Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-05
COMMISSION FORM OF COUNTY
GOVERNMENT, ELECTlNG Three,
FAVORED I'm REVENUE REPORT
Change in Grand Jury System Proposed
Would Alter Method of Distributing Cur
rent School Funds, Using Number of Teach
ers and Attendance as Basis.
OnY CLINTON p. ANDERsON.)

J.. hNbILhoC-N.l
county. such arrearage amounts to
$25, 900. 1t is recommended
by this commission that the han
ding of the predatory animal
problem be entrusted to the cattle
and sheep sanitary boards in CO.
operation with the proper federal
agencies. Funds required should,
we believe. be provided from the
proceeds OF a special levy upon
those industries which benefit di-
rectly from the determination of
predatory animals"
Under the head of county gov
ernment, the commission reviews
gain the matter of delinquent
taxes and the publication of the
delinquent tax rolls at a rate which
it believes to be higher than is
warranted. 1t also shows that the
payments on county officials bonds
amount to $4,000 annually, while
the cost of insuring county prop
erty amounts to the same sum.
The commission urges that some
method be found to reduce this
burden upon the taxpayers.
On the matter of purchasing
supplies for departments. the COM
mission recommends that the clerk
be made purchasing agent for the
county but should be limited as to
the amount for which he may
enter into contracts.
Suggested Adjustment.
In the suggested reorganization
of county government, the COM
mission urges that only the three
county commissioners be elected
and the rest be appointive, The
clerk, treasurer and surveyor
should be appointed by the county
commissioners, in the revenue
body's opinion. while the county
school superintendent might be ap-
pointed by the county board OF
education which is appointed by
the district Judge The assessor
would be an appointed official in
the general taxAtion scheme for
the state. The sheriff would also
be appointed by the district judge
and would ba responsible to him,
his salary and expenses being paid
out of the court fund.
Each county should have a dis
trict court clerk" says the report,
appointed By the judge of the dis
trict court. Such clerk would
also be entrusted with the duties
now. devolving upon the probate
Judge and 1p should be responsible
to the judge of the court.
"Whethef any of the foregoing
suggested changes are brought
about or net, the commission unan-
imously recommends that the
terms of county officials as we'll as
of its state officials be made four
years instead of two years. There
was no Adequate reason in either
case why the terms originally pre-
scribed by the constitution should
have been changed"
Grand jury Plan Costly.
Considering the grand jury sys-
tenn the re,enue commission finds
that it invtlves vast amount of
expense, filbt. in the fact that jury
men have 10 be used in preparing
J the indictment and again in trying
! the case. nd that second, wit
nesses dray per diem and mileage
when Appearing before the grand
jury and aain when the case is on
] trial. Thefeport declares:
AN exahination of the consti-
tuition and tatutes of number of
western sites discloses the fact
that the sstem of compulsory
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