The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-04-24

lions were made regarding the means
by which collections might be made
and fixing the responsibility for the
loss of what could not be collected
One official paid about $1100 to
square up such matters, another was
given time in which to collect what
he could, and one was given a rebate
of $3.50 to cover errors he had made
in favor of the county and against
himself. In the report just filed, the
accountants take occasion to COM
mend every department for having
its books in proper condition and
money in place. Some very old
claims for fees earned and never col
lected and uncollectable, the report
says should be cancelled.
The Money is There
Special mention is made of the Of
fee of Sheriff A. B. Stephens for the
good condition of his accounts, also
Treasurer Mrs Margaret Ward,
where radical changes have been
made in the accounting system in the
past three years, and the county
clerks office, H. A. Benson, whose
records were received by him in good
condition and have been kept at
high efficiency. His accounts bal
anced and an unexpected remittance
of doubtful account by mail placed
a surplus dollar in the till. The ac-
countants have devised way for
carrying the account of delinquent
taxes so they are more accessible and
not liable to be overlooked and lost
in the mass of records, and they
recommend that some additional
help be employed temporarily in the
county clerks office to open up the
set of books and place, all delinquent
accounts in them So they can be
turned to by index without loss of
time or anxiety as to whether the ac-
counts are complete. They give
detailed report of which firms and
persons are delinquent on personal
and which the assessors bondsmen
may be held to account for.
More Thoro Assessment
Aside from the official report
comes the information that Assessor
Arthur Manwaring this year sought
to accomplish what had not been
done before to the satisfaction OF Of
flcials and the people-secure COM
plete assessment of stock. being fed
in transit and stock being fattened
In the county for shipment or slaugh-
ter and which would disappear be-
for the deputy assessors would make
their rounds in the usual way. The
kept their eyes on this
additional expense, noted the returns
from 1t and the Justice of correctly
and fairly distributing the tax bur-
den, and gave 1t their sanction.
Was a Discoura9ing Outlook
The present board of commission
srs came into office over three years
ago just when the panic was grow
ng serious. A hundred miles OF new
grades had been built on the high
ways, and 1t was considered import
INT that they should be cared for
Ind repaired promptly whenever de-
'ects showed, because while they
we're, new they would take damage
'apidly If not kept in repair. There
vas very little money for such use,
md in 1921 the farmers were asked
o drag the roads without cost to
he county. Much of this was done,
md in 1922 the legislature passed
IN act taking one-f1fth of the avail
bile funds out of the hands of the
and applying 1t to In
crest on state road bonds. They
.lso cut down the powers OF the
,oard in the levies, and in this county
t left the board about half as much
money as they had at their command
n previous years. There were press
ng demands for replacement OF
ridges and culverts and repairs
where floods or other things made
epairs and extensions of roads nee
ssary. In some of the older parts
Il the county, where traffic was
leavy and people were well situated,
he commissioners declined to make
lew grades asked for, but accepted
he offers of the people interested in
he projects, to pay half of the ex-
ense out of the county road fund,
yhere the people were willing to pay
he other half In other words, the
ounty managed the work thru its
ngineer and road superintendent,
nd paid the farmer laborer half rate
or their work. In this way f1ve and
half miles of new roads were built
n the Thomas country, and four
niles were graveled in the Shelley
istrict. This plan Is known as the
peal fifty-fifty plan.
Continued on page two) II