The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-01-06
Grave Difference in Figures
of Clerk and Chronicle
County Clerk Fleming Submits Statement Showing
Handsom Balance in all District Funds

In the last issue of the Grantsve County Clerk s. f.
Fleming writes at length concerning county and
that the balances in the district road funds
dan O5 Center $3.50 Sherman S45 Lee $5C6 Washing
ton S733 He admits that the special road fund is overravn
79 $40 than the charged to be in its issue
OF December 9th when forth condition of the
road finances
The Chronicle indeed reoed see the statement and
we can ma 1t IN our heart to really and truly hope that will
that there is credit of the various district
road funds as his letter would have appear gone
over our figures carefully and to the conclusion
that Clerk Fleming has made grave his audit Let
eIeie oistncty understood that however gifted
may be IN accounting tell at this time certainty what
the condition of the 19495 AS we stated at the beg
OF these articles the figures upon estimates the
amount OF denquencies generations outstanding ORDERS ser
ms commissions. etc. be taken consideration and
these cannot be figured until the end year So the
charitable take of the County statements is that
he has overlooked of the deductions ought be made
we know OF no reason why he should be by desire
to mead and deceive the public we accordingly refrain
from imputng such motives to him.
Here the Chronicle deny the charge contained in
CLERK Fleming letter that acuated by improper motives
e set ort what 1t believed and still believes notwthstand-
ing the Clerks audit to be approximately true statement
the road finances Exaggerated reports were going
broadcast the county concerning finances and we
it our duty the Court and public correct the
and give true statement of affairs This endeavored to do
and have msatements with vau, ro
misleading the public.
AS we have repeatedly impossible to ascertain the
exact condition of the funds until settlement is made Our
figures made from estimate upon the net
o e sca year endng June Oth 1914 and the vaua-
tons for this and last upon orders that have been
paid by the Sheriff and the orders outstanding against the various
uhs FOR example, For the 1914 the for
the Center district road fund 40 on avauation
OF 81 BAL 942O For 1915 the total valuation if the estimates
prepared by the County at the first AUGUST term for +o
county Court to lay the road levy from believed 1887
1872 reduction of $454 not this heavy reduction ct
the net collections for 1915 from at least $3.50? Or
IN other words will not the the collections received from ten
cent levy $454 co. the the reduction amount
to more than $27140 If WILL the Chronicle is eminen
right In saying that there only balance 90 in the
the center district road fund For when the settlement
made that fund overdrawn S12549 were outstanding
orders to the amount of 1925 since settlement the Court has
allowed orders on that fund to the of 1854 which sums
added together amount $94S which subtracted from
leaves balance of $15452 Clerk Flemngs audit showed
the balance be $4,000 There is such difference ta tho
Chronicle almost persuaded suggest to the County Court that
before 1t begins slash and Center district road fund
it should send the graded have couple Of sixth
graders come down and look the books the Clerks
office
Lack of forbds go into detail as regards our
gures concerning the other funds Our process reasoning
similar 10 that SHOWN above and
conservative estimates From figures for Center dis
ct 1t appears that we have been surely
the reduction the collections Center district
be more than $240 Our fear some of the funds
are in worse shape than first reckoned
But there would be arguments concerning the condition Of
the county funds if the system bookkeeping and
which was put in force few years ago which cost the
y hundreds of dollars for books supplies were in
working order 1t ought to be that taxpayer step into the
County Clerks office and by looking the Records of REGENTS
and tell at glance what the approximate balance
IS 10 Ce cred or 1und The County Court should constant
y advised of the condition of each every fund before it
lows claims and issues orders We agree with Clerk Elem
ing that it duty of the County Engineer 70 keen M
Court so advised Our understanding that the duty of the
Clerk OF the County Court to keep from which the Court
could keep advised without the great trouble of an audit
mere Is absolutely nothing in Chapter 81 of Acts of 1909
which created the office of County Engineer that makes it part
OF his duty to keep the Court advised of conditions of the
treasury Absolutely nothing and here defy Clerk FLEMING
20 ouuce letter from any lawyer the county giving opinion
hat such is the duty Of the County Engineer The Chronicle
holds no brief for former County Road Engineer Edwin Stache
He well able to defend himself in any quarre that NAV arise
between him and the County Clerk But let it be distinctly nm
derstood that not the duty the Engineer to ee, the Court
informed as to the condition of county finances nor he rspons
e Tor the overdrafs and low balances the funds to the extern
at IL can be recovered from him and his bondsmen The
gon mat the Court compelled issue for claims Ger
tneu oy e ROAD Engineer is simply CUFF idea IS that
e court should have known the approximate condition of the
FUNDS and when saw the balances about gone should
nave refused to pay the claims certified bv the
Engineer and then would have matter for the road
workers and Che Engneer TO have settLad aaor-