The Robesonian., 1917-10-22
COUNTY OFFICES

Handling County Affairs is Usu-
ally Unbusiness Like-Every
County Should Have an Audi
tor and Office of Treasurer
Should be Abolished.
Chapel Hill, Oct. 16-Judge Gilbert
L. Stephenson of Winston-Salem,
spoke to the North Carolina club last
night on County Offices-Legal On
ties and Court House Customs. Lit
tie attention was given to the latter
part Of the subject, because. he said.
there are as many courthouse Gus
toms as there are different men hold
ing county offices-say 5000, all told
i The constitution of North Carolina
provides for the election of the fol-
lowing officers in every county: clerk
OF the Superior court, sheriff, coro-
nor, treasurer, register of deeds, sur
veyor, and five commissioners. But
it also allows the General Assembly
to modify, change, or abrogate any
or all of the provisions concerning
county officers and substitute others
in their place.
In addition to these constitutional
county officers Others have been Great
ed by public, or public local statutes. AS
a result, county officers average 80 to
the county in North Carolina. AT
least 10 counties have county courts
with a judge, clerk, and usually a
solicitor. At least six counties have
highway commissions. Practically al
have county physicians and superin.
tendents of schools and county homes
Thirteen have whole-time health Of
flcers. Some have county attorneys
to advise all officers. Ninety-five
have a farm demonstration agent
officer, under the new law
The county auditor is an Officer
rapidly growing into favor. Alread,
II counties have auditors, and ever,
county should have such an officer
The office of treasurer should b,
abolished in every county with a rep
: utable bank. Three counties have n,
banks. The office has already bee1
( abolished in some SO counties.
The duties Of the clerk Of the Sup
= erior court, sheriff, and register o
3 deeds are multifarious. Their tim
. is largely consumed in accommodating
the public without charge. To ge
= at their fees accurately is impossible
because much of their work is graf
i uitous to their party supporters. Som
officers have been so generous t
their constituents as actually to "a
into debt in office.
Handling county affairs in mos
counties is the product Of antiquit
and. is usually unbusinesslike in th
! extreme. The new officer usually tn
| ploys the former incumbent OF h
assistant to pilot him along until
learns the ropes. County officer
are not often expert bookkeepel
and this is why so strongly advoca1
a county auditor in every county. L
protects the officials even more ths
who comes out short in his aecoun
has willfully misappropriated ere ce,
of the funds.
In conclusion Judge Stephens,
made the following suggestions:
1. The abolishment Of the office
county treasurer in every county Wi
a reputable bank.
2. Creation of the office Of aut
tor in every county, with the annu
auditing of the books of every Of
Ger and the publishing of these ]
ports in simple language. Groups
counties could combine in EMPLOY
an auditor.
3. Placing county officers on s
ary basis solely; and, as naturally f
. lows, the annual accounting by
officer to the county for all fees, CO
. missions, and compensations of eve
sort received by him in virtue of
office. The surveyor and coror
might be left on the fee basis.