The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-17
Experts Employed to Examine the
Treasurer's Books Have Conn
plsted the Task.
According to Their Report That
Official Is Out of the Way
Over $4,000.
Mr. Walker Claims That Certain Credits
Should be Allowed and That His
Accounts Are All Right.

For week or more there have been ru-
mors that the result OF the xperts' examina-
tion OF the city treasurer's books was Q
shortage OF several thousand dollars.
Varying amounts were given in these street
rumors, some making it a. high az $4,000,
while others placed il At $4,000 or $4,000.
Yesterday the subject was common gossip
at the fair grounds. There Was also ref
sreLce to the matter In ysstsrdsy's issue OF
the Anaconda Standard. but no names were
given. It will be remsm bersd that during
the canpaigR last spring The INDEPENDENT
called attention a number Of times to the
fact that City Treasurer Walker had not
made the Quarterly reports required by law
to the oity council. No denial Of the
charge was made. but the voters
did not seem to attach much inn
portance to this neglect of duty on
the part Of the treasurer. When Mayor
Curtin took hold of the rsins of tho city
government. however. hs began an invssti-
CATION of tho different departments. and he
discovered that the charge made by THE
INDEPENDENT was true one; that the city
treasurer had fled but one report Of the
business of his Office during the previous
administration. and that was in August.
As n prudent business man. he desired to
know just how the financial affairs Of the
city stood, and May 26 last the city treas
urer was called upon for . full statement.
Mr.. Walker delayed making it. and finally
Messrs. Dolliver and Beckett were em-
ployed by the city to examine the city
treasurer's books AID report to the
oity council. Mr.. Walker was then
in the east. and the experts said
they could not get possession of the books.
When MI. Walker returned they were given
possession Of the books, but found they
were not posted. They proceeded with the
examination. however, checking up BY the
stubs and vouchers About a week ago
there was q meeting Of the auditing COM
mittee of the city council, consisting of
Messrs. Hanley Fuller and Howell. There
were present besides these Navor Curtin
and the experts. The latter reported that
they had gone a. far ~ they could; shat
TIA that they si had called At the bank a. which
ness to get bis balance, and shat
it had been refused. The mayor
and Mr.. Hanley were then directed
to call on the bank officials and get the Ag-
ures. Mr.. Walker was seen. however, be-
fore this committee called on the bank. and
he cheerfully gave an order on the bank for
the information desired. His balance at
the bank was but $780, 600, about 5000 less
than the sxperts' account called for. Mr..
Walker asked. however, that he be given
the opportunity to make deposit, saying
checks belonging to the city in his safe he
would like to deposit frat. The committee
granted the extension of time asked for.
The report of the experts TO the council
showed that there should have been in bank
OF in the office safe somsthing over $4,000
tn, a rf tpna To- h.
bank. as stated above, there was but $780,
600. In looking over the checks the city
treasurer had in his safe it was discovered
that some of them had been paid him % far
back as last May. Finally. after ali the
posted. and they had passed through
the clearing house the experts got the bal
nnc at the bank, and then submitted their
rorort. 1t showed shortage of S., ,714.22.
When the city treasurer'a attention was
credit Of some $1,000, in connection with
wrrrants paid for taxes he should be al
lowed. and that sthere were also other
credits. City Attorney MoIntyre ID now
out Of the city, and the tax warrant affair
cannot be Strengthened out until he re-
accorded every opportunity to point out
any mistakes made by the experts. He
does not seem to be at all worried over the
affair, but says that before the end 10
reached ii Will be found that his accounts
are all right.
l.. H. Hershfield and T. H. Kleinsohmidt
are his bondsmsn. The latter gentleman
was out Of town yesterday, but the former
says he is ready as any time to pay his
share Of any shortage there may BE- in Mr..
Walkers account.
Ths fact that the city treasurer did not
make any reports last year, as required bv
law. makes it very difficult to tell just when
the shortage. if thers finally proves to be
any, occurred. Mayor Curtin and the aud
iting committee have spent nearly five
months in getting statement of the tinan-
DIAL condition of the oity that should have
been rendered when the new administra-
tor took office. The fact that the treasurer
did not del ost the city money regularly il
another thing that has caused a great deal
OF comment That the office has been
conducted in very loose manner has been
demonstrated by the experts examination.