The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-08-17
Continued from Page Two)

While making a former examination this Department assisted in Il
collection of $23235s Interest on General Deposits from the Mondak Sta
Bank. The Deputy Examiners making such examination warned your 0
fcals not to refund this amount or any part of it. However, not to oil
surprise, the Board of County Commissioners refunded $972O0 of the abo
collection to the Mondak State Bank.
The claim was c. KID by the County Treasurer, Mr.. Tidland. A Count
treasurer who will Q X such a refund and a Board Of County comml
sioners that will allow and pay such a claim are far from being sincere in r.
ry to look after their interest in a Public Office. The collection herein mel
toned is pure and simple the interest o Daily Balances placed in the ban
and there is no good reason why the Mondak State Bank or any other ban
should be excused from paving the small rate of interest of 2h per Ger
due the County as required bv law. Your officials IRE not gnorant 0. the La
in this respect but are quite well awar of the condition. 1t is now tn
plain duty of the County Attorney to recover the said $4,000 from tn
Board of County Commissioners.
The examination of the Official Bonds reveals the fact that the Bond
the County Assessor, Mr.. John Curran, County Clerk, Mr. John G. Dwyel
Clerk of the District curt, Mr. Thos. R. Forbes, Coroner, MI. A. W. Gustat
son and Sheriff P. j.. Macy are all signed by the President, Vice Presiden
of the Bonding Company with a rubber stamp We also find that tn
County Surveyor, Mr.. Scott F. Hart, is without bond. This above importan
Official Bond irregularities must be rectifed at once.
REQUIREMENTS
L. That the records in the County Tresurers office be written up t.
date, Sale Certificates, Delinquent Books, etc.
2 That the difference between the several Funds in the Treasurer
office and the actual cash in the amount Of Three Hundred and Fifteen Dol
lars and Seventy Eight Cents ($815.7s), be made good within thirty days
800 subsequent to the date of this report.
8 That the Treasurer discontinue carrying non-iquidahe checks il
the cash drawer.
4 That the Treasurer be more prompt in issuing warrant calls wher
1T is possible to take up County or Trust and Agency warrants.
5 That the Delinquent Tax Books be rectifed to such an extent that
such accounts be in perfect reconciement.
We wish to call your attention to the many deficiencies existing in the
lndemnIfyng bonds and that same receive your immediate attention
There is n duty $. important a to have your securities covering County
Deposits up to the legal standard.
6. That all original and duplicate receipts that are voded or unused be
made a record of III this office.
T. That the Current Tax receipt be surrendered to the County Clerk
on Nov. 3Oth of each year OF as so thereafter as possible
8 That with the exception Of Refunds, that all registered warrants be
called and paid in the order of their presentation for payment.
9 That the Treasurer and County Clerk discontinue taking Credit for
interest coupons that have not been actually paid out but for which a
remittance has been made to some firm o. Eastern Bank.
10. That the Treasurer keep and safeguard all securities placed in his
hands that have been approved by the Board Of County Commissioners
H. That the Treasurer discontinue Q. King illegal claims against the
County such as the $972oo refunded to the Mondak State Bank.
- That the Board of County Commissioners renew the securities cover
ing county deposits with the view in mind of making such securities legal
and that the amount of such securities be made not to exceed that which
could b realized in case # a suit and that under such direction, approval
and all matters considered that the County Treasurer proceed to slowly and
equitably distribute the County Deposits among the several banks of the
County as required of him by law.
10. That the County Treasurer discontinue carrying heavy Cash Balances
in the Cash Drawer eSnechUvW when sam is in he forn of local hank anpr
as mentioned in this report
IA. That the bookkeeping irregularities in the County Clerks office be
corrected at once That the County Clerk discontinue making advances
through the Petty Cash.
Is. That the claims against the County be made more specific. properly
dated, ETC. And that the practice of allowing a fiat rate for travelling ex-
pense be discontinued and that the County Attorney recover at nee the
$4,000 illegally paid to MOndak State Bank.
16. That the Official Bonds be corrected Is mentioned in this report
and that the County Surveyor furnish a bond.
RECOMMENDATION
l. That the County expense be reduced to a point CONSTANT with the
ordinary transactng Of business. This a be accomplished if you only try
to do it. Your telephone bills are high. You purchase a n extraordinary
amount Of office supplies. You order an unusual amount Of printing.
It appears that it is impossible to ven write the word General
Fund" Q n an upright filing Tab in your document files without
CONSTANT with the ordinary transaction of business. Most counties of the
class IS Roosevelt County have two Assistants r deputies in addition
to the Principal whereas you have five assistants or deputies.
8. That you create competition in the purchase of all your supplies.
4. That you insist or all officers and agencies assisting in a County wide
campaign to reduce the expenses of your county
|. That you make a strong effort to reduce your present debt which is
around the legal limit.
In conclusion we wish to call your attention to the many irregularities
and infracdons of the law, that exist and have existed in the past without
great effort being made toward n improvement. True, you have i'm
proved some, but a lot remains to be done
We request that you call in the County Officers into the Board Room and
this report to them and that you make a memo or your minutes that
has been done and notify this Department
We surely hope to see ar improvement n making u mex examination.
Respectfully submitted,
L. @. SHELTON,
State Examiner.
1 Mailed to the County Attorney
1 Office Copy