Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-13

TO DISTRICT AUDITOR PETrYs SYSTEM OF PAY
MENrs AND SUGGESTS THE ENACTMENT OF A LAW
CREATING DISTRICT DrsBURsINa OFFICER.
When Auditor Petty assumed the duties OF
his Office ne introduced new method of pay
ment of per diem employees. This class 6f per-
sons had been paid by check. The preparation
OF the checks involved a large amount Of labor
Its collection was another source of annoyance,
for in majority of cases the laborer was un-
able to write his name on the back of the
check. As a means of remedying this evil Mr.
Petty asked permission of the Commissioners
to pay these men in cash, he first drawing the
amount by warrant from the Treasury depart
ment. The permission of the Commissioners
was obtained and since that time he has dis
bursed the money accordingly.
THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT VIEW.
The Treasury department has recently been
looking up the matter and late yesterday after
noon the first auditor wrote a letter to the
Commissioners calling their attention to il and
asking an explanation. One of the questions
propounded was: ''Should the money be lost
by or stolen from him on his return are the
Commissioners satisfied that his bondsmen
could be held responsible for the loss" An
other question was: lis it right for the Com
mlssioners to designate as disbursing officer
one who SO far as the District is concerned
sudits his own accounts"
The first auditor in his letter goes on to say
that these questions raised because the
bond of the District auditor is given to the
District govrnment and not to the United
States, and while good and true men may fill
the offices now, should time bring changes and
future Commissioners have cause to regret this
change in the method of payment, his Office
VIII feel that II has done its duty in calling at
tention to the matter. He asks If the practice
cannot legally sironl fial nd
the interests of the government thoroughly
protected by the Commissioners securing
through Congress the appointment of a dis
bursting officer, properly bonded, to the District
The Commissioners have not as vet acted
upon the matter.
AUDITOR PETTY STATES HIS SIDE OF THE CASE.
Auditor Petty today made the following
statement in reference to the letter of the
instrumentation:
The Commissioners, under the organic act
are the disbursing officers of the District of
Columbia In this capacity they make reduisi-
tons upon the Secretary OF the Treasury under
appropriations made by Congress Tor moneys
to be used IN the payment of salaries and the
purchase of supplies. Every pay roll or other
voucher of expenditure is, under the law re-
quired to be certified and signed by at least
two Commissioners before acceptance by the
accounting officers of the treasury. They are
the vouchers of the Commissioners solely
as disbursing officers of the District
the signature of the auditor being of no value
except to the Commissioners and involving no
responsibility save as guaranty Of the fact
that they have been examined and found to be
correct and properly payable under an appro-
prlatlon. 1t is, therefore, a misuse of terms to
say that 'the District auditor audits his own
accounts" He has no accounts to audit being
simply the agent of the Commissioners who are
the recognized and responsible officers known
to the law.
Section 1920 of the Revised Statutes, United
States, requiring payment 'by check or warrant
III favor OF the individual or company TO whom
the money is due" q quote the first auditors
letter. is a law more honored In the breach
than In the observance" but if it be the duty of
the honorable first auditor to see to its rigid
enforcement against the District officials |
should like to be informed under what clause
OF the statute he finds authority for the pay
ment OF his own salary and that of other officers
OF the general government in cash.
The system of cash payments prevails in
every department of the general government
and is recognized in the official regulations
of the Treasury furnished for the guidance of
disbursing officers. but is not used by District
officials except in the cases OF laborers and per
diem employees All salaried officers, such as
clerks, policemen, fremen and school teach
ers, and bills for supplies paid by check
drawn to the order of the individual or firm
entitled to receive it.
1ue SotnUllssloners, II would seem, nave the
same authority as any other discussing officers
to pay in cash. but have never done so except
in the cases above cited. The amounts due TO
laborers are usually small a large portion
being under ten dollars, and as the men are
generally unable to sign in the Endorsement of
their names they have been at the mercy of
unscrupulous persons who have charged them
heavily for witnessing their signatures and
cashing their checks. The whole amount paid
to the laborers of the District for any given
month, is not more than $4,000. nor is it
drawn in bulk, but through the medium of
more than a score of checks. So it is clear to
be seen that this Treasury scare is a case of
great cry and little wool" 1t is no .'pet
scheme" of mine and. although it is unqestion-
ably true tn at have taken great pleasure in
thus tightening the burdens and lessening the
difficulties that beset the poor laborer who
learns his bread by the sweat of his brow" and
for whom have great sympathy personally,
return to the check system would be a great
relief.
l deem it proper to state that before COM
mencing to pay in cash one of the Commission
ers counseled with the first controller. or one
who acted for him-the highest accounting
officer of the government-and received his
sanction of the plan. 1t is evident, therefore,
that have not acted unadvisedly and can well
afford to take the ''prodding" of the honorable
first auditors sharp stick" with serene COM
posure and equanimity.
CAPITOL TOPICS.