The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-14
Clerical Errors Involving Hundreds
of Thousands of Dollars Dis
covered by the PrObers.
BOOKS OF RECORD DESTROYED
TAXES AMOUNTING TO S5OO,0OO A
YEAR LOST TO THE CITY.
Scratched OF the Books on Mere Word
of the Tax Gatherer-CIaims
Possibly Paid Twice.

NEW YORK, April 13-Some time ago
Haskins and Sells. public accountants, of
this city and Chicago, were engaged by
the Merchants Club, of Chicago, to make
examination of the accounting methods
of the city of Chicago. The accountants
transmitted to a special committee of the
Merchants Club a report which gave in
full the result of the firms investigation.
To-day there was issued by the firm a
letter, supplemental to the above report, ad-
dressed to the Merchants Club. which says,
in part, that the accountants found the ac-
counts of the city in deplorable condi-
tion, due mainly to the survival of meth
DDS of control and record utterly made
quate to the requirements of of the
great cities of the modern world. The let
ter says that taxes to the amount of $780,
600 a year for the past decade have been
released as loss and deficiency on the mere
word of the tax-gatherers; that clerical err
rors, such as posting hundreds of thou
sands of dollars have remained uncor-
rected; and that the books of record have
been destroyed. The letter also says that
these faulty methods have led to forced
balances, frequent Jumping of accounts,
wholesale omissions. arbitrary entries of
tion of money expected and the like, and
responsible for the possible duplicate
payment of claims against the municipality
and for the direct official statement, shown
by the report to be questionable that the
city debt had been reduced more than
100000 during the past two years.
OF the future the letter says: 1.-The ulti-
mate destiny, however, of the new Chicago
( conSOIfda tfon IFS DreSeuf piecenoeaI gov
ernment is grotesque in the extreme, and
utterly indefensible. The dissipation of
public wealth entirely due to the diversity
of governing agencies and taxing bodies is
incalculable; as, on the other hand an esti-
mate cannot be attempted of the value, ma
terial and moral of municipal unifcation
to the future welfare of the community
Attention is then called to the rapidly in
creasing number of associations of citizens
which are grapppling with the many prob
lens as how best to administer local gov
ernments and mentions the States wherein
legislation for the higher welfare of the
municipality is making headway against
opposition. 1t is claimed that California,
Minnesota and Wisconsin are foremost in
this movement for charter reform, but that
w yOIlliSs anu Suutl DdhOld, texas,
Massachusetts, Indiana and Illinois are fol-
lowing the footsteps of the others. Atten-
tiOn is also called in the letter to the work
of the National Municipal League.
One of the concluding paragraphs of the
letter reads thus: at would be almost in
vidious to attempt a selected list of Amer
lean cities that have recently adopted ra.i-
icaI changes of organization looking to the
betterment of their government and the
safety of their public money. San Fran
cisco has adopted a new charter by popular
vote, other California cities have followed
and the movement has been sustained BY
decision of the Supreme Court. New York
and several other cities in the same State
have adopted new charters. Milwaukee and
other Wisconsin cities. Minneapolis, ST.
Paul. Duluth, Mankato and all other good
sized cities of Minnesota; Mobile, New Or
leans, Baltimore have all secured new char
ters in the interests of economy and good
government. Whining ton, Del, has kept III,
a plucky fight for charter reform, and III
many other cities, including Providence
Jersey City, Pittsburg, Raleigh. Jackson
vile, Chattanooga and Grand Rapids
movements to amend renew their char
ters have BEEN successfully prosecuted or
are still in progress. The movement for
general uniformity in municipal accounting
presents to the city of Chicago an eppor-
tunity TO establish a system worthy of irni-
tation."