The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-01-11
WHEN THE CATS AWAY
THE MICE WILL PLAY
What Happens to State Funds
When There's No One
Looking.


Pierre, S. D., Jan. 10.-ln official cir
cles any state auditor who INDUCES IN
critical inspection of vouchers is eX-
tremely unpopular, and for that reason
the dear people should be very cau-
tious about accepting general otflclal
estimates on the way business is con-
Quoted in that office. j. T.. HandllE,
who commenced his second term as
state auditor on January ], has shown
unusual talent as a watchdog. This
tendency resulted in efforts to prevent
his denomination, but the efforts failed.
Feeling that his methods have been
indicated to some extent, Mr.. Hanuln
Is scrutiniZing the vouchers closer than
ever. The Importance of this work is
partially shown in the fact that Nouch-
ers rejected by the state auditor during
the past year totaled bou $4,000.
The following voucher. held up last
week, is a sample of privileges taken
by state institutions in expanding APP
preparations:
Aberdeen, S. D.. Dec. 10, 1916.
State of South Dakota to
Strohmeier Flower Shop, Or.
For supplies Northern Normal and Ina
duStrial SCHOOL,:
NOV. "a doz. large roses telearaphed
to Madison, SIS
Nov. Is doz. large roses telegraphed
TO Boone, ~
~. -, -
On account of the death OF relatives Of
Faculty members.
Approved December IS.
w. e. Johnson. President.
(This voucher was also approved by the
chairman and secretary of the state board
Of regents).
This is not presented as an extreme
case, but as one which happened to be
in sight and not calline for suecial re-
search. Here is another case on the
auditors desk and being brought tc
the attention of legislative members:
Al the 1918 session a special arato-
prlailon OF $1,000 was made Tor the ust
Oh the state engineer IN stuqElhS lhe
arteslan Wen situation in the state
WIN SPECIAL reference TO the pfopaple
0uraplilty OF present flows.
~ mat appropriation Sl,@5t.4? mas
peen consumed. The expenditures in
ciude $ii5.42 for mileage and S226 i,
iees Tor the state engineers wife, these
TWO items totaling S999.42. If the state
mas enough about It's water
IioWs 10 Justlfy the expense, perhaps
nobody but the auditor VIII ever care,
IN the early stages OF his operations,
STARE engineer Derr was using a new
a~utoInople ana presenting expense
vouchers on me BASIS OF ~ cents a niie
Tor the use OF the machine. An autos
moplie dealer informed a deputy IN thS
AUDITORS office that an arrangement
Iaa peen mace WHEREBY the state en-
Elneer was TO own the machine afsei
the nlllease yinen a 10
TUG purchase price. n state
wien CARED onto the carpet, oenled any
such advancement, OUT tae aualtor say
.ne engineer retained possession OF tn1
niacnihe anu soid IL, later, TO a man ~
IierIe. " course. me engineer S Wofl
Will oe .dheIi as " liie iniiease ciiafse
aIrahgeInen, pu. tnere are some per
sons mere "ho Ihinh the hlacHlhe pc
ioAsS W ~ STATE.
More Voucher Stories.
The stories told in salary and eX-
pense vouchers are too numerous for
one newspaper article, yet the fact still
remains that the South Dakota tax rata
is the lowest of any state in The union.
In view of this condition, there is a
natural tendency to wonder what the
showing would be in Iowa n some
other high taxation states.
In the law creating the tax COM
mission and it's official staff h salary
of h secretary was fixed at SIZE q
month n a provision was included
for necessary clerk hire, with salaries
not stated. The man who formerly
held the position Of secretary, at a sal
airy of SIPS, was reduced to the rank of
clerk during the past e and given
a salary allowance of $50 a month.
Can you beat it?
These specimens impress the neces
sity of employing particular care in Sc
.lecting auditors. They should rather
be chosen because they are ~resoIute
men than good fellows"
Those who assume that the present
legislative session will be tame on gem
eral business questions are doing so
ditor's temperament into account. He
processes to take his responsibilities
seriously ana Ihere Is no Vaiid reason
tpr dues.aondmg ms MOVIES. NO rae
l.uI NJ. = ih~aheuvsTs are involved, as
WIetl "a. e. emerson was state audi
ZOE. VT. Hanuil is PLAINLY up
auoul me way stare business Is con-
llu;Gseu. ne con1ends tlat MS o1flce is
aslioeratsiy reslrlcled on neip n ad-
uaals lilasiIhes u oTder 70 mininlze ms
supeIvlslon as Hlucn as possible. he