Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-09
OUR MAIL POUCH.
As to Auditing City Finances.
the Editor of The Dispatch:

To the Editor of The DisDatch:
Now that there is some probability of a
Councilmanic audit of the fiscal affairs of
the city OF Pittsburg, it may be observed
that the last formal audit OF that kind was
some 80 years ago. and was as follows:
To the Select and Common Councils of the City of
Pittsburg:
GENTLEMEN-Your committee appointed to
audit and adjust the accounts of the city officers,
from February l. 1861, to January 81. 1862. in
elusive, respectfully report: That they have
examined the books accounts and vouchers of the
Mayor and City Treasurer, and have found the
same to be correct, ex cepting some small dis
crepancies as must unavoidably occur where the
accounts are complicated by passing through so
many hands. The only correction of any note is
where the Treasurer failed to charge himself with
error in addition, s5 vehicle license. &c. and sls7 OIL
received from Mayor Wilson, for fines and for
feitures during the month of October last past.
After correcting the error and one of 80 cents in
the treasury amounts to 50. 4s5 81.
We will also call attention to the fact that por-
tion of the sinking fund is disbursed on warrants
drawn by the Mayor without Intervention of the
Controller while the residue is certified for before
dency 10 compiicate the accounts. This can be
remedied by instructing the Controller that in all
eases where funds are transferred to the credit of
the sinking fund to debit appropriation No 49, and
permit no disbursements without issuing certif-
cate therefor subject to the regulations in respect
Your committee before closing their report. de-
sire to bear testimony to the courteous and gentle
manly department of eN-Controller Steele, Con-
troller McCargo and Mr.. Allinder. of the Treas
urer's office, ami thank them for the kind and
throughout the entire auditing of the accounts.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
5: 5: 5 $; S;sS;s#:: Hss$'AS &sss: COMMITTEE.
PITTsBURG, March 81, 1867
This document shows that the audit of
1852 was an "audit" i'll fact-not mere per-
functory work, and the minor discrepancies
alluded to serve to show how impartially
and discriminatingly the auditors did their
work Objection is now made in some quar-
ters to an audit, on the alleged ground
that it is unnecessary or would reflect on
somebody. This is quite absurd as audit
ing" is an official act provided for by law,
but unfortunately fallen into ''deSuetude"
these later days.
1t occurs to me that any objection to an
impartial audit by the proper committees
at once raises the presumption that the
nScal affairs of the city cannot stand an
audit and as a plain matter of fact, that
presumption is founded on fact.
The fiscal affairs OF at least one depart
constituted have never balanced within sleO-
ooo, and l am led to believe that the ''un-
cess of that. Imay add that this is not
tion. The discrepancy has been of long
standing, ha been quite notorious in certain
circles. Explanations have been
By anang ~ crtes D ike sne Tse prsss wf aRa
but one result-delay after delay,
with, perhaps, the well-founded expectation
that no formal or responsible audit would
be attempted until the central figures in
this SCARED history had passed aNay-and
dead men would tell no tales"
No city officer, or employe or Councilman,
who has done his duty, need fear an i'm
partial audit, and if any public servant has
been criminally or negligently derelict in
their sworn duties, surely it is the business
of the public to know all about it,
JAMES W. BREEN.
PTTsBURG, JanuaryS