The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1892-07-08
LAKE CHARLES, LA.
FRIDAY, - JULY 8, 1892
EXPERT OoMMTTTEE


AS we announced in the EoHo last
week, the report of the expert com.
mittee was submitted TO the town
council and after being thoroughly
examined, was found correct and or.
dered published, in full, in order that
everyone might see how things have
been working for the last two years.
This having the books and affairs
Of the city overhauled, by experts, is
an excellent idea, but instead of hav-
ing it done query two years, it should
be done every year.
a-v-Ihis should also be done by the
police jury every year, and a full
exhibit of the years work published
SC that the tax payers may see where
their money goes. This has never
been done by any police jury of this
parish. 1t is true that reports have
from time to time been made by the
officers of the police jury, which were
simply generalities. What we mean
by an examination by experts is that
they shall be thorough accountants,
to be employed and paid by the par
ish, to overhaul the books, accounts
aud business of every officer connect
ed with the conduct of the affairs of
the parish, and make a full and com.
plete report of the condition of affairs
as they fnd them.
While on the subject of committees
we have suggestion TO make to the
new police jury, when they meet and
qualify. The present cumbersome man.
ner Of conducting the finances of the
parish must be done away with. Let
the police jury make an auditor out of
their clerk. Appoint q committee of
three gentlemen, who shall be an
auditing committee; have all claims
against the parish fled with the clerk.
OF the police jury who shall lay the
claims before the committee for APP
proval or rejection. If approved by
the committee, the appropriation is
made by the police jury, they are aud.
tied, entered by the clerk, and war,
rant issued by the clerk, on the treas
urer, against the particular fund sp.
Propriated in the budget. The clerk
must keep a stub Of each warrant
issued, showing amount, to whom is.
sued, and against which fund. The
police jury should also make it the
duty Of this auditing committee, Just
previous to each monthly settlement
by the tax collector, to take the stubs
on the tax receipt book and compare
Il with the treasnrer's cash book. 10
order to see that the corresponding re-
ceipt issued has been properly entered.
Another duty Of this committee would
pc to report at each session of the
police jury, the name, occupation, and
amount Of license paid by each indi,
vidnal onthe collectors register of Ii
censes issued. Then, as each mem
Der knows, Or should know, every one
in his ward doing business Of any
kind, the police jury would be thor
onghly posted as to who had not paid
their licences, and conld, or should,
sec that they were paid
II will DO said that all this will cost
money. Of course these committee
men would haveto DO paid, and 81
they would necessarily have 10 be
competent mon, they would have 10
be we'll paid, but we know that il
would be saving of both time and
money 10 she parish. Once the sys
tenn ahsll be established We are satia.
aed That this committee could do
everything required Of them ii fopr
or Eve days 10 each quarter. Suppose
ahsy Are paid $500 / aas each, that
Al 5000 per dag, and for Eve days Il
$4,000 PEI quarter, 81 about $4,000
ageAr Nov, there gro nine members
Of The police jaFg, they each dsav
$3.50 per day and Ten cents a nils
both ways Nine members at $3.50
pef day makes saa.sO per day, and
With al this work 81 examining &C.
roHHiR alrs iakon oa their hands, ID.
siead "a aissing ! week ii j limo ~
ahey baga h do almoat every meeting,
ahsy Wonld gat through ID B day or
two, much relief Of tie nembers,
10 most Of whom lhaiF time Is moro
Falunbls a. home than sitting On she
poles iafg AZ o.. 80 per day
We snake these suggestions because
know ihal Tho changes aeuld BE-