Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-10-31
RUARK REPLIES TO HOWARD

I desire to reply to Mr.. Howard's
article in last weeks paper.
He states that the records OF the
County Court have not been well
kept in the past. and that is true
However. whether the work is hand
led by a Judge Acting Clerk or by
a judge and clerk should not make
any difference in the character OF
the service rendered. And II all OF
the delinquent work has been
brought up to date In II not now
time to cut off this extra expense OF
$50 per month merely to carry on
current work OF the office. He states
that he keeps \ bonded" clerk. OF
course. all county employees who
handle money are bonded.
lie states that 1855 per cent OF the
business arises In the east end OF
the county. and that more business
4. transacted In his office than at
the Court House. and that he gets
all OF this work done. together With
office rent for 5000 per month III
this is true why keep = clerk At Del
Norte At Si0e per month to handle
only ?5 per cent OF the business!
W-hy not discharge this clerk and
save this expsase to the taxpayerss
II Mr.. Howard 10 doing all this WORK
at his office and outside the Court
House he has removed important
records in probate and other matters
from the safe keeping OF the urs
proof vault In the Court House ana
Is exposing them to danger OF Tire
In his office. Indeed ] have been
told that some OF the records are
missing from the Court House.
He claims to be saving the people
considerable sums in mileage BY
transactinK all County Court busi.
ness In his office. However. n large
part OF the Courts work IL on behalf
OF iitiGants and criminals who.
should pay their own expenses to
and from the County Seat rather
than ask the general taxpayer TO
do II for them.
have said that I can cut the
expenses OF the County Court $50
per month and Mr.. Howard admits
that this has been done and can be
done. but states that II he In re-elect-
I'd he will continue Il on the present
cxtrnvneant basis. an Increase of
more than 30 per cent over nv
pledge. And even with this cxpcu.
difure the Courts office Ii closed
nearly ono half OF the time 10 the
great Inconvenience OF many people
who are forced to transact business
with II.
However. I can save you more
than $50 per month In expenses in
this office. The report Of the audi.
tor employed by the Farm Bur~a d
OF this couaty In the early part OF
this year. states that Q eompsrisos
of the expenditures Of the County
Court for the last fiscal year With
the expenditures for the year 1915
shove that the annual expenses oi
this Court have Increased eii2S.3s
10 yos see that not only Il the sal
ary expsnsss much heavier but ever,
incidental expense has besn boost *
~ we'll. While tAia 10 tfue. the re
port Of this auditor also shown ths
the receipts Of the office u eees IN
creased ouly ee.7e oveP 1915. q
yu0 - that Hr. HowaPd's areu
suent Shat the work oe the offSe,
10 lncfeaseA 10 aot boras est By th,
figures. On the basla Of the auditor
report ] - ave the County ove
e<SOe.oo = e3peosea Of this Cour
ia the as1l fooe y6ass.
u seems 70 ne that the iseua I
clear n tie matter OF the Count,
Court. Do you vast a waste oSS0i
on poor esfvleo or Gave Il o. eoot
Sincerely.
L. 4. NUARK.