The Labor enquirer., 1882-12-30

reSOluCIOuS Vi MI. -. 1SIS ddoptcu,
practically providing thatthe fiscal year
shall close on the thirty-frst day of
May" The constitution of the Inter
national union provides that the fiscal
year shall close on the thirtieth day of
April; and referring to the clause Mr.
Mcdonald says. mo one seems to have
given thought to the fact that the Inter
national2union enact ed something that
was in conflict with the constitution =
and then for the instruction of those
delegates who believe the new constitu-
ton was adopted land who, he implies,
didn't know B from bullsfoot), he calls
attention to the clause nulling every
thing that conficted with the constitu-
ton.
Now, hear the other side, from one
who knows what he is talking about ;
The resolution, after the appropriate
preambles. reads, Resolved, That this
body direct that the secretary treasurer,
after having used all means within his
power to obtain the reports of subordi-
nate unions, close his books and prepare
a balance sheet on the thirty-frst of
May of each year, and report all delin-
quent at that time as SUCH" 'That no
additions shall be made to his report
after the thirty-frst of May, unless by a
vote of the International Typographical
union on the first day of its session."
How any man in his good senses can
pursuade himself that this resolution
conflicts with the constitutional clause
defining the fiscal yearis great mystery
to us. The writer was on the finance
committee at the last session of the
International and was shocked at the
condition Of the books, fly sheets, memo
randums and scraps of paper submitted
by the secretary-treasurer for auditing.
We will not presume to say that order
was brought out of chaos, for, being a
practical accountant, we knew that it
was impossible to make correct report
in the short time allowed for the work
but after doing the best possible under
the circumstances, it occurred to the
writer that it might be kindness to
future finance com mittees to devise some
plan Of remedying this trouble. The
secretary treasurer was consulted a score
Of times for explanations Of the mess
before US, and his only excuse was that
reports came IN 50 irregularly from the
subordinate unions that it was impossi-
bic for him to keep things in better
shape and everyone present at the last
session knows that several reports were
received two and three days after the
session opened for which the secretary
treasurer had to make supplemental
reports,
The resolutions quoted were'introduced
to try and compel secretaries Of subOrdi-
nate unions to send in their per capita
| IhA anu llIOI N1ItllOl I}IlO1 W Nil0 opening
of the convention, SO as to allow the
secretary treasurer time to balance his
accounts and close his books before the
opening Of the convention. The fiscal
| year closes, according to the constitution,
on the thirtieth day Of April, and this
resolution allows the subordinate seCre-
taries an entire month to prepare and
send in their reports. The resolutions
say nothing of the fiscal year, and the
clause Of the constitution naming when
it ends was in mind when the resolutions
were written, hence the choice of May
81 as the time for closing the books and
accounts If a resolution in>tructing the
secretary of the International concerning
the keeping of his accounts conflicts
with the fiscal year, which affects only
the subordinate unions books, we must
admit we are too dull to see it.
In conclusion, we wish to express the
hope that the resolutions in question
will be rigidly obeyed, and that the sec
retaries of subordinate unions will bear
them in mind when the proper time for
sending in their reports arrives and we
would advise Mr.. Mcdonald and others
who love to rush into print ON the least
pretext not to be too hasty in sitting in
judgment on the capacities and abilities
of other men until they more fully un-
derstand what they attempt to pick to
pieces. .
1t is about time Our Organette. looked
over its communications before pri hitting
tban an5 loorpod tbat 'tbau uara mot q