Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-24
ALTERED THE PLAN,
Common Council Opposes the
Auditing Committee Idea,
Claiming That 1t Is
THE CONTROLLERS WORK.
Final Amendment of the Ordinance
After Long Argument.
WOULD TAKE UP TOO MUCH TINE,
Argue the Members Who Fight the Bill
and Win Out Easily.
WOULD TAKE UP TOO MUCH TINE,
OTHER BUSINESS IN COMMON BRANCH

affairs only in allowing Controller Morrow
to employ sufficient expert help to do the
work. Under the law he is already en-
city's books at least once a year.
But he has never had anybody to devote
the time necessary to it. The work will be
long and arduous, and this accounts largely
for the opposition of numerous Councilmen
to having the matter devolve on members
The chance of being put on the Auditing
Committee doubtless had considerable in
huence on many who argued and voted to
put the burden on the Controllers shoul-
ders.
Started a Lengthy Argument.
The bill came up in the special meeting
Common Council called to wind up some
unfinished business. Before much
else had been done Mr.. O'Donnell
called up the ordinance creating
standing Auditing Committee.
For two hours there was the most animated
discussion of many a day in that branch.
The ordinance had passed the first two
readings at prior meetings and its author
called it up for final passage. Mr.. Magee
moved to go into committee of the whole
to amend the bill
Mr.. O'Donnell-The gentleman has failed
to give any reason for such action. I un-
derstand the amendment to be offered will
practically kill the ordinance. 1t is strange
that this ordinance has been before Councils
so long and never until now has an
amendment been offered. The ordinance
81 &c he al
1t is as near perfect as possi-
BILE and covers the entire ground
1t has been before this branch three months
and met with general approval from the
public. The parties who want to defeat it
are men who have long been identified with
the municipal government. 1 want it un-
derstood that if the ordinance is defeated it
will come up again, and 1 will be one of at
least a hundred taxpayers who will form a
citizens movement to have it adopted. The
action in going into committee on the
whole simply means the defeat of the Or
dinance.
Would Be a Heavy Task.
Mr.. MacGonnigle-I do not altogether
agree with Mr.. O'Donnell. The ordinance
needs some amendments. The task of an
auditing committee would be heavy one
and would not want to serve on the COM
mittee. An amendment should be made to
let the Councilmen out
Mr. Bigham-The ordinance is not per-
feet, as its author claims. 1 have not the |
slightest doubt that Mr.. O'Donnell is
perfectly honest in his intentions; but it |
strikes me the work would be enormous and |
members of Councils would not have time to |
attend to it. The work should be done by |
expert auditors who should be paid for 1t.
Mr.. O'DonnelI-Was there ever an audit |
of the city's books?
Mr.. Bigham-I have no knowledge of |
what would be called special audit, except |
when a deficiency had been discovered in |
the Water Department some years ago
MCDONNELL am satisfied the attempt |
to go into committee of the whole is |
simply scheme to kill the ordinance on |
the part of gentlemen who are afraid to go |
on record as directly against it.
Chairman Holiday - You will please |
come to order. You have no right to make |
snch a statement concerning the motives of |
members.
The motion to go into a committee of the |
whole was then adopted and Mr.. Bigham |
took the chair. Mr.. Magee moved to amend |
the ordinance, striking out every reference |
to an auditing committee and making the |
Controller the auditor, giving him the right |
to employ as many clerks and experts as he |
sees fit.
Mr.. O'Donnell-Have you consulted the
Controller as to whether or not such an
arrangement meets with his approval? I'm
less the Controller has altered his views
within the past two months he prefers an |
auditing committee.
1t Is the Controllers Duty.
Mr.. Magee-I do not know what the Con-
troller wishes, as I have not talked with
anil aaf m holt
way. 1 do not know that it makes any diff
ference anyhow, as it is the duty of the
Controllers Office to audit the books If
the gentleman from the Sixteenth ward is
honest and earnest in his efforts for an
auditing of the city's books he can secure 1t
best through the Controllers Office. If
such committee as Mr. O'Donnell wants
were appointed the people would be con-
tinually saying they were working for a
selfish purpose and had axes to grind.
. Mr.. Flinn-Neither the original ordinance
nor the amendment are perfect. There is
no question about the honesty of the present
Controller, but this ordinance is not only
for to-day, but for the future. Time has
shown that the old maxim that "every man
is innocent until proved guilty" should be
changed so as to read every man is guilty
until proved honest" We cannot have Con-
troller Morrow for ever, and who knows but
that in some future time there may be
man in his place in whose hands such respon-
sibility will not be safe?
Mr.. O'Donnell-I have serious doubts as
to the right of Councils to impose further
duties on the Controller, his powers being
fixed by act of Assembly, and there is MOTH
ing in the acts compelling the Controller to
go over the books of his predecessor
Mr.. Holliday-In neither the ordinance
nor the amendment is there anything to
show how far back the audit should go.
This is serious defect, in my mind.
Mr.. ODennell-The ordinance fixes no
time, and after its passage, Councils could
regulate the matter by resolution.
To Go Back Over Ten Years
Mr.. MscGounigle offered an amendment
that the auditors be requested to 60 back for
a period of ten years or more if necessary,
and that they should report to Councils.
This was accepted by Mr.. Magee.
Mr.. Holiday read the act of Assembly
which makes it the dutv of the Controller
to audit the books at least once year. The
only extra authority the ordinance would
give him would be to employ experts.
Mr.. O'Donnell wanted the Controller sent
for, but this was voted down.
The amendment was then adopted and the
committee of the whole rose.
Mr.. O'Donnell-The people of the Six
teenth ward have kindly elected me for an
other term, and give notice now that
will keep bringing the ordinance up until
such a pressure is hroupht tn hear that