The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-11-02
CITY FUNDS SHORT.
Discrepancies in Treasurer Par
keris Books.
HIS ACCOUNTS LOOSELY KEPT
An Expert finds Shortage OF Over
%. ooO-The Amount TO Be
Made Good

Since the changes were made IL several
/ departments of the city government early
last August. il has been an open secret
1 that the books and accounts OF the retiring
city treasurer were in 8 state OF almost in
/ extrseable confusion. and that there was
/ also shortage in the amount Of city and
I street improvement funds. Indeed,
/ Treasurer Parker admitted this much 10
Mayor Moran when called upon for his
annual report. which he confessed be could
not prepare until the books OF his Office
had been examined BY an expert. On this
account Mayor Moran delay ed his annual
message for over six weeks and was finally
forced TO deliver il unaccompanied by a
statement OF the city'S finances. Not until
last nights council meeting. however, was
/ the true situation made public.
IL appears that Treasurer Parker during
his term left the Office largely in the hands
of his son and deputy. George Parker, q
young man without business experience
and with propensity toward cards, wine
and women, and whose recent escapade
with variety actress have created no little
comment The books show that young
Parker allowed everything 10 run at loose
ends in the office and that money was often
received and paid out without any record
being kept of the transaction.
Il When Treasurer Parker confessed the
condition OF his Office to Mayor Moran he
promised that his books should be placed
in the hands of an expert ut once and that
any deficit found would be made good.
Accordingly he employed j. III. Parsons.
the expert who examined the books OF
County Treasurer George d. Hill several
years ago, and ne has been working on il
ever since
The first report made by Expere Parsons
showed deficit OF IS. 1851. but this has
since been reeaeed to $5,2i3.iS. and il is
qrite probable that it will be brought
down 20 a much smaller sum. At last
nights session OF the council the following
communication from Expert Parsons 10
Chairman Niesz. OF the finance eommitte,
was read:
SEATTLE, Wash, Nov l.
Mr.. e. r. Niesz, Chairman Finance Committee
Sir. Acting under instructions from Mr..
Isaac Parker, ex-eity treasurer for several weeks
past have been engaged upon an examination
Of the records of the treaSurers office to aseer-
tain ii-st, what. If any, amounts for which ne is
properly chargable remain unaceounted for by
him, and second, what, IL any, amounts for
which he is entitled to credit and has not re-
ceiyed proper credit
respectfully report that upon examination
OF the tax roll, particularly for street improve
ments, in connection with the treasurer's cash
| book, found quite n number OF items marked
paid upon the rolls which we're
either not entered upon the cssh
book or were entered by mistake
in another fund. All such items I noted, and
then set about making a search as to whether
Treasurer Parker was properly ehargeanle with
them. Ali the stubs of Treasurer Parker's re
eeipts and bank checks prior to June 6, 1ssa,
were burned on thCt day, and nv only means OF
aScertaining whether those items were in fact
paid was inquiry Of those TO whom they were
assessed. Investigation discloges the fact that
many items marked paid" upon the
rclis and net entered upon the
cost book were paid by Endorsement
upon warrants drawn upon the same fund,
which Endorsement should have been entered
upon the cash book, but were not. These omis-
sions counterbalanee each other. By examina.
tons of bank checks returned found several
instances where Treasurer Parker paid warrants
and omitted TO enter payment upon his
cash hook aud lost the warrants In the fire
June 6. Prom these checks
further found partial payments upon warrants
made in cash. which We're not entered upon the
cash book. AS have heretofore stated to you,
| can ascertain whether Treasurer Parkes has
accounted for all the funds belonging 70 the
city that came into his hands. and If he has not
can ascertain what amount has not been ae-
counted ior. For this purpose Mr.. Parker en-
ployed me.
Owing to the loss Of stubs already metioned
together with the memoranda thereon have to
resort To other aud more tedious methods TO as
certain the facts relating TO his accounts as treas
urer. In several instances will have 10 await
the return of parties now absent from the CITY
b., nsya rowa A..
on the warrants.
Thus far 1 have found Treasurer Parker en-
titled 20 credits which he omitted to enter upon
his cash book aggregating something over two
thirds OF the aggregate amount OF the items
have noted agaius; him. still have checks and
memoranda that fully justify the belief that
further examination win disclose additional
amounts for which Treasurer Parker is entitled
10 credit, which. IL they do not fully
couuterbaanee the items / have noted
against him, they viii reduce the amount un-
accounted to a small sum. Assuring you of nv
earnest desire 10 complete the examination
speedily and to make a detailed report Sus-
tanned by duplicate receipts aud written state
menis ~ the earliest possible moment, am.
very respectfully, J. H. PARSONS.
After the reading OF the communication
Chairman NieSz said he had few explana-
tons which were necessary. Mr.. Parsons
time and had kept him advised of the pro.
gress made in the effort TO straighten out
the accounts. Mr.. Parsons had found that
the books would not balance aud that there
appeared TO be a shortage. An effort had
been made TO get matters correct but the
books had been kept so badly that he had
/ found the work exceedingly difficult. Mr..
Parker and Mr.. Parsons had stated that
yrhep the usaYE aae -r,nAYIasa1 81
any shortage Mr.. Parker would make il
good 10 the city.
IL had been found that taxes had been
marked paid on the roll and no entry Of
the same made ON the books. A visit 10 the
bank showed that there were amounts de-
posted there which did not appear on the
cash book and in many cases where there
were apparent shortages the corracte,s
hoO