The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-12-28

County Clerk is Exofico Recorder of Deeds Clerk
Of the Board of County Commissioners"
Section 8, Article IA Also Section 1857 of
1908.
In Section g. Article of our constitution provides
three Commissioners for county, who shall hold
sons for the transaction of County business provided
by law and the various duties of the County Com
missoners provided by law find bearing directly upon
the matters discussed in this and the above
mentioned report the following in the second subdivision
of Sec 1904, Statutes of 190S duties of the Board
towt:
o examine and settle all accounts of the receipts of
the county and to examine and settle and allow, all
counts chareabe against the county, and when settled
they issue County Orders therefor provided by law
County Orders what commonly called WAR
rants, issued to certain of and drawn
upon the County Treasurer.
You will in the above quoted language of our
statutes the words Examine and settle" twice said
in connection with "aowy
Now you will find in Section 1852 of the Statutes of
1908 the of the Clerk of the Board County
mssioners to be as follows
First To record in book to be provided for that
purpose, all proceedings of the board.
Second To make regular entries of all their resou-
ons and decisions in all questions concerning the raising
of money.
Third To record the vote of each commissioner on
any question submitted the board if required by any
member
Fourth. Sign all orders issued by the board for the
payment of money and record in book provided for
that purpose the receipts and expenses of the county
"Fifth. To preserve and file all acted upon
by the board with their action thereon And he shall
form such other duties as are required by law"
shall state here that "other duties" here such
making up statements be published etc. but
such other duties have bearing the matters in
this controversy Hence it will be at that my
duties in connection with the board is simply recording
secretary have nothing to do with the examining set
Ting and allowing of accounts issuing orders there
for cannot dictate to the board what they shall do
not to do My only power is to sit by and
and complete record of their transactions.
The long anticipated report of Geijsbeck & Company
special auditors employed by the County Commissioners
audit the books of the County Clerk and to overlook
any details that might complicate matters for the Com
mssoners has finally to light and is file in
my Office open to inspection by the public.
Needless say that since the auditors employed
by the Commissioners special effort has been made in
report whtewash these worthy gentlemen and to
make appear that the Clerk has been at fault where
real seemingly, discrepancy has occurred While
the auditors mention with apooges) Mr. Whalen's
expense account of One Hundred Dollars month while
residing Denver practically nothing else worth consd
erng further mentioned in regards to the irregularities
of the Commissioners actions in connection with County
affairs.
Auditors Contention that the County Clerk Drew on
County for Personal Account.
Any account the County Clerk may have with bankers
merely personal affair." the County Clerk is not neces
sary required carry banking account, he is not
essary required deposit County funds in bank all
he required do is make the accounting
to the County Treasurer any that may be
venient in the of failure to do his bonsmen
are responsbe there nothing in the statutes prevent
ing the County Clerk from drawing any account that
may have any bank either for personal obligations
or to pay obligations due the County
Auditors Claim that Bills Have Been Passed Through the
Commissioners Without Being Property Acknowledged
or Signed. rs
The County Clerk admits that this has been the gen.
eral custom the present Board, pass such de-
scrbed bills this was the option of the Board
the has control the actions of the Commits
sioners
Contention Auditors that the Clerk Dealing
Is in Warrants.
During the summer great many men were employed
by the County road work. When leaving the employ
County it frequently happened that incon
venient for employees wait until the Commits
the Clerk would have said employee assign their
wages him, whereon, he would issue to them check
available funds his possession these funds consisted
available fees collections from other Counties, ETC.; at
the ensuing meeting the Commissioners would issue
to the Clerk warrants to the amount of the assigned
his possession lieu of the cash he had paid
out 1t is true that collections from outside were
temporarily held, these collections held the pur-
pose described Freight bills and other that
require immediate attention handled in the same
Manner this custom has been practced this for
years past why the this day? The i'm
plication of the auditors that the Clerk dealing in
for his direct benefit is deliberate e the
Clerk merely assuming temporarily, obligation of
the County in behalf of the Board of County Commission