The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-10-27

II. o. Bursum, Republican
candidate for governor, his
managers declare, is a plain,
honest, common, successful
business man, who would make
a business governor.
They say he would secure
economy and efficiency in the
administration of state funds.
Passing by the question of
Mr.. Bursum's economy and
eficier "" in the handling of
state funds as superintendent
of the penitentiary. it is inn
portant to take a look at the
handling Of public funds in
SocorrO county. where Mr..
Bursttm has been political and
official boss for years-where
he has been to all intents and
purposes the governor"
The treatment Of public
funds in county completely
under Mr.. Bursum s direction
should give an idea of what
Bursum's methods would be
in the treatment of state
funds.
A report to the governor by
the assistant travelling audi
tor in 1912, covering an in
vestigation of Socorro county
offices. charged that:
Wild animal bounty claims aa-
gregatlng some $4,000 since 1907
had not been paid.
Meanwhile wild animal bounty
claims were pa d to Bursun,
through a Bursum relative and to
few preferred claimants among
his henchmen, regardless of the
priority Of hund r s of Other
claimants. The complete list Of
claimants for wild animal boun-
ties totaled some 1000.
At a time when he couldn't lie.
gally cash a warrant because no
owed the county taxes, wild ami.
NAL bounty claims totallng slice
wa paid to a near relative as las
sinnee." The warrant was en-
dorsed by the relative and Bur.
sum.
This payment was made posi-.
BILE by the transfer of $1,000 to
the wild animal bounty fund from
the assessors fund. This $1,000
was ultimately to come out Of the
county road fund.
The sum Of $500 paid by the
United States to Socorro county
for use Of the court house for the
Federal Court couldn't be found.
There was nothing to show 1t had
ever reached the treasurer.
Furniture for the court house
which the county was reported to
have couldn't be found.
over $1,000 had been borrowed
by the county commissioners
from a b K at MagdaIena and
disbursed, apparently by personal
check OF the chairman and clerk
of the board. The proceeds Of the
loan were not shown on the treas
urer's books. The money was re-
paid out of the court house and
Jail and road funds. It was o.
tensibly used for court house and
Jail repairs.
An advance Of 81 900 was made
TO the assessor, payable from the
road fund If deducted from the as.
SCISSORS future commissions, the
amount to be then transferred to
the wild animal bounty fund. The
auditor regarded this as an at
tempt to eVade the Bateman law
and illegally make up a def.
cheney In salary.
No accounting was found Of
$513 received from mercantile
licenses.
No accounting was found Of
1882 received from liquor H.
eenses.
The auditor also charged that
accounts were found oVerpaid,
stubs found missing from license
poOktt improper expenditures us
covered, laws regarding leVies ig-
nored, certificate requirements
Ignored and money illegally kited
back and forth from one fund to
another.
The auditor charged that ooun-
ty officials had dealt in county
warrants to their personal gain.
A carload Of cement, 400 sacks,
worth UeVeral hundred dollars,
paid for by the county, was NOT
received by the county at the
place II was to have been deliV-
cred, according TO the lnVestiga-
tor.
He charged that furniture,
worth $40, paid for by county
warrants, was sent to the homo OF
E. n. sweet, county clerk, and