The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1901-08-09
Report of Auditing Committee of the
ST. Francis Levee Board.

nf the Auditing Committee for the St.
Francis Ieyee Board, appointed by the
Hon. JEFF Davis, Governor OF Arkan-
sas, have the honor to make the follow
ing report:
We lind that all paid warrants. drafts
aud certificates of indebtedness per-
tanning to the wears 1898. 1894 and TO
May 8, 1895. were burned after being
audited by the Finance Committee, by
a committee appointed by the PTes
dent, composed of d. G. Springfield and
}. T. Smith, as shown on minute book.
vol. |, page -. 1t being impossible to
make thorough examination prior to
May 9. 1895, it WAS thought best to
commence from that date, which We
have done.
We have checked the Treasurer's
book from the years 1895, 1895 and
S9T. and find that he has faithfully &C
counted for all moneys charged to him
on the Seeretsry's book. His balance
for the years 1898, 1899 and 1900 and to
May /, 1901, agree with the balance as
sDowu by the Secretary.
On account of the poor system en-
ployed by the Secretary in keeping his
books We found it impossible To thor
oughly check them in the short time
allowed US for this examination; he
keeps 10 cash book, and We found his
records incomplete, especially his land
and tax books.
In charging the Treasurer with funds
received from sale of lands it is impos
sible in many instances to ascertain
the number of acres sold, and it fire.
aaently happens that it requires dill
gent search to find the name of the pur-
chaser.
We have tried to ascertain the amount
OF taxes collected in the counties of
Mississippi. st. Francis and Cross for
the year 1895, but owing to the condi-
tlon OF the tax books We have been un-
able 10 do SO. The Secretary and Treas
uFer, in making settlement with col
lectors, do SO by checking the stubs Of
The collectors receipt book. AS the COL
iectors retain these stubs, your CON-
IDittee has nothing but the tax or men,
Orandum book to check from.
We also find that some tax collectors
and commissioners simply turn in such
sums as they may collect, without fur
nlshing an itemiZed statement showing
the individual items collected.
This method of doing business makes
1t impossible for the Secretary to tell
IL is impossible FIR this committee to
comply with section of the act Gre
ating this committee, which says:
said committee shall keep record
of all their proceedings and shall re
port same to the Levee Board, which
report shall show the number of acres
OF land belonging to the levee district,
number of acres sold by said BOARD, to
whom sold, when sold and the price re-
celved tharefrom."
AS there are no records in the Secre-
tary's office giving this information.
We further iud that your Board en-
ters into contract with one John E.
Bell and associates to sell them bonds
TO be issued by the st. Francis Levee
district, the said Bell and associates
depo5Iting So 900 to bind the contract
AS the said John h. Bell and associates
failed to live up to their contract, we
cannot understand why this money was
returned to said Bell and associates, or
why you should have entered into an.
other contract with Gilbert ID. Raines
aud associates for these bonds without
requiring forfeit, as it not only tied up
the greater part OF your bonds for SIX
and twelve months. but resulted in
your issuing $500 900 of interest bear
ing certificates which your Board sold
at 80 cents on the dollar. and which re-
suited in a loss of over $50, TO the
district.
Your committee learns that John b.
Driver, while your President, gave
hcFeigh Il Bodkin. a firm organized
with view to specializing in the lands
OF the levee district, a verbal option on
their lands in Poinsett and Crittenden
counties at so cents per acre without
requiring them to put up any money
consideration for said option.
{. Fl. Bodkin, of the above-named
arm, bought piece of land from the
Levee Board in Polnsett county on
January IL, 1901, containing IL, 542
96-l0O acres at so cents, amounting to
s5,11l AS. On January II, 1901, G. ii
Bodkin sold this land to one Williams
at $3.50 per acre. Williams conveyed
this land on the oath of January, 1901,
at = 90 per acre, making a profit of
sl7,3l4,44 in two weeks on an invest.
ment of Stills.
The committee is indebted to the
hon. j. Z. Hawthorne. the present at
torney for your Board. for tue informa-
ton relative to the above named land
sale. Believing that there are many
SUM lioicdCliOtS DIS tIlt Out mentioned.
we would respectfully request that your
Board thoroughly investigate all land
sales in the levee district through your
attorney.
Upon our investigation of the gen.
eral expense account for the year 1899
we lind amounts expended by the Pres
ident for travelling expenses amounting
to s7Ol20. He also expended for trav.
eilng expenses during the year 1900.
sos As. There were no trips to New
4 ork included in the above amounts !
Ia conclusion, we, the committee
would respectfully request a new sys.
tenn of bookkeeping be adopted, as it is
impossible to tell anything about them
under the present system.
Respectfully submitted.
u. A. POLICEMAN, Chairman.
j. w. RHODES, Secretary,
HARRY HOLMES.
HERMAN SMILEY,
l.. DUNCAN.