The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-28
The City Accounting System.
To the Editor of The Journal.

To the Editor of The Journal.
The criticism of 7 h g j o ur n q in re-
gard to the short time allowed for pre-
senting bids for installing a new system
Of bookkeeping in this city develops the
following reasons, from the viewpoint OF
the CITY Officials ri and cornznlttees W
charge, for what the casual observer
would call hasty action:
First-The new accounting system can
be installed with advantage only at the
beginning of the financial year; that is
to say, either on Jan. l, 1901, or Jan. !,
1905, and public interest requires that
the present accounting condition shall not
be continued a day longer than neces-
sary. But in order to install brand
new system on Jan. i next. the account
ing firm undertaking the job must pc al
lowed at least the sixty days from NOV.
1 to Dec. 81 to get together the system,
the new books and the force for per-
forming the installation. Without at least
sixty days preparation for the JOB, the
until January, 1905. 1t was flor this rea-
son that the joint, committees on ways
and means and on accounts Of city Of
ficers, with the city attorney and city
controller as members ex-officio, decided
at the meeting on Oct. 10 tosadvertise for
bids to be filed as early as Oct 20. 1t
was felt that any proongation OF the ad-
vertisement for bids would make the in
stallation Of a new system impossible at
the opening of the new year..
| Second-Altho the formal advertisement
| for bids extends only nine days. sthe stu
alton has been advertised, by the reports
| Of the examiners, for nearly six months,
and the two or three accounting firms
which makea business Of municipal ac-
counting have been watching the situa
ton during that time. In fact durin< the
! ~ ~ 4os,G ~,
/ and out Of the city, getting ready their
estimates. meeting with the committees
! of the city council and with committees
! of citizens and commercial bodies, exam
| lining the city books and getting the
views of city officials and either in per
I son or by proxy were present at the meet.
! ing of Oct 10 when the subcommittee con
sisting Of the city attorney. city control.
4 Ter and chairman of the ways and means
committee were ordered to Eadvertise fo1
! bids. The report of the special examiner
] recommending a new accounting syste1
was given to the public onS May Z. Tbs
4 resolution of the city council asking til.
I board of tax levy for an appropriation
i followed in August and the board of ia:
1 levy granted the appropriation in Sep
TENDER, SO that all accounting firms tina
i cared to undertake the job of installing
| a new system for the city had full oppor
j tunity to get on the ground and prepare
| their estimates. g.. =. .F
4 Third-It was expected that the join
committee would act in the matter O.
! employing an accounting firm at the meet
I ing Of Oct. 10, as the City attorney hat
ruled that advertising was not necessary
and it was simply to give the account
ing firms something definite; on which t
/ prepare their final estimates that tn
specifications were ordered drafted a1'
published. SO far as the prices name,
in the bids go, the committee has freel
given 1t out that the bidding cuts nj
figure, the standing of sthe,sfrm and tn
character OF the system ;ssat nth installed bein
the prime considerations, providing tn
bids come within the, $4,000 appropriate
for the purpose by the board of tax levy