The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1915-03-20
ANENT AUDITING BOOKS OF
COTNTY.

The following interesting cor
respondence is from the Cleveland
Enterprise:
Philadelphia. Miss, March S, 1915.
Mr.. Sam Knowlton.
Perthire, Miss.
Dear Mr.. Knowllon:
Inotice in the Cleveland Enter
prise under date of February 25th,
your correspondence with Mr.. A.
E. Graham in reference to the aud
iting Of the books of Bolivar coun-
jty. 1t scenes that you entirely
overlooked the proposition that
l made the county. This propo-
sition would have abridged the lit
tie difficulty about securing money
to pay for the work. l offered to do
the work OH per diem basis or for
so per cent of The recoveries made
by me. This proposition I sub
mitted othe board of supervisors
at their meeting ln February. Nv
proposition is still open and for
your information ! will state 1t
again
will andit the books and ac-
counts of all county Offices for
period of as many years back as the
board may desire, and will submit
typewriter report of my findings
and also statistical table showing III
analyzed form the revenue and ex-
pense aud the per capita cost OF
government in your county. so
that the board and the citizens may
be informed as to the economy OF
the administration of the oonnty
affairs, my only compensation to
be so per cent of the receveries
made by me. = If the board had
rather, l wot,id be glad to take
the work OH per diam basis, and
will submit you an estimate as to
the outside cost of work. ! should
be glad if you would publish this
letter also.
Very truly your friend,
(Signed) CHAs. J. MOORE.
BOARD, S STATEMENT.
We are advised that Mr., Ehas.
I. Moore intends publishing in this
issue Of your paper letter to a
member OF the board Of supervisors
For the information of the tax-pay-
ers, the board asks that ycu pub
lish the following statement.
Thv board is advised by their at
tomey, and by opinion from the
attorneys general Office, that they
have no right to EMPLOY any person
! to audit the, books Of Bolivar conn
Ity on percentage basis.
The chancery clerk bv law, Is
the county auditor. and is paid q
salray Of fourteen hurdred dollars
per year as such. Since the pres
ent board and the present clerk have
b zen in Office, each year the cler
and Mr.. Chas. J. Moore. who was
employed BY the olerk, have sssur-
ed the board that the clerk. as
county auditor, has complied with
the law which requires that he keel
accounts with aud check up all
officers handling county money.
AS a check on the county audit,
| it is the duty of the state revenue
agent to investigate the books,
accounts. and vouchers Of all fiscal
officers of every county, and to sue
for, collect and paw over all monies
improperly Withheld. on all sums SO
recovered, whether by himself OF
not, he is allowed twenty per cent
Our attorney is of the opinion
that we cannot contract for work
on a percentage hasis. Therefore
the cost to audit the books. accord
| ing to the lowest estimate. bach
saw fiteen years, will not be les:
than four thousand dlolars, and
probably much more.
With the law providing and psy'
ling for two auditors. it seems tha
the work ought to be done withob
cost, but if the majority OF the eiti'
zens of Bo ivar county want to have
an additional auditor employed
1.-The board will do everything II
their power, under the law. 10 hav'
a proper, thorough. and legal aud
it made,
Respectfully submitted,
w. A. Speakes.
S. D. Knowlton,
]. L. Lemons.