Douglas daily dispatch. [volume] (Douglas, Ariz.) 1903-1961, 1926-03-30


visors made serious mistake in
purchasing two compressors and drill
outfits for the county at an expense
of about $4,000, when one of these
drills has been used but very little,
the other still remains unpacked. We
should criticise the board of super
visors for not visiting each others
districts and being more conversant
with the business all over the coun-
ty. 1 think that neither of the SUI
pervisors in the south end has been
in the third district for a year and
we think the county entitled to the
best judgment Of all supervisors on
all expenditures in all districts.
Your secretary appreciates very
much the action of yhe board in pub
fishing the expenditures and showing
under what department and to whom
each voucher was paid.
Treasurers office-We find this
office encountered with a lot of work
mostly caused by the failure Of past
officials to demand settlement of
taxes when due and we think if this
condition is once overcome that the
expenses of the treasurers office will
ne EcQuCeu OHe~HdIl. Alter Il CdTeIul
consideration of this matter your
secretary would urge the necessity
of turning over to the treasurer the
| collection of all back taxes as the
law provides in the very nature of
! things. The treasurer has to figure
out these delinquincies and every
! taxpayer should be sent notice of
all back taxes that were overdue six
months with notice that unless paid
within 80 days suit would be brought
Immediately. The custom of turning
the job over to the county attorney
who has many other duties as well
as his private practice to look after
has always been a failure.
| The clerk of the superior court
seems to be running in fine shape
and we have no criticism to make to
this office.
The sheriffs office is efficient,
seems to be functioning. We think
that the $4,000 required to maintain
this office per annum is largely in
excess of its needs and this office
expenditure could be cut $4,000
year at least without an impairment
of the service.
The county attorneys office-This
office is one of the most important
offices in the county and the welfare
of the taxpayers is dependent on the
duties of this office; probably more
so than any other official in the
county outside of the superintendent
of schools and county engineer. 1t
seems to your secretary that oc-
casionally call for grand jury would
be beneficial as many things come up
of an unpleasant nature where the
individual does not like to function.
This office has been charged in the
past with the collection of delinquent
taxes; the result up to date, not sat-
isfactory.
The assessors offce-While this
office has Ssn fairly well managed,
we think the expenses have been too
high and with an increased effort
the conditions and expenditures of
this office could be materially re-
duced, Notwithstanding the fact that
the department has been encountered
with a burden of issuing automobile
license and certificates of ownership
Of cars. While many glazing incon-
sistencies show in places, values abb
have taken place in the past and we
believe that an effort is being made
| to overcome these conditions.
The superintendent of schools-This
office, probably the most important
of any in the county to the taxpayers
and families, is subject to some criti-
cism. We believe that an honest eff
fort is being made to keep the
schools at a high standard. This is
| the only department in the county
whose bills are not passed upon by
the board of supervisors and your
association should make an effort to
| have this law amended so as to in
clude all expenditures in this de-
partment subject to the same ap.
prevail as all other departments. We
criticise the superintendent and the
] board of supervisors for maintaining
a county truant officer at the ex-
pense of $4,000 a year. We cannot
find where this official has done any
good and questioning. of the Off
cia1s of the schools at San Simon,
Bowie, Wilcox and Benson confirms
our impression that this expenditure
is waste and this office should be
abolished.
Superior court-We have no criti-
cism to make of this department.
Think that one judge at Tombstone
lis sufficient and the association
should suse it's influence to prevent
another judge and court reporter be-
| ing placed in Tombstone at a USE
/ less expense to the taxpayer.
Road ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are too
great on given distances in many
places. We would call the attention
of your board to the three miles of
| road last constructed toward Leslie
canyon. There were $4,000 approved
by the supervisors with, the object
of finishing a road to Leslie can
yon. This money was spent on the
last three miles two years ago and
the main part of the work was not
touched. The expenditure of a few
hundred dollars on the finished part
of the road would have put it in
good condition leaving sufficient
funds to construct the main part of
the road giving the people of Leslie
canyon the benefit thereof We
would call Che attention of your