing the county book, now pending in
the federal court at Carson, and the
contract employing Or. Gleason as
county physician for January.
Chairman Mcdonald believed the
contracts were not binding on the
present board of county commission
ers, particularly in the case of the
suit. as he believed the newly elect
ed district attorney was in every way
competent TO conduct the defense OF
the suit. without any assistance. Dis
triet Attorney McFadden was present
at the meeting. and said that the ap-
pontment of Mr.. Mcknight to assist
him had been done without his know
ledge or consent.
District Attorney elect Billings,
was also present at the meeting. but
had not qualified. He was asked II
in his opinion the contracts were
binding, or words to that effect, and
giving his views that they were not,
the minutes were accepted with the
two exceptions eliminated.
The matter of bonds was then TAX
en- up, and the bonds of the incoming
district attorney was fixed at the same
amount as that of his predecessor,
$4,000 BY afternoon Mr.. Billings
had qualified, w. b. Graham and Ed.
Millard going as his sureties.
Ii being the unanimous opinion OF
the commissioners that surety bond
instead of an individual bond would
be preferable for the county treas
urer, Mr. Carpenter. the treasurer
elect was given opportunity to see
what action along that line could be
taken. According to law, the county
pays the premium on the tresurer's S