The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-04-07

opinion, finally Investigated the SIT
uation and entered his denial that
the conditions described existed. He
gave his article and interview to a
competitive newspaper to be pub
is also true that the vouchers filed
indicate that some of the deputy as
SCISSORS went home several miles each
night or Saturday night, as the case
might be, and back to their work the
next day or Monday morning and
charged the county 20 cents per mile
each way for going to and returning
from their homes to their work.
We also find evidence of other
charges that were more or less illegal
and which bills were o. KID by the
assessor and allowed by the county
commissioners without a sufficient
examination to detect these items,
and it is our judgment that the
heads of all departments should keep
such strict watch over the expense
vouchers of their deputies as not to
permit such glaring illegal charges
as have been made.in some of these
instances. We regret to add in this
connection that the records indicate
that the work Of the old board Of
county commissioners, in passing on
and allowing claims was either done
in q very great hurry or with q reck-
less disregard Of the expenditure Of
the public funds.
Your committee suggests to this
committee that 1t recommend to the
board Of county commissioners to
discontinue the illegal practice Of al
lowing mileage to any officers ex-
cept the sheriff and his deputies and
the coroner, when acting as sheriff.
1t is true that the advent of the auto
mobile has wrought wonderful
changes in living conditions, in speed
and means Of locomotion, but the
law has never been changed, and in
the judgment of your committee any
allowance of mileage to any officer
in the transaction of any county bust
ness other than to the sheriff and his
deputies as above stated, is illegal
and should be discontinued.
z. Your committee further finds
that Mr.. Malcolm himself in his work
in the upper end of the county did
not charge full mileage at 20 cents
per mile both ways, but appeared
before the board of county commits
siohers after making out and filing
his bill, and stated that he hardly
thought it was right for him to
charge full mileage on that particu-
lar trip and at his request the mile
age was cut in that particular bill
eighteen miles.
8. Your committee further finds
that the firms and individuals men,
toned in the issue of the Idaho Re-
publican dated February IA, 1921,
with the statement that the names
did not appear on the tax roll for
1920, is correct to this extent; that
each of said firms and individuals
own certain personal property in the
way of equipment, libraries, ETC., that
was not assessed, and is not upon the
roll for that year.
9. Your committee further finds
that there may be discrepancies in
the way Of comparisons on both real
and personal property wherein the
did not, and other parties
might not agree with the valuation
placed upon said property by the as
sesser, but this is merely matter
Of individual judgment and we find
nothing therein upon which to base
any. complaint.
In conclusion your committee
that this committee
recommend to the county commits
sioners:
First, that they devise some means
Of providing the assessor and his
deputies with a less expensive means
Of conveyance when it is necessary
Tor them to travel about the county
n their assessment work.
Second, that they scrutinize the
expense bills of deputy assessors and
Ill other parties in the employ of the
county more closely and carefully
han has been the custom heretofore.
Third, that they take necessary
Ind proper steps to aid the assessor
n assessing all the migratory and
proper steps to aid the assessor in as
'esing all the migratory live took
'osible in the county during the
rear.
Fourth, that they take the proper
md necessary steps to collect the de-
inquent personal taxes that have not
been cancelled and are
low borne upon the assessment rolls.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. +. Cobbley,
ATTEST:
LOUIS FELT, Secretary.