The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-11-15

The bookkeeping OF the auditors ofnce,
e ee,Sr TO 'a rSers !; ls's some Sss ca nSi esa;snsys,
especially during the ~incuinbency " Au-
ditor Draper. from 1863 to 1917. inclusive.
Mistakes were made then, as shown ny
Auditor Aliens report. II Is shown that
some OF the entries during the period Of
planned.
note the following irregularities during
that period:
"Thc inability owing to the lack OF data
10 state accurately the war debt out.
or the amount rcdeemed during the pc
Rod. Auditor Thompson, in his report Ipr
1865 referring to the war debit, says. no
data have been furnished to the auditor .
Office. ! am, therefore. unable. however
much | must regret II, to render a correct
and ratlsfaotory account OF this import
'The payment Of 49,. 90 10 the railroad
sinking fund debt. the disposition ~
which iB not made clear, although the bal
ance was dropped from the books
THE payment u H6,5ii.4 Tor bonds tof
sinking fund, the number purchased OF
disposition not being shown
'"fhc payment Of t3g5 .ii0.2I for sun.
dries, without ~cxpinnntlpns a. 70 uetalls,
"a payment 81 tl,61s ,59l25. made through
tho National Bank Of Commerce IN New
York. the states fiscal agent, for cOupons,
shown on the state books. but not on niiy
bank statement which could bo locatcn'
II Is possible that the fund c1mmis,ign-
err deposited the money with the bnnk
for the payment of these coupons. which
were returned Cancelled without an sc
c~ompanylng statements but an csnnin1-
ton OF the banks records IN. New 1ork
does net show the receipt or disbursement
'"fhe ayino Of t2,2LiG on account Of
defense warrants and Union military
bonds. In the blcnnlal period ending De
ccmbcr %, lSii. although the auditors
report of the State debt ~ December 81
$50. DID not show any OF these obllsn-
lions outstanding"
Errors we're also made during tho period
o. liberal republican control. innnins
from January /. ls1l, to December ", lh'3.
Among these may be noted the Follow
fhc payment Of tseo,S55.S5 for bonds
for sinking fund. without explanation as
To the number Of bonds purchased or th'lr
INA disposition"
"Ihc balance Of rl.sSSs5 agalnst the
accounts December 81. 1871, was probably
Offset by frmlttnnccH made TO tho Nation.
~ Hank of Commerce In New YORK; anu
not charged an the books"
During this period q uuf1hcr OF remit
tanccr were made Ia the National Hnnf
OF Commerce., the states nscal agent.
which tho auditor failed to charge TO the
ora. Hut II II apparent that there was no
toss 10 the state by reason u these errors
IN bookkeeping.
rlod ~ democratic control ara as Follows;
THE report uf tho utditor Tor NAI !
shows IN hannibal a IT Joseph r~ailrold
bonds redeemed, Whereas tier' were onil
w Of these bonds outstanding Janunty u
1851. This was merely n clerical error.
which corrected Itself In the following
reports; -
period ending December y, lSp. shows
the Issue Of n warrant for No.fpp. I. pay
interest on school certificates, inHtra1 OF u
transfer In the usual forin-nh error IN
distribution only. which did not affect ~,
tOtul."
'sThe credit balance OF 7 cents Of the
fund commissioners dropped from the ac-
.sThe apparent unsettled balance Of
si01I against the nrm OF kohn. Pepper
A. 60. nov diraolvcd.'
Nearly all Of tho Official. connected VIII
the state administrator from January ],
iS5, 10 December u. is12, have long since
passed away, and | would he fcctcant "a
books if I should BY Inference imputc DIS.
honesty to them. II II true. however. thai
There was negligent bookkeeping. especial
~ during the four years To which a
ndvcrtcd. hut having carefully reviewed
tho reports of the auditor and the experts,
I concur with Nc isrS. Haskins n Sells ~
the statement that.
any miAn appropriation OF the funds OF TIT
state or my irr,Eularitiea other thai
. those heretofore mentioned
cratic admin trations, ps.5ll.sit.l hav,
been appended TO meet The obigalions ~,
eldcnt 20 tho. bonded debt, exclusive, q
sonS' ,os,a'd to a rSaSna Sic ps slss
was for the purchase n redemption u
bonds. tid,sJi .O6i2 for the payment Of IN
tercHt ON bonds. blu.GSl.Sl Tor premium
on bonds; tl,s1O,i3e.G for the payment o
Interest on tho school and seminary Ger
tincatcs. and iio, il36b fOr pay OF hsea
agents. engraving. oSpfonsngo and othtI
teresl has been paid, aud the bonded debt
al the beginning ~ this year, Including
certificates OF Indebtedness. reduced u
g., ~. tJa.ts.
Durlng the same period there has beer
diabufHed through the revenue fund 50.
g,s,W,i.Ji to meet the various cNpcnsca u
the state government. This money ha
gone To maintain IN. schools Tor erin
innl costs. for pay OF the general assem-
bly,. to MAINTAIN educational sleemo
synary and penal Institutions; for assess
ms and collecting the revenue er,etinI
and repairing state buildlngH, publ
; printing, Tot the cxI tnscs OF the genera
state government and for other purpose
shown by the auditors exhibit, In thi
! connection l desire to note that tho cntir
cost OF maintaining the state government
, proper DURING the last ~ years wha bu
r r,.AS2.bSy loan average yearly expense u
: only A5oi.S,s.iN
/. view OF the expenditures OF the varlou
{ departments OF the ttatc government dui
2 ing the three pcrinds covered by the nu
. dltor'a statement. The exhibit supplies a
NNAAh ENNMt vs. $500
arc invited and can b. easily made. IL
! conciuaivcly shown that the administrl
I tion OF fiscal Affairs. under democratic
. control, has been honest and frugal. Me-
Institutions have been cstablinhcd, an
Z Others have been enlarged to meet N
. growing demands OF this great common
wealth. ample provision has been mad
. Tor the care Of the insane. tho deaf. III
blind, the minded n other NJ
fortunate classes OF our pcople,I the stat
. university, the normal schools. and OF
u splendid public school system have bee
o generously fostcrcd and promoted; y fru
= experiment station has been established
u refurmntory and penal institutions hay
Y been provided, and the Indebtedness ,
. the state, except the amount due u
school funds. Will bo fully paid at u
u close of the coming year. All the
achievements have been accomplished
y u reduced tax rate, the present rate beir
one. half OF that Imposed. ~ republicl
state ADMINISTRATIONS. This tax rate W
be- still further reduced with the liquid
tIon Of our bonded debt, Missourians.
whatever political faith. should be pro,
OF this financial record.
know that fair-minded Missourinns
all parties have confidence In tho INA
cial Integrity OF the administration
state affairs, but the auditors stntemo'
:. was necessary, that our credit might n
be nut under suspicion In other states
~ ,haIfulan nh. examination nf tho hon