Imperial Valley press., 1925-04-30


amy vcar 10 the extent that amount:
q ef depreciation are insufficient. N'
ANALYSIS of the elements of cost OF
certain pieces Of equipment has
been made for the purpose Of ap
; plving depreciation on the basis OF
. the rates applicable to the com
moment parts. Instead, arbitrary
flat rates have been applied during
The short period that depreciation
las been taken. This matter re
auires extensive study by tie en-
I gineering ana accounting depart
mentS.
Small Tools: "Largc stocks of
small tools are carried in The tool
room and in the store rooms. 1t Is
suggested that special study be CIV
! Ell to the requirements and stand,
ardization ON particular types or
tools to meet the requirements; that
2 definite and standard method Tor
the issuance and return of tools be
adoI..ed; that plan for the nam
tenauce ana care of tools b2 pro
+ vided and Il satisfactory system OF
marking tools for identification Pur-
poses be adopted.
Financing: I'm 1929, 1924 and
1929, only Il small portion of the
/ bonded Indebtedness and bond IN
tcrest is required to be- met. The
amount necessary will become much
greater progressively over the next
eight years.
In 1928. 26.S per cent of the
general fund dollar was requlr-
ed to hQuidate this obligation
while in 1924 the amount rose
to 29.5 per cent. If the amount
is steadily increasing it is ne
cessary to study how great
proportion OF the income dollar
will be expended in order to Ii
uuidate the financial claims of
the bondholders.
This subject involves questions
and policies with respect to the
whole financing program of the dis
triet and if not provided for well
in advance, may lead to Difficult
ties. and should be given an impor-
tant place in any further survey of
the administration of the district.
Accounting Methods: Though the
accounting system now in use meets
the general requirements of the dis
trict. it has certain minor defici-
encies. The general survey and
study suggested in this report would
in themselves require changes in the
accounting system. Among queS-
tions tnaI should 6c taken up are
the advantages and disadvantages
Of combining the offices fer the
collection OF water rates or rev.
enues.
Insurance: ''Propertv insurance
is matter of tie greatest finan-
cial as we'll as operating Importance
and grave canger lies in a tend
ency to reduce amount of insurance
on various properties. \ serious
confla9ration at any point in the
system might cause grave impair
ment in the water distribution on
account of the absence of indemn-
itv and delay in local financing.
Adequate coverage would be very
economical in ultimate cost of pro-
ton.
Rap at Police Officers
Other matters. aside from those
concerning the Imperial Irrigation
District, which were presented TO
the grand jury for deliberation, in
clude:
City Police: There was an ex-
tensive investigation Of reported
abuses of police powers by city po-
lice in the valley, particularly with
respect to the treatment Of persons
under arrest. Such treatment was
found to be open to severe criticism,
though there was not sufficient evil
dence presented to obtain convic-
tions if indictments were returned
by the grand jury.
Alien Land Law: After the ap-
pointment of the 1924 grand jury, a
decision involving the alien land
law, was rendered in the local su-
perior court. This decision was fav-
orable to leasing land to aliens, and
was carried TO a higher court which
reversed the decision. However,
the matter Of violations of the law
could not be investigated, pending
the decision of the higher court.
When this was received it was too
late for the 1924 grand jury to con-
duct an investigation of the de-
sired extent. However, there was
sufficient investigation made to
satisfy the grand jury that the alien
land law has been grossly violated
in Imperial county and the request
is made that the 1925 grand jury
make a full and complete investiga-
tion at once. No specific cases were
presented to the grand jury either
by the district attorney nor the com
mittee Of the American Legion, Dis
trict Attorney Utley informed the
grand jury that the investigation
Of the alien land law violations is
the first thing that lie will present
10 the 1925 grand jury.
County Government: It he
ing the duty of the grand jury
to make an investigation of the
various departments Of the coun-
ty government, this was done
and an audit of the county's
finances was conducted by c.
j. Rambo and Company of Los
Angeles, which was accepted by.
the grand jury and is on file in
the office Of the county clerk.
Reports were made on the fol-
lowing county departments:
Treasurer: Condition Of depart
ment excellent, deposits in various
banks reconciled and verified by