The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-23
by comparison with the reports of the

mayor to Council.
The auditor of tho city should be in
possession of all these facts. Chapter
., section &, of the city ordinances
says:
''rhe clerk of the Council and city
auditor shall DO the general account
ant OF the city, and keep in his Office
COMPLETE SET OF BOOKS, wherein shall
be stated the appropriations for the
year for each distinct objec5 and branch
OF expenditure, and also the receipts in
detail from every source Of revenue, so
far as the same can be ascertained."
Satisfied that the public was anxious
TO know the truth of the matter, a
representative of TIE TIMES called on
Mr.. Bennett, the auditor, yesterday
evening and politely requested to be
shown tho public records for few
minutes. But that gentleman refused;
ho was busy with tho records and would
not get through before Thursday even
ing. He would be using that book all
that time. lie was writing up the
records and blankly refused to accom-
modate representative of tho press
for ten minutes.
He was asked if there were any other
books or records in his Office giving an
itemizcd account of the revenues of the
Tho reporter then called on tho treas
JUROR, Mr. Thomas, and was there in
formed that the auditor was, or should
he, in possession of all the facts neces-
sary. On returning to Mr.. Bennctt's
Office that official had locked the door.
A few raps caused him TO open it, and
he sarcastically begged to be excused.
Mr.. Bennett gave another reason for
rcfusi ing to show his records. They
wcrc TO the effect that the Council com
mittco would soon investigate the mat
ter, and the public had no business with
this information until it was properly
ventilated by the authorities.
| Mr.. Buckncr, president of the Coun-
Gil, had granted TIE TIMES representa-
tive permission to sec the records of the
auditor. lie does not believe in CON
| cealing anything. lie speaks his mind
| plainly. and the Roanoke people to-day
feel proud and recognize that tho only
rcdecming feature in tho municipal
| government is that there is Council
who are afraid of nothing and are will
| ling TO let tho public know what they
are doing.
The public does not know to-day but
that Il shortage of long standing exists.
If the auditor has no record, as he
claims, containing itcmlzed accounts of
all sources Of revenue other than the
Council minute book, then that official
has not complied with the law, which
makes provision that he shall at all
times know the exact status of the
city's financial condition. and be pre-
pared to furnish such to Council
Tho mayor reported 4 certain amount
of fines collected each month between
the dates of the defalcation. DO these
correspond with the amounts paid by
Mr. Morris and those still due? Will
the same test hold good prior and since
that time? This is what the public
wants to know. These then will be
facts and figures.
Mack Morris is not the only city
official that needs an ovcrhauling and n
thorough drubbing. The people have
awakened to the fact that this sort of
'bclong- tonne olliccholding has be-
come too common, and that it will be Il
blessed day when the city Offices will all
be manned by courteous, energetic and
accommodating business mon.
Chairman Turner, of the board OF
police commissioners, suspended Mr.
Morris yesterday evening in accord ancc
with instructions from Council. No onc
was appointed in his stead. And thus
the matter rests.