The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-22


read his statement, which was as fol-
lows:
Mankato, Mimi, Nov. 10Th, 1901 =
Mr.. Mayor and Gentlemen of the
Common Council: There has been
much comment of late regarding the
position of the city recorder in the
matter of au diting bills and claims
presented to this city for payment.
The recorder has been laboring under
the superstition that the common
council as we'll as many citizens of
this city were informed as to the
duties imposed upon the city recorder
under the law, but, judging from
several remarks from members of this
body, the council, as we'll as others,
this is delusion and a snare. One
might infer from these remarks that
it is not the recorders business or his
duty to take any active part in the
scrutiny Of claims and demands
against this city that the recorder is
the clerk of this council pure and sim
pie.
This, to my mind, might be true if
the recorder was creature of the
council, bat he is NOT. He is a creature
Of the law. and again [ say his duties
are fairly we'll defined, especially in
the matter of audit
The law directs among other things,
and quote from the law, that The
city recorder shall audit and adjust all
claims and demands against this city. Z"
By referring to the best authorities
we have, 1 find that to audit is "to
have hearing; an examination in
oranaroI hr,f cnani Enollry
tion of an account with the hearing of
the parties concerned by officers or
persons appointed for that purpose,
who compare the charges with the
vouchers, examine witnesses and state
the balance, the result Of such exam
ination" And that to adjust is
"to make exact; to put in order to
regulate or reduce to a system to set
tie or bring to satisfactory state so
that parties are agreed in the result,
as to adjust accounts.
The present recorder disclaims any
attempt to acquire or assume uncalled
for authority. From a personal stand
point he would much prefer less re-
sponsibilit than the law seems to inn
pose. 1t is the purpose and desire of
the recorder that ali vouchers and &C.
counts during his incumbency shall
present on the face of them a plain
and exact condition of the facts, SO
that a disinterested party may come
in and at almost glance see the con-
dition of affairs. If the recorder is tax
ing too prominent part in the exam
inatiOn and discussion of claims pre-
sented to this council for payment, or
in the systematiziDg of the public &C
counts of this city, it is his desire that
the intent of the law be shown him,
that the evil. if one there be, may be
corrected.
Much has also been said of late,
gentlemen, as to certain very i'm
portant disclosures which were forth
coming, and at the last meeting of the
council your honor referred to GER
tain voucher in favor of the recorder
and allowed by this council in the
amount of $50 for services assisting
the city treasurer, and you requested
that that voucher be produced, which
have the honor to hand you, and
which reads as follows:
'Mankato, May 9Th, 1901. The city
of Mankato to d. V. Williams, DR.:
To paid railway fare to st. Paul,
81. 80; to three and one-half days ex-
ira labor account of special assessment
matter. So. rs; total, $13 90. o. K,
G. o. Daley, City Attorney
The city attorney, Mr.. DALEY, pre-
scented a like bill in this matter, which
shows just how much his railway fare,
his Car fare, and his meals cost.