0""m '""""'V ' Free Agricultural Short Course at Prineville, February 23d to 28th, inclusive. COME! Crook County otaroai COUNTY. OFFICIAL PAPER FOR CROOK COUNTY COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER, $1.50 YEAR PRINEVILLE, CROOK COUNTY, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 1914. Kntre4 ftt the fHMitofllr at PrtnevlU Oregon, econl-cIH matter VOL. XVIII NO. 13 All is Serene at the Court House A Rieclul session of the county court was held Monday and the atmosphere about tho courthouse Ih ctarlfylnif. The judge and HhcrifT have never been very chummy but there was no oien rebellion until the delinquent tax rolls were taken from tho cuHtody of the sheriff. Thin won the Hlraw that did the business and Het both sides by the earn. The county expert Rot the rolln from the sheriff's olllce and took them up stairs for examination. That name evening Sheriff Klkins went up stuirs, unlocked the door of the room In which these books were held and took them to his office and locked them up in the vault where they are kept. When the exjH'rt demanded the books in the morning he was informed that he could have them under certain conditions. Tho expert could have desk room In tho sheriff's office or a room leading into the sheriff's office would bo placed at his disposal but that all delinquent tax rolls must not be taken up stairs at any one time. Now, the judge and the expert Itoth thought they were acting within their legal rights when they demanded tho books and the sheriff held a like view. Hoth men got heir necks bowed and neither would yield. Lawyers were con sulted; In fact Attorney Hert Hancy of Portland was called in to act for the district attorney who was attending to county business before the supreme court at Salem. Attorney Haney agreed that the sheriff was tho legal custodian of the books so that part of tho con troversy wus cleared. Judge Springer then announced that as the purpose of the meeting was to see whether tho expert should go ahead or not ho would ask those present who were in favor of going ahead to stand ud. Nearly everybody stood up. After a good deal of squabbling on the part of the memlera of the court about the order authorizing the judge to employ an expert Com missioners Brown and Bailey took issue with tho judge about up proving the report of the expert until tho whole report was made, Commissioner Bailey thought it a one man affair from start 10 finish. Strong delegations were present from the north end of the county urging further investigation into the affairs of the county. They wanted tho delinquent tax books gone over and If there were any evidence of wrongdoing wanted it uncovered. These delegates were backed by a petition from the Farmers' Union of Crook county. Upon motion of Judge Springer, it was ordered that A. M. McE. Ball be and he is hereby employed to continue his work of exporting and auditing the books and official records of the various officials of Crook county and to make his re port to this court and his compen sation is hereby fixed at the sum of tlO per day per man together with expenses. Mr. Ball was asked to read his report. That gentleman prefaced his remarks by stating that he was engaged to investigate the books of the various county officials and to get at the truth no matter who was hurt- Tho expert was also re quested to criticise tho work of the officials. This report, unaccom panied by any explanations from some of the county officials, was manifestly unfair. The county treasurer was found to be 0. K. with the exception of an item of (11.63 in the First National Bunk of Bend which was found to be in excess of the balance as shown by tho treasurer's books. The records of the clerk's office were found to be in order. The revenue for 1913 amounted to 87G8.G4, while the expenditures were $5206.33. The expert recom mended that the clerk file sub vouchers showing how 1100 a month for extra help was expended. "We are under the impression, how ever, that the help he employs, viz., two young men on the record books and one young lady in the office a portion of the time, receive more than f 100 for their combined ser vices, but in any event sub-vouchers should bo filed for the disbursement of this 1 100." Other minor recom mendations were made. The county assessor did not get off as easily as the clerk. Expert Ball says: General laws of Ore gon, 1913, Chap. 370, page 761, sec. 8, provides that "The county as sessor may appoint five deputy as sessors whose salaries shall bet 100 per annum each, etc. We would direct your attention to the wide discrepancy between the provisions of this law and the number of deputy assessors as set forth in Schedule 9, whose compensation amounts to 14710 73. While Chap. 184, page 348, sec. 48 of the General Laws of Oregon, 1913, provides for necessary clerical assistance, there is a difference of 14210.73 between the number al lowed by law and the amount they should receive, and the number actually employed and the amount they did receive. Assessor Foster nays that the ex pert's report is unfair to him. He called the expert's attention to a later law "General Laws of Oregon, chap. 184, page 348, sec. 48. Headed, Deputies and Clerical As sistance for Assessors or Tax Col lectors, which reads as follows: In addition to the deputies and the clerical assistance now or here after provided and specified by law, each county assessor or tax pollector shall be entitled to such additional deputies and clerical assistance as may be necessary properly to trans act the business and perform the work of his office. Such deputies and clerical assistance shall be furnished by the county court at the expense of the county. The county surveyor was the next man to be hauled over the coals. The expert siys: We would direct vour attention to this office in or der that you may determine whether or not the amounts drawn in com pensathn are regular. Sec. 3003, L. O. L., 1910, regulates the fees of this office and in our opinion the rate of 10 cents per mile is allowed in lieu of all other compensation. That is to say, that where the sur veyor uses the day to go to and from the place of his labors he is not entitled to 15 per day and 10 cents per mile. If he charges mile age he is not entitled to per diem compensation. During the year under examination this official has charged 374.40 for mileage and admitted to us that he charged per diem for the time of going to and from his -labors. It is our opinion Reasons for Attending the Short Course The Short Course of the Oregon Agricultural College will be held here next week and it is hoped that a large number of Prineville citi zens and residents generally of Crook county will attend to take advantage of the helpful, practical program that has been prepared for the occasion. There are so many reasons why all taxpayers and patrons of the edncational system of Oregon should attend this course that an unusually large attendance should be the result. The primary reason for the peo ple of Crook county to be interested in the Short Course is that they will have an opportunity to observe at first hand the methods of one of our greatest state schools, it is a case where the "College comes to the people," and the people should be present to judge the value of the extension work which is a regu lar department of the Agricultural School. Another good reason why peoole should attend the school course is that they will have the privilege of listening to the advice of scientific experts men and women who have specialized in their particular work and have had years of practical ex perience to supplement their know ledge. ' J Then there is the .opportunity to make comparison in a free un biased way, of the old "learn stock raising, dairying, horticulture and farming," as tried out by the methods that these instructors ad vocate. To convince yourself of the success of these methods you should first hear them, and second, practice them. Visit any of the schools or extension farms for visual confirmation of the statements made. The agricultural work in our county high school is along these practical, useful lines and you will more clearly understand its great value to Crook county after you have heard the "College Farmers" explain the co-operative plan of the trained agriculturist with the indi vidual farmer. The great movement called "back to the farm" had its incep tion , in the schools. Work which has previously been dreary drudgery is now a successful business because business methods and a love for this oldest of all industries is being instilled into the youth of the land. Agriculture is the chief occupation of tfie earth, scientific agriculture the most successful. ' Come to the Short Course and be convinced. - . that the court should cause the sur veyor to reimburse the county to extent of $374.40 for irregular mile age collected by him, etc. Mr. Rice, who was present at the meeting, ask Judge Springer if he might say a word in explanation. The privilege being granted the county surveyor stated that he Coutioaed on tarth page. DAIRYMEN! DAIRYMEN! We have arranged our work so that hereafter the use of our testing apparatus will be reserved for the use of our patrons on Saturday of each week. Prof. Pratt has kindly consented to give instruction in test ing, and we hope that our patrons will take advantge of this opportunity. Come in and learn how to do your own testing. Don't forget the Agricultural Short Course at Prineville February 23d to 28th inclusive. 8 P iomeer Cream Go PRINEVILLE mpaimy OREGON