Imperial Valley press., 1921-07-09
SHERIFF IS
GIVEN HIGH
PRAISE BY
AUDIT OR
Report on Applestill's Office
Is One Bright Spot in Re-
port Filed With Criticism
and Censure.

The recent report Of A. G. Arnold,
expert public accountant employed by
the grand jury to investigate the af-
fairs of the different county offices
and the county funds in that portion
devoted TO the results of his investi-
cation of the office of Sheriff G. M.
Applestill pays that official high
honor and commends him for the eff
cient, orderly and painstaking man.
ner in which his office is conducted.
1t is a bright spot in long report re-
plete with criticism and censure. Mr..
sheriff's office is as follows: ....,....-
Exhibit M, schedules v, vi, w,
have been prepared to show the ac-
countability of the sheriff, as Of June
30, 1920. To prepare these schedules
as directed by your committee, we
have made complete examination of
the books and records Of the sheriff's
office. Receipts were found for all
money paid into the office, and
vouchers are on hand for all money
disbursed, with the result that all
money and the earnings of the office,
have been accounted for, with the eX-
ception of the very small difference
as shown on this schedule.
All entries made in the register of
actions were checked in detail. and
where the handling Of money was
either to or from another department
of the county government, such items
were checked to those departmental
records. The register of actions is con-
scientiously kept, and entries record
ed in very complete manner.
In checking the mileage fees on
civil services collected by the sheriff,
to which he is entitled according to
the law, it was found that the same
amounted to $2678.55. Out of these re.
ceipts, we found through an eXamina-
ton of the cash record of the sheriff's
office, as we'll as by an examination
of the private accounts of the sheriff,
that $225S.4l was expended for the
maintenance and upkeep of automo-
biles and for other expenses necessary
TO the performance of the duties re-
Quired, for which the sheriff had had
no reimbursement from the county
Thus it will be seen that only small
net earning has accrued to the sheriff
on mileage fees.
The volume of work in handling the
civil department of the office has
overtaxed the ability of the deputies
assigned to this department. 1927 new
cases and actions were filed during the
year, representing an average of more
than six new cases recorded, services
rendered and completed each day
from which one may readily see the
enormous volume of work performed
by this department with two deputies
inasmuch as the county is approx
mately 100 miles long by 60 miles
wide.
The criminal records were checked
in detail as to the commitment an(
release of prisoners and the collection
of fines and bail moneys, and the rec
ords were found to be in excellent con
dition. The record of meals served b!
the sheriff to prisoners. for which HI
received compensation from the coun
ty, was checked and found to be abso
lutely accurate. The cost of feeding
prisoners is low, although plenty o
plain but substantial food is served.
1t may be we'll to note that th
record system in use in the crimina
department is very simple, yet accu
rate and complete.
Altogether, the investigation of tn
records of the sheriff's office show
q very efficient administration.