Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-04-12
LOOKING FOR LEAKS.
An Ordinance and Resolution for an
Audit of City Accounts.
BARDSLEY AN AWFUL EXAMPLE.
Councilmen Receive Hint to Be in Their
Seats on Time.
STANDING COMMITTEES APPOINTED

The first paper presented at the first bust
ness meeting of Councils yesterday after
noon was an ordinance presented by Presi
dent Holiday, of Common Council, pro
viding for an auditing committee. He wa.
closely followed by ]. C. O'Donnell, who
offered a resolution to the same end. The
ordinance offered by Mr.. Holiday was a.
follows:
WHEREAS, There are many persons en-
ployed by the city of Pittsburg in various
capacities and
Whereas, Good government requires that
the duties Of all such persons shall be
honestly and economically performed and
Whereas, 1t is deemed to be for the vel
fare of the city that the accounts of all such
persons shall be audited from time to time,
Now, therefore, be it ordained, etc, That a
committee of Councils shall be appointed as
other committees are by law appointed,
which committee shall be known as the
Auditing Committee and shall be composed
OF two members of the Select and three
members of the Common branch of said
Councils.
Section 9. 1t shall be the duty of said COM
mittee to audit the accounts of all depart
ments, officers and employees of SAID city
and to make full and complete reports
thereof to Councils annually, and such
special reports Councils may by resolu-
tion from time to time require.
Section 3. Said committee shall have and
is hereby given authority to make an exam
ination of all such accounts, to employ ex-
perts to aid them and generally to do all
things necessary to render their work thor
ough and complete.
Section 4. Said committee, in addition to
the duties hereinbefore prescribed shall
audit the accounts of the several depart
ments, officers ard employees of the city
government from the first day of February,
1855
section L. All ordinances or parts of ordi-
nances in conflict herewith are hereby re-
pealeC.
Mr. O'Ronnell Presents a Resolution.
The ordinance was sent to the Finance
Committee, under the rules Later in the
session Mr.. John c. O'Donnell, VINO had such
bad luck with an auditing ordinance in the
last Council, presented resolution which
read as follows:
OF the City Of Pittsburg thar Immediately after
the approval of this resolution the City Controller
shall proceed to make audit of all the accounts
and books of all the departments and offices and
employees OF the city, in which receipts dlsburse
ments or monetary matters recorded. for a
period extending back not less than ten years.
Resolved. That the Controller shall be and he is
hereby authorized and directed for that purpose to
employ three expert accountants at compensa-
ton 70 be fixed by him. not exceeding $40 per Cay
each. and TO charge expense to Contingent Fund.
Appropriation No 10, and to certify for warrants
for payment thereof against said fund.
Resolved. That said accountants shall make re-
port of their work weekly to the Controller
who shall report to Common Council.
In support of his resolution, Mr. O'Don-
nell claimed that it would provide an audit
without delay and by the proper official
An audit was needed; in one department
deficit from $50 600 to 500 600 is known to
exist and this should be sifted. Tho resoIu-
tion did not stop the proceedings at four
years but carried them back to ten years
at least and further if deemed advisable.
Mr.. Finn objected to the Controller doing
the work. He had the utmost faith in the
present Controller, but this resolution was
not Tor to-day alone; it was for 20 years to
come. Everybody lad heard of Honest
John Bardsley, of Philadelphia, and Pitts
burg might Mt some future time produce
like case. The audit should be made by
Councils.
Mr.. Bigham moved to refer the resolution
to the Finance Committee, that it might be
considered with the ordinance presented by
President Holiday.
Wanted Immediate Action.
Mr.. O'Donnell said he had no desire to re-
fleet on any committee; but they had an ex.
perience in which paper OF this kind re-
manned n long time in the Finance Commit
tee, until, in fact, that committee was dis
charged from further consideration of it,
The former actions of the Finance Commit
tee did not Justify Councils in sending this
resolution to that body. As for that consid-
GRAFTON by committee was not necessary.
Every man in PittSburg who reads is famil-
lar with the substance of this resolution
which is exactly the same as the ordinances
he presented last year. He asked that Coun-
Gil either pass or defeat the resolution at
once
Mr. Bigham thought it strange that MIR.
O'Donnell should insist on immediate action
He thought it discourteous to the gentleman
whose ordinance had been sent to the coEl-
mittee
Mr.. Wright said that if both resolution
and ordinance were passed there would be
two sets of auditors and a conflict. He
favored an audit and when the time came
would ask that the Chamber of Commerce
be given power to name the auditors He
wanted to go back for ten years and more
but he didn't want two sets of auditors.
Mr.. O'Donnell denied any intention to be
discourteous- He could not see any chance |
OF conflict The ordinance provided for
an audit tor four years; the resolution for |
ten years. The auditors under the resolu- |
tion would bring the work up to the start
ing point for the auditors under the ordi- |
nance. He believed that the accounts of the |
city are pretty nearly straight since the |
new charter went into effect, but before |
that time there we're some doubts, Yet the |
ordinance only goes back to the date
of the charter. AS for the Chamber of
Commerce appointing the auditors he be- |
lieved Councils could take care of the work !
Went TO the Finance Committee
President Holiday said that his ordinance
was subject to amendment. He did not in
sist that it was in the best possible shape |
and would accept any reasonable amend !
ment.
The ayes and noes were called for on the |
question of referring the resolution to the |
Finance Committee. The motion was car |
rled ly a vote of a6 ayes to II noes. The |
vote stood: |
Ayes-Messrs. Bgham, Bradley Brown, Donley,
d ressing. Dunn, Finn. Fox, Franz Geissen- |
halner. Groelzlnger, Hartlep. Johnston. Lowry.
Moran, Piatt Pitcairn. Rheam, Thorn, Voskamp |
Wright and President Holliday-96. |
N0es-Messrs; Eiler: Ferguson, Finnerty. King. |
Wainwright and Williams-ll.
The papers presented and referred to COM
mittees we're:
Ordinance authorizing the Westinghouse Mach
Inc Company 10 erect a foot bridge on Twenty-ffth
street: for sewer on Terrace and Darrah Streets
Boquet and Joncaire streets, Bates street, Bouuet
street, Carron street, Susquehanna street. Finance
and DumicrInline streets. Mcdonald Meadow ana
Armand streets Tioga street; for grading Cope
l3nd street; TOR. grading and paving Comrie /
asley; Tor grading, paving and curb;ng South
Twenty-ninth street. Carnegie and Carroll
streets. Pacific avenue, Humble alley, Washington
avenue extension: for establishing the grade of /
street, Cay5ourne street, Victoria street. Shafer
street and Arch street; for opening Washington
avenue extension, Carnegie street and Leopold
street: for locating BellwUod street: for locating
unnamed alley in the Eighteenth ward; directing
The Chet of the Department of Public Works to |
make monthly report of the stallholders in
the markets and essees of wharf and
other city property; for fixing of $50 upon all
agents of instalinent houses, providing that such
agents shall wear hadge not smaller than police
mans badge, and providing fine of $50 for viola
ton OF the ortifnaace; petitions for water pipe on
Kelly street. Form elllev River avenue extern