Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-05-21

pointed by the Board of county COM
missioners to make an audit showing
the financial condition of Clearwater
county covering the period from the
creation of the county up to January
11th., 1915, the time at which the
new officers assumed their positions,
as filed with the county auditor
last Friday. The report is very in
teresting and should be placed in the
hands of every taxpayer of Clearwater
county, but owing to its extreme
length and the large amount of tabu-
lated matter this is inadvisable owing
to the great expense that it would in
volve.
The item which will naturally at
tract most attention is that showing
the amount of indebtedness of the
county. 1t was stated during the last
campaign that this amount was in ex-
cess of 500, 900, and that contention
was maintained by the Republican and
denied by those then in Office. The
report shows that the contention was
we'll founded, the indebtedness being
SIG, 9O9.54.
Commenting on the Office of Probate
judge, the report says: wv. B.
Kinne held the Office during the years
1911 and 1912. In that period l find
fees due to this Office unaccountsd for
amounting to 81. 20. $40 Exiibit 10.
During Mr.. Kinne's administration
the records are kept in such manner
~ to give = clear history Of all
matters coming before the Probate
court. - This difference Of so. 20
was due, probably to an oversight in
collecting fees, or in misinterpreting
the law prescribing the fees to be
collected.
'Mr. Patrick H. Blake was Probate
Judge for year ending January 18th. J,
1914. regret that l am compelled
to severely criticize the conduct of
this Office, as shown by the records,
during Mr.. Blakes' incumbency.
While the failure of w. B. Kinne to
collect or to account for fees amount
ing to $40. 20 in a period of two years
may properly be termed an oversight,
the multiplicity of items not account
ed for in the single year of Mr.
Blake's administration clearly shows,
if not incompetence, gross negelct.
This statement is corroborated by the
condition of the records of that year.
For fees unacconuted for by P. H.
Blake and fees collected by him, but
not turned into county treasury,
amounting to $12O.45, see Exhibit
IL.
After referring to some matters of
minor Importance, the report con-
tinues 1.-The fees collected by Mr..
Blake for quarter ending September
30th., 1918, amounting to $49.20 as
shown by report and by Probate court
book fee, have not been turned in
to the county treasury, according to
the records of the treasurer's office.
No record of the receipt of this sum
can be found in treasurer's s register of
receipts, nor in treasurer's report of
receipts to auditor, nor has the audi
tor issued an "Order to Receive" for
this sum. :"
'.Mr. l. R. Crow held the office of
Probate judge for the year ending
January 11th., 1915. Fees unaccount-
ed for by him, amounting to $107. .55,
will be found in exhibit IL. The in
excusable carelessness that character.
lied the period of P H. Blake's ten.
ure of Office was equalled, if not ex.
celled, for the year 1914.
Sheriff. "Years 1911 and 1912, Johr
Gaffney. Years 1918 and 1914, A. L.
Harper. Fees unaccounted for BY
John Gaffney amount to $42.s2. Tn,
greater portion of this occurred
through mistaken idea of percentag,
to be collected by sheriff's Office fo
commission on receiving and payin,
over money on execution. Records
during Mr.. Gaffney's administration
were we'll kept.
The records of A. L. Harper's ad
ministration as sheriff are in a mos
lamentable condition. Also. il
several instances, his quarterly re
ports to board of commissioners Civ
no details whatever, and are in tn
following form: Fees collected b,
this office, 5 :"
| And these reports" have actuall,
been approved and sanctioned by tn
board. From available data, an
from files of District and Probat
courts. | have compiled list of fee
not accounted for in Mr.. Harper
quarterly reports, and from this ha
been deducted the total Of unitemize
fees turned in by him to treasurer
leaving balance due to the count
Of $ 121.87."