Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-27
WANT CITY AUDITORS.
Mr.. O'Donnell Introduces an 0rdi-
nance to Have a Committee
WATCH THE BOOKS OF OFFICIALS.
The Use of Coal on Engines With Smoke
Consumers Not Granted.
LIVELY WRANGLE OVER A CLERKsHIP

At yesterdays meeting of Councils the
first step toward the adoption of smoke con-
sumers was taken by the passage in Select
Council of an ordinance authorizing the use
of coal in locomotives, provided smoke con-
sumers are used The ordinance failed to
passed the Common branch. There was
prolonged discussion in Common Council
over the salary of the clerk of the Board OF
Viewers, resolution having been pre-
sented creating that position. The Phila-
delphia Company's bill for fuel furnished
to the Brilliant pumping station was the
cause of some little talk in Select Council,
and the matter is not settled yet
But the most important matter brought
up in either branch was an ordinance pre-
sented by Mr.. O'Donnell in Common Coun-
Gil providing for the appointment of an
Auditing Committee that shall be en-
powered to audit the accounts of any
official or employe of the city as often as
the committee thinks it ought to be done.
There has been talk of something of this
kind being done in the city for several
weeks and considerable space in the news
papers has been devoted to the subject,
whether such step was necessary and how
it could best be accomplished, and conse-
quently but little surprise was exhibited DV
Common Councilmen when the title of MIR.
O'Donnell's ordinance became known.
NATURE OF THE ORDINANCE.
The text of the ordinance follows:
An ordinance creating a standing audit
ing committee to be appointed by the Presi-
dents of Select and Common Councils re-
spectively and defining its duties.
First-It shall be the duty of the Presi-
dents of Select and Common Councils at the
first regular meeting of Councils in APRIL
1892, after the organization thereof, and in
every second year thereafter to appoint
Councils standing auditing committee of
nine members, four of whom shall be men,
bers of Select and five of Common Council.
1t shall be the duty of said committee TO
audit all books and accounts of the city ana
of any department., clerk or employe OF the
city in which monetary matters, receipts
and expenditures are recorded, at least
mittee shall deem it advisable. The said
committee shall have power to employ ex-
pert accountants if they deem it necessary.
A majority of the members of said COM
mi5tee shall constitute quorum for the
of business, and the said COM
mittee shall make its reports to Common
Council.
DON'T LIKE THE IDEA.
A number of councilmen were inter-
viewed as to their opinion of the ordinance,
and several of them expressed disapproyal
of such law. They said Controller Nor
row was an auditor of all city finances, and
while such careful, competent man was in
charge no necessity exists for any additional
city legislation.
Controller Morrow said: 'I have no OBJ
jections to the passage of such an ordinance.
Too many safeguards cannot be placed
around the expenditure of the peoples
Chief Bigelow remarked: 'That ordinance
will be illegal if passed. You can't vest
that power in a committee of councils"