New-York tribune., 1896-05-25
rDrrFJED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
or THE SIGNING OF SENATOR
wpAY's BILI-VIRTUALLY NEW
CALLING FOR MEN.

. ,o ~ Senator Wray's bill relating to
inc a.countants practically opens up a new
pun In this country The law lays down certain
oa'' .r the constitution of certified public ac-
'',.nts and authorizes any one VINO Ior year
ooaHh ,h. massage of the law has been practising
beioio N amply 10 the regents of the University
% ~ New-York for certificate giving him
OF NV .,,Is of Certified Public Accountant" 1t Is
inc sd that a board OF examiners be appointed
p'o.S raeents who shall examine all candidates
,,h,s degree in a most careful manner IN order
io ..s,,ain .n their fitness for the place The num-
:, examiners to be appointed Is three
rhs nublic accountant occupies an important
in' l., tho commercial and financial world. Upon
pocuracy exactness and correctness OF his work
lne t,sn involved immense sums of money, and
81 % ,,onorfance OF this law cannot fail to be recog-
v" vi nv men Of finance as well as the general
n su The appontment of the first three men to
I've on this Board was made by the regents only
s.. . ,horoueh study and investigation. and the
.s selected are: Colonel Charles f.. Sprague,
~ Haskins and Frank Brooker. Mr. Sprague
v 49,. nres,dent OF the Union Dime Savings Bank.
,s,,s city and a member of the Institute Of Ac-
" .un,s and c. w. Haskins is member of the we'll
W., accounting firm of Haskins e. Sells, who
A,.d A on the reorganization of the Treasury De-
's.r. at Washington under what was called the
So, Commission Mr. Haskns is at the pres
=, lime the expert in charge of the investigation
= the municipal departments OF New-fork. MI
notsr Is a public accountant in Brooklyn. and
s,dent of the American Association OF Public
,,..ountants Thus the two accounting associations
:, hn United States are represented on the
80 NJ Examiners AS some Of the best known ac-
.r,s of the country, including Stephen Little
&c " Haskns, are not members Of either as
..,,,,on II was thought desirable TO nave these
wv" sV .a,,es.nted on the Board Of Examiners and
~ paskinss name was selected from among a
,ra. number of applicants, to be such examiner.
htS hhna los
...n,,g ne said that the Board Of Examiners will
"a ,na first meeting next month, at which time II
IN mass upon the qualifications OF all those who
-,av amply. The examination would be made with
-, care He said that 1t was expected that there
wouu w, mi importance of the law became generally
Known ps w. people in need of the services OF ac-
cox certihcates were employed In this way they
could expect competent and satisfactory work
!anev Ma had been lost from the incompetent and un-
trustworthy work OF. accountants. He mentioned
shsf The main opposition TO the passing OF the new
law had come from English accountants practising
in this country In England SUCH such Law law was .ai IN
influence and Importance. There the title given is
chartered Accountants and the applicant for the
,,.le must not only pass a severe examination. Dut
must also serve an apprenticeship before being
permitted % practice Many Of these sra Sd
reason Of their degree and proficiency in their call
% have Ssra aGs H h Sad lave
which would affect their income, Up to the pres
ent time there has been In this state no real test
OF qualification and this has acted to the dsad-
vantage OF the American accountant. Mr.. Haskns
said that he wanted TO bring before the public the
fac. that all three of the commissioners were thor
ourh Americans He himself holds the office Of
treasurer General of the Sons of the American
Revolution He said that the American Association
n Public Accountants numbered about sixty, while
the Institute of Accountants had many more.
This was the first law of this kind passed in any Of
the States Of the United States. II was the open
Ing wedge and Mr.. Hask!ns was confident that at
no distant time the matter would be brought up in
other States. with the result that National asso-
cation would bo formed and the beneficial features
N the new enactment would be widespread through
out all the country.