Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1911 — TWENTY DOLLARS PER DAY FOR ANOTHER EXAMINATION. [ARTICLE]

TWENTY DOLLARS PER DAY FOR ANOTHER EXAMINATION.

Two Field Examiners are Working on Accounts of Coanty Recorder Under Dehorlty’s Order. A. R. Hardesty, of Valparaiso, and W. F v Gerhard, of Fountain county, two field examiners from the office of the state board of accountants, have been at work since Monday on the books of County Recorder John W. •Alton. Acting under orders frdm Chief Dehority they are going back six years, and they will probably spend from seven to a dozen days in Rensselaer on the Recorder’s books alone. This will cost Jasper county from $l4O to $250. These books were gone pver by contract accountants less than two years ago apd a shortage of $6 charged to Mr. Tilton was paid into the county treasury. Now the accountants are back on the job, getting from $l5O to $250 to confirm this shortage 1—... —.—— This is one of the worst features of the accounting law. The accountaiits were sent here with instructions to go over the books of the recorder for a period of his tenure of office. They are very courteous gentlemen and probably well qualified and naturally they go wherever they are sent Mr. Gerhard stated that he had not been working since the first of the year. Of course, he was anxious to get back at work and asked no questions about the assignment here. He stated that he believed that Mr, Dehority wouldnot have sent examiners here for this work had he known that contract examiners had gone over the same work. It seems *to us that Mr. Dehority should have known this. He could have found it out If he had asked any questions of local officials and this justifies the contention of The Republican that these should not be sent into a community without a petition request to the commissioners. If there is any doubt about the accuracy of the examination made by the contract examiners we believe the people of Jasper county should have the right to request an examination by the state board of accountants. In this county, if there Is any doubt as to the accuracy of the last examination, it would not attach to the recorder’s office and the examiners should not have been sent here to go ovef the recorder’s books. _ _ Respecting the other offices, we believe that the finding of W. E. Heal was just what any board of qualified examiners will find, with the possible exception of a difference in opinion as to whether or norcertain fees are to go to the official. The shortage charged to the county clerk was largely in fees that are in dispute and he has been awaiting a decision in the supreme court that will settle the question of where the fees shall go. If the commissioners force the matter by instituting suit against the clerk both the county and the official will be placed at an unnecessary expense, as it would avail nothing in view of similar cases still undecided. The county attorney knows this, and so do the county commissioners and. it would he folly to pay any attention to any person who would advise otherwise.

It is probable that after the examiners complete their, examination of the books of the recorder that they will be ordered to start in on some other office, but their detail here was for the examination of' the recorder's books only.