Gunnison news-champion., 1923-02-02
GRAND JURY
REPORT IN FULL
(Continued from Page One)

CONTINUED from Page One)
judge, as exofficio clerk, had made
double charges against himself for the
same items.
Sherid's Office. The report of the
auditors on the Sheriff's office shows
the same TO be one of the best con-
Quoted offices in the state and that the
expenses charged in that office in
connection with its administration,
amounting to only little over 5000,
are far below any Sherif's office in
the State, in county of the size and
Importance of Gunnison County. In
most counties the size of Gunnison,
the expenses of the sherif's office run
in the neighborhood of $1,000 above
the expenses of the sheriff's office in
this county. All the records of that
office are in excellent condition.
County Clerk and Commissioner
Office: In connection with the ex-
animation of the office of the County
Clerk ard County Commissioners, it is
difficult TO imagine worse condition
than has existed in these offices dur
ing the last two years and particularly
during the year 1922. Practically all
of the laws with reference to the con-
duct of said offices have been disre-
garded, and in addition to neglect and
carelessness, there appears wiiful NAL
feasance in the conduct of these Of
fees. For example, the law provides
that the commissioners shall, in the
month of November, pass the annual
appropriation resolution, at which time
the levy for the ensuing year for the
various county funds to be made and
and the various funds for the running
OF the county during the ensuing year
be provided for. Section 1916 of the
Revised Statutes of 1908, provides
that the commissioners shall pass this
resolution and make these levies, and
the law also provides that warrants
shall not be drawn in excess of the
leyies made. On January 1st, 1921,
the county was on cash basis. Dur
ing the year 1921, warrants were is
sued in excess of the revenue so that
at the end of the year 1921, there
were $4,000 of outstanding warrants.
In other words, the county commis-
sioners bad expended during that year
$34 900 more than the revenue for
the year provided by their levy. At
their meeting in November, when they
made their annual appropriation reso-
luton for 1922, they made a levy Of
one and four-tenths mills to take care
Of the outstanding road warrants, and
from that levy they collected approx
mately $4,000 in 1922 to pay these
outstanding warrants. In 1922 they
started with this over-draft of S34, 600,
part OF which was paid during the
year, but during the year 1922 they is
sued warrants In excess of their reve-
nue. so that at the end of 1922, there
were $4,000 outstanding warrants.
Most of these warrants aro rA,v;c<o~xd
In the Treasurer's office and are draw
ing interest at the rate OF six per cent
The law provides that all claims
against the county shall be itemized
and sworn to by the claimant before
they shall be allowed by the Board.
1t is very important that this proyf-
sion Of the law be observed and that
no accounts be allowed by the Board
unless the same shall be made out in
separate items and shall be verified
by affidavit for the protection of the
county and the taxpayers, and it Is
absolutely necessary that the commits
sioners observe this law Without at
tempting to 60 back Of the year 1872,
the records show that during the year
1922, there were 298 claims filed with
tttg eennmAien1rs and dDoAed nom
ko1 va veI9 properly adlniUw1edabd
1 and probably one-third Of which wls1-
mot even signed: that the county eoaA-
fmissionefs paid out Of the county
funds IN 1872 on these claims, S1o.-
|B0.Z4 Mot u II elAf1ns presented
against tie county and allowed, wlDu
'not properly itamised, 20 that Il y.
O1l1116 4 - fmD1m11o4 - -
(CsnEi.sea = Haos 0esn)