The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-10
Found Grave State of Affairs in City
Collectors Department.
OTHER OFFICERS CRITICISED
Mayor, Chiefof Police and Sergeant,
the Report States, Have Admins
tered the Affairs Of Onicc in
Violation OF the Ordinances,
The Council Heard the
Report Last Night.

DANVTLLE. VA. Aus. 9.-special-Mr.
il. B. Boudar an expert accountant OF
Richmond. has been employed for a
month past in examining the books OF The
city officials. Ills report was submitted
O. the Council at special meeting held
Tonight and has created considerable sem
satlon.
Mr. Boudars employment TO make an
examination of tine books of AID city Of
acials resulted from the adoption of "a
motion introduced some time ago by
Councilman W. A. Taylor. who was APP
pointed chairman of "a special committee
created to have the examination made IL
was stated at the time that the books
had not been verified by am expert for "A
number of years and that fact alone. it
was further stated was the motive for
the examination. There was mo- iuslnua-
ton of malfeasaucc in Office on the part
~ amy official
Mr.. B0udar submitted schedules 90 vor-
ify his conclusions and sums up matters
ia lengthy report
Grave u-gu'arifics. according % The
report. were found tO exist iu the City
Collectors account and in those OF
the Mayor. Chief ofPolice and City
Sergeant. Various departments were
found 10 have been conducted in
violation of tine statutes boz nu-
merous particulars. Other departments
examined were found t0 Dee conducted ace
c0rdiug t0 law Iu the main. though one
or TWO minor criticisms were offered.
CITY COLLECTOR $ OFFICE
Mr.. B0udars report makes three COLI
umns of small type Nearly a third of
the report is devoted t0 the city COllrc-
tors Office. the examination covering the
years 1896 1897 and lsN The report
says. "'lhe affairs of the office have been
conducted in "a very loose manner. little
regard having been paid 10 the ordinances
controlling and defining the powers and
duties Of that office. ] herewith
submit tables showing the monthly and
annual collections of taxes from Jduu-
ary T. lsq6 t0 July 10 lS99. inclusive for
the year 1870 for schedule A. lV5 schedule
b. 1895 schedule g. lSss schedule I'd and
1899 schedule b. The summary of these
tables shows am aggregate over payment
ON account of taxes of S4ffl02 and ln
making 90 reference % them. DO must De
borne in mind that The payments DOB JAM
uary OF each year embrace tle bulk OF
tine collections for the December. of the
previous year. and ln the present CIsa
this condition is not offset. 1s the table
for l@a BIS NOT FOR a fu'l year. closing on
July l1th. Schedule j. is summary of
'.' '' ''''' ''on7 owe. ''t i'i'i''7
' w.
''''' 'i''" que
..i..,... -"- '' '''
,'-. ..,... W "" l,, ll.' l.''' ni,' Oh
'' '-''.-'' tF''E
'''.'' ... f'. 'pF.''- I'D ''.'
cIrul OBJ thrfe accounts. Schedule
SHOWS ln netaN me diIiefence between
''. ..'"'.'i.s7 a. per 'tH.. ana lie
lt'r HAed py lnr ordinance. Tor t1e years
i''o' 70 'hN N lo ne fl'i'N and tne
commission improperly charged on the
lA-'i'eni hIs Tor ine same period Oh ue
>1-..'. making % total of Ni1Z.A % Dr.
refunded.
THE MAYOR
A hair column is devoted tho Mayor
office which was found tO De conducted
IN violation Of am ordinance requiring the
Mayor to keep record 0f The proceedings
OF his court and provide an annual salary
in lieu or fees as formerly The report
"AN Nn NN' ANNN NNI NFfN.H 100 SUCH RECORD.
and be depends upon the CHIEF 0f Police
record for such Information The report
states that n portion OF costs assessed
in state cases was allowed by the Mayor
10 be retained by the Chief Of Police out
or the collections. without Including if
ln hi monthly report of collections t0
the city Council
"In explanation. tho Mav0r stated that
he consulted the city Attorney and was
advised by him to continue the course
previously pursued untn he notified him
Ohe Mayor 90 the contrary Srrh ro.
tice to the contrary was made iu the-.
fal OF 1898
Continuing. the report says.
ole required no bail bonds buf ordered /
The release Of both CITY and state oris .
1uers confined in jain for nou-pavn.nt of /
lines and costs. upon the verbal promises .
lf sureties tO nav such fines and costs Tn
many Instances of this chara,ter uo col. I
ect0ns have been made arbouvh the
,urptios were rosroreihfe citizens and mo- /
egal process can now be had
After conviction and sentence. before f.
serving their time. prisoners are released /
lp0n the payment Of "a part of their /
ines. and their promise 90 pay the bal-
ince. When the uncollected fines anl