El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-10-19

tell US, is a plain, honest, enFn~
mon, successful business mar
who would make q business gDv-
ern0r.
They say he would secure soon
omy and efficiency In the admin
istration Of state funds.
Passing by the question Of Mr.
Bursum's economy and effscien
cy' In the handling Of state funds
as superintendent Of the peniteH-
tiary, let as take a look at the
handling Of public funds In E0eur-
70 county, where Mr.. BHraum haa
been political and official boss
for years-where he has been to
AN intents and purposes the
governor
The treatment Of public funds
in a county completely under Mr.
Bursum's direction should give
an idea Of what Bursumss meth
DDS would be In the treatment Of
state funds.
"A report to the governor By the
assistant travelling auditor in
1912, covering an Investigation Of
Socorro county offices. charged
that:
Wild animal bounty claims ag-
gregatIng Some $4,000 since 1907
had not been paid.
Meanwhile Wild animal bounty
claims were paid TO Bursum
through a Bursum relative and to
a few preferred claimants among
his henchmen, regardless Of the
priority Of hundreds Of other
claimants. Tho complete list Of
claimants for wild animal boun-
ties totals some $1,000.
At a time when ne couldn't le-
aalIy cash a warrant because he
owed the county taxes, Wild ami
NAL bounty claims totaIlng $f,129
was paid to a near relative as 'as-
signee.s The warrant was en-
dorsed by the relative and Bur
sum. Whether Mr.. Bursum's
whole claim Of $f,253 for 1so9-t0
was paid is not shown.
This payment was made posi-
BILE by the transfer Of $1,000 70
the wild animal bounty fund from
the assessors fund. This $1,000
was ultimately to come cut Of the
county road fund.
The sum Of $500 paid by the
United States TO Socorfo county
for use Of the court house for the
federal court couldn't be found.
There wat nothing to show It had
ever reached the treasurer.
Furniture for the court house
which the county was reported to
have couldn't be found.
over 5000 had been borrowed
by the county commissioners
from q bank al Magdalena and
discussed, apparently by personal
check Of the chairman and clerk
Of the board. The proceeds Of the
loan were not shown on the teras-
urer's books. The money was re-
paid out Of the court house and
Jail and road funds. II was cs
tenslbly used for court house and
jail repairs.
An advance Of $1,000 was made
to the assessor, payable from the
road fund If deducted from the as
SCISSORS future commissions, the
amount to be then transferred 70
the Wild animal bounty fund. The
auditor regarded this as an at
tempt to evade the Hateman law
and Illegally make up a d~eflclen-
cy In salary.
No accounting was found of
$5t3 receive from mercantile H.
censes.
No accounting was found Of
$1,8f2 received from liquor IL
censes.
The auditor also charged that
accounts were found cverpaid,
stubs found missing from license
books, improper expenditures dis
covered, laws regarding levles lg-
ncred, certificate requirements
ignored and money illegally kIted
back and forth from one fund to
another.
The auditor charged that coun-
ty officials had dealt In county
warrants to their personal gain.
A carload Of cement, 400 sacks,
worth several hundred dollars,
paid for by the county, was not
received by the county at the
place It was to have been deIiy-
cred, according to the investiga-
tor.
He charged that furniture
worth $40, paid for BY county
warrants, was sent to the home Of
z. H. Sweet, county clerk, and
was kept by him for three years
Or more or until The appoint.
ment Of a Democratic district at
torney. Then II was sent to the
court house.
He charged that county war
rants were used to pay for foun.
tain pens and cigars.
That county warrants were
used to pay "eonstabIes and emIs-
sarles," and that such Of the men
who were located denied ever re-
ceivina the money.
That e. II. Sweet drew $3.50 for
delivery Of ballot boxes"
Adjustment accounts listed by
the auditor showed: G. &. San.
chez, sheriff, $645.67; E. Il.