Imperial Valley press., 1919-12-01

the legislature made it possible
for the appointment Of two addi-
tiOnal assistants, the efficiency of
this office has made itself felt
throughout the county. Mr..
Simon asserts that two thirds of
the criminal litigation is caused
by the foreign and colored popu-
latiOn, principally the Mexican,
but that this is to be expected in
view of OEr proximity to the bor-
der. Cases OF insanity have de-
creased in number and Probation
Officer A. w. Swanson states
that there are also fewer cases
of delinquent minors all of which
tends to show that the county is
taking a stride upward morally.
The County Officers
County Clerk Major S. Cook, whose
office is also the meeting place of the
board of supervisors, is about the
busiest man in the county. In addi-
ton to his being county clerk and ex-
officio clerk of the superior court, MIR.
Cook is the couty purchasing agent,
registrar, clerk of the board Of sup
ervisors and naturalization officer.
In seeking naturalization recent ap-
plicat was asked his port of etnry. He
stated that he did not know but
thought that it was near Yuma. Ev-
identity he also thought that the Unit
ed States was somewhere in Imperial
valley. At any rate Major agrees
that answers to necessary questions
are sometimes about as clear as the
directions Of the American in London
when he told the Englishman that
the way to get to FIJI Islands was to
cross the Atlantic to New York, take
the trains to San Francisco, and then
turn to the left.
All records relating to judicial pro-
ceedings are kept in the archives of
the county clerks office and with the
two departments of the superior court
now in session the increase of bust
ness has necessitated an increase in
the office force. Under Mr.. Cooks
efficient direction the increased bus
mess has been systemizcd so that this
office running with smoothness
which is highly commcndable.
Efficient Men
The auditor, w. D. Carey, may be
found in his office in a remote corner
at the rear of the court house, in
which are also the offices of the treas
urer, tax collector, assessor, and re-
corder.' Mr.. Carey is what may be
termed the safety valve of the county
finance. All warrants on the county
treasury are obtained here, and for
that reason, though unostensibly To-
Gated, this office is more popular than
that of N. j. Reid, our tax collector.
All county funds and fee books are
examined by the auditor and report
made each month of the money on
hand in the county treasury. Mr..
Carey reports the county in good
shape financially, aside from the re-
cent obligations incurred by reason
of the large bond issues.
C. w. Barton, county treasurer;
Frank Erzinger, recorder, and Wiley
w. Weaver, assessor, have been
working with unusual efficiency, but
nevertheless under a handicap be-
cause of the cramped quarters in
which they are forced to work.
A. p. Shibley, whose office is
in the old county Jail, at the rear
of the courthouse, is not yet con-
vinced that this place, which was
not good enough for criminals, is
nice enough for county super
intendent of schools to hold forth.
The superintendent is, however.
proud of the schools of the county,
which number more than go.
With the large school bond issues
of late, new buildings are expect
ed to replace many of the less
modern structures, which is mere
ly in keeping with the attitude of
our citizens in the past. The
county is determined to keep its