Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
CHANGES METHODS
Peculiar Clause in the Dis
trict Appropriation Bill.
AUDITgRX NEW POWER
oBsEeFES n By LOCAL AND
TREASURY OFFICIALS.
Letter From Controller Traceweu on
the Subject-The Question Of
Preparation Of Checks.

The insertion by the Senate in the District
appropriation bill Of a clause, which was
stricken out in the House on point Of or
der relating to the auditing and payment
of District accounts has given rise 10
much talk in official circles. The clause
provides that when differences arise In
the rendition, examination, or settlement
of the accounts Of the disbursing officer of
the District of Columbia, which would seem
to render necessary the suspension or dis
allowance of any items in said accounts,
the treasury auditor shall notify the audi
tor of the District of Columbia, who shall
be authorized to present in explanation such
facts or arguments as may, in his opinion
tend to the prevention or removal of such
Suspension disallowance. When the au
ditor of the District of Columbia is in doubt
as to the legality of account or voucher,
for payment upon which he Is required to
act, he may apply to the controller Of the
treasury for a decision upon the question
involved, and that officer shall render the
same, and the decision SO rendered shall
govern the accounting officers of the treas
ury In subsequently passing upon the ac-
count aforesaid"
There is a further provision that the audi
tor of the District of Columbia shall pre-
pare and countersign all checks, and no
checks shall be valid without his signature
Opposed by Everybody.
A peculiar feature of this legislation. alter
ing methods Of business between the Dis
trtct and the treasury. is that 1t Is In the
bill against the wishes of the District Com
missioners, and Of practically every head
Of department in the District building. with
the exception of the auditor, who is credit
ed with being the father of the proposal
and is likewise objected to by the officials
at the Treasury Department who have to
!. do with the District accounts.
A District official, speaking of the matter
/ today, said the proposition makes the Dis
trict auditor greater than the Commission
erS. THE disbursing officer" he continued
is the official bonded in the sum of $4,000,
| and yet this proposition takes from him as
well from the Com nissioners the right
to get his views before the treasury Off
Gals who had disallowed suspended an
account, or even to know that such action
had been taken and yet he IS the man who
is held responsible for the payment under
his bond.
Under this proposition in any case of dis
allowance the District auditor, not respon-
sible under bond, presents whatever case
he chooses to theJtreasury, and neither the
dsbursing officer. the Commissioners or the
head of the department affected has any
say in the matter one way or the other.
1.-The present plan by which the respon-
sible man, the disDursing officer, is notified of
a disallowance, and then through authority
of the Commissioners gets statements
| from the head Of the department affected
| and others Interested and lays them before
the treasury7fs infinitely more just and fair
a method. As to the signing and prepare
| ton of checks. it. may be stated that for
| twenty-five years the checks have been
| countersigned by The auditor, by direction
| of the COMMISSIONERS but to make a legis-
| lative statement Of this rule would and es-
| pecialIy in connection with the previous
clause. make the: District auditor bigger
than the entire District government He
| could present one side Of a case to the
| trea sury, get an opinion and refuse to pre-
| pare or countersign a check against the
wishes of the entire board of Commission
| erS. Each Of the propositions is bad,
| but the two together are vicious in the ex-
| treme.'
Treasury Departments Opinion.
| In connection with this matter the Com
! missionsrs wrote to the controller of the
| posed legislation and the following reply
| gives the Treasury Departments idea of
| the new plan
90 Treasury Department
| Office of Controller of the Treasury,
WASHINGTON, d. c., June 10, 1902.
| To the Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia.
GentIemen-I am in receipt of your com
| munication dated the 18th instant, in which
| you say:
The Commissioners of the District of Co
| lumba have the honor to invite your atten-
| ton to the inclosed amendment to the Dis
! trict of Columbia appropriation bill, insert
| ed by the Senate in their consideration of
| the bill.
1.-The Commissioners would like to be adj
vised of your opinion to the effect of the
| clause on future accounting by the auditor
| of the District of Columbia, and whether
| the proposed system is different from that
| provided for the auditors of the several