The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-13
AND 1T WAS GIVEN.
Curious Blunder By the
Past City Council.

The police department had a good
thing last year 1t got over $4,000 more
than was coming to it by simply maxi
ing the request. The finance commit
tee recommended the additional appro-
priation as soon as the chief made the
request, without investigating to see if
the department really needed the
money.
The department got twisted on the
figures which City Auditor John B.
Bowker made out. The figures were
plain enough for anybody, but the de-
partment didn't see them the right way
and instantly came to the conclusion
that it would want nearly $4,000 more
to carry it through the year. 1t asked
for the money. The finance committee
recommended it, and the city council
voted the department over $9000
OF course the money was not misap-
propriated. 1t has been returned at
the end of the year in the shape of a
larger balance than is usually received
from this department, but those who
have knowledge of the facts are won
dering how the additional appropria-
without causing q question.
The sum which the department re-
ceived was $9200.31, which was its ex-
penses last August. 1t got the same
amount in September for the mere asee-
ing.
The mistake arose over a new meth
cd. instituted by City Auditor John B.
BoWker, in making out the statement
sheets for the month. It has been the
Iaf - IL -
make out q monthly statement which
contain several columns. The first
shows the balance from last year, the
next the first appropriation, the next
the revenue received. total appropria-
ton. additional, appropriation, and so
on, ending with the balance on hand.
City Auditor Bowker, when he as
sumed the duties of the office, thought
the system lacked one column, and
placed in the sheet an additional col
umn showing the amount spent by
each department since the last report
of the previous month. The blank
sheets for the year had been prepared
and the column which showed the ex-
penditures since the last report was
placed after the balance, which has al
ways been the last column on the
sheet.
OF course all columns were properly
headed so that no mistake could be
made, if an instant's thought was
given. The police department evident
ly thought that all the money it bad
on hand to run through the year was
reduced by $4,000. 81 the amount stated
on the sheet for the expenditures in
August. So it FASTENED to ask for an
appropriation amounting to that sum
to carry the department through, as
had been figured.
How such a transaction got through
all departments of the city govern
ment without being discovered, is
mystery. 1t would have been detect
ed in the auditors office beyond
doubt. but about that time Mayor Ru-
fus Is. Dodge, Jr., spoke to City Auditor
Bowker in regard to the purchase OF
additional land for the police depart
ment. He asked the auditor If the
premium on city bonds could be de-
voted to the purchase of land.
The proper proceeding in such an
event is to pass an order authorizing
the transfer of money received IN TINS
way or from liquor licenses to the de-
partment which desires the additional
money, and that order was INTRODUCED,
the amount being transferred from
either the liquor license fund or the
money received from premium on CITY
bonds. In this way the city auditor
attention was not called to the add
tional money needed for the depart
ment. except for the purchase of addi-
tional land, and that excited no suspl-
cion
The money has not been lost, but the
police department which would other
wise have had to curtail expenses or
allow some Of it's bills to go forward
to this years appropriation. had about
$1,000 to spend by the mistake the
department returns as the balance I'M
expended from last year, $S3465s'