Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-03

The Text Of the Report on MI. Fled.
1erS ResOluliOM-The District Com.
m5ttee Recommend an Additional
Appropriation for the Auditors

Below is the text Of the report made by Mr..
Wilson, Of the House District committee, upon
the Fielder resolution:
1.-THE committee on the District of Columbia 70
whom was referred the resolution, offered on the
hrst Of April by Hon. Mr. Fielder. have had the
Tha the OF IN se an
c1al departments OF the District OF Columbia, rs
OF November last and since enforced, are such as
In the judgment OF the committee, and OF expert
accountants consulted by them, will insure correct
ness In the accounts OF those intrusted with the
collection and disbursement OF public moneys and
their ready accountability therefor
I'd. That prior TO the introduction Of these new
methods and extending back for ten or more years.
there has been no requirement OF law and no pro-
vision in practice for securinga final and sy ste
matte audit and settlement of the books and
accounts OF the collector OF taxes.
This failure in practice may have been due to
inlitiltct lnetho1s OF pook-keepng or TO lack OF
sufficient clerical force. but this is not necessary TO
decide.
During these years many millions of dollars Of
public money have been collected, and the COM
mittee are OF opinion that II was due both TO tie
taxpayer and to the collector that at regular
periods there should have been full audit and
settlement OF the accounts OF the collectors ONCE.
Tomake such audit and settlement now would
require an investigation and an amount of labor be-
youd the power OF this committee TO beStow. Yet
they believe it should be undertaken and carried
forward TO completion as rapidly as is consistent
with perfect accuracy. The committee find I'm the
appropriation bill for the district or Columbia OF
March B. 1882 an appropriation OF So 500 for tempo
rary clerk hire to enable the Auditor, among other
things, TO audit the books OF the collector or taxes
Under that authority the auditor has brought down
these books from 1850 to 1865, and he informs the
committee that If this appropriation is continued he
Will, as rapidly as the magnitude OF the work and
the requirements OF accuracy will permit continue
this examination down TO the date OF the introduce
ton of the new system Of bookkeeping above men
toned.
AS already stated, many millions Of dollars have
been collected as taxes. The Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia report that on the 1st day Of
July, 1883, there were due and unpaid nealry three
and OF special assessment taxes over one million
and half.
1t is clear, without rejecting upon any one, that
officers charged with administering such immense
sums OF public money should, at regular and fire.
Quent intervals, be required to balance their &C
thereof as will satisfy all interested that they have
faithfully accounted for every dollar with which
they are legally chargeahe.
The books yet unaudited cover the transactions
OF half score or more years, many OF them years
of heavy taxation and extraordinary revenues
This committee could not undertake to examine
them even by calling to its assistance competent
experts, but they believe that this very necessary
work should be done, and that IT can now be most
efficiently and economically continued on the basis
recommend that the committee on appropriations
be authorized and directed TO add to the appropra
ton bill for the District OF Columbia, already re-
ported to the House, provision OF the same tenor
and effect as the item In the bill Of last year, max
ing an appropriation OF the necessary amount for
the books OF the collector OF taxes, and that the
auditor be authorized and directed to continue such
audit on the basis OF the examination and audit
already made and verified until the same is COM
pleted and to report the result thereof from time
to time to the commissioners for the Information Of
Congress-