Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-01
ABOUT PAY. ROLLS
District Officials Inquiring
About a Ruling.
ADVANCE SIGNATURES
AUDITOR GARRISON EXPLAINS
WHAT HE MEANS.
Bureau Chiefs Can't Certify to Ad-
vance Work and Yet They
SIGNATURES


during the past few days over the promul-
CATION by the Commissioners of what are
considered rather ambiguous directions for
the preparation of pay rolls covering the
work of the various District employees. The
directions were not issued by the Commits
sioners in the form of u regular order, as
is usual In all important matters, but SIM
ply as an approval of certain recommended
tons made by the new District AUDITOR
John r. Garrison. Since Mr.. Garrison en-
tered upon the duties of the auditorial Of
flee six weeks ago ne has kept not only
the clerks of his own office, but those Of
the executive office as well, busy writing
his numerous recommendations for changes.
Mr.. Garrison has devoted his attention
largely to the subject of payment of en-
plOyeS, including not only those at the DfS-
trict building. but policemen. fremen, school
teachers and the many others forming the
army of more than 300 persons whose
livelihood Is gained by se-vices rendered the
local government Wherever he has found
it possible or to his mind advantageous
Auditor Garrison has changed existing
methods. He has rigorous view of at
fairs born from long connection with the
Treasury, and has issued his recommended
tons without regard to whose. convenience
or what long accepted rules were involved
In some cases the Commissioners have
modified his suggestions.
The activity in the audftOrlal department
has made itself felt in the shape. of confu-
sion to bureau chiefs Several impending
clashes have been narrowly averted. The
heads of departments have in many in
stances resented the idea that they would
certify to erroneous pay roll. They as
sert there have have been no cases of over
payments to District employees in the past.
1t was declared that the pay rolls have al
ways been prepared in accordance with the
law, and that there was no need to encum-
Der them to such an extent, and to sur
round them with so much official red tape
as to delay payment to employees beyond
the stated time when they had right to
expect settlement. The late Auditor Petty
a stickler for precision and rigorous
care in the preparation of pay rolls and in
the allowance of salary claims. and SO the
department chiefs felt they had been we'll
drilled this subject if no other.
Capt. Chester Harding, assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner, wrote a very point
ed Endorsement several days ago in COM
menting upon the explanation of the audi
tors Office with regard to the delay In for
warding to the disbursing officer roll for
the payment of the laborers in the water
department This roll was held up because
it did not contain a detailed statement of
the services rendered by several of the en-
ployes Auditor Garrison held that no pay
ments could be made this roll until it
was corrected throughout.
DR.. Woodward's Question.
DR.. W. C. Woodward the District health
committee appointed by the Commissioners.
which includes Auditor Garrison, is the
latest official to raise a question with re-
gard to the recently promulgated orders,
and to ask an explanation of them by the
Commissioners. III
The auditor has ruled that while pay rolls
for annual employees must necessarily be
made out in advance, the certificate of the
bureau chief that the services have been
nally rendered he dated
not extend beyond that date. The question
has arisen as to whether or not payment
will only be made for the period up to the
date of certification for the entire month.
In the case of the school teachers the num-
Der of rolls is so large, and much time is
required in the preparation and signing and
countersigning of checks that the rolls
must necessarily be signed from ten days
to two weeks in advance.
Il have the honor says Dr. Woodward,
Ito acknowledge receipt of copy of the
Commissioners order of the oath instant.
relative to erasures in vouchers and pay
rolls and signatures to pay rolls. In the
matter of pay rolls it is suggested that all
pay rolls shall be examined with care and
scrutiny by the officers who approve the
same, before approval, with the view to as
pertaining that the persons whose names
are borne thereon have been actually en-
ployed and rendered service for the respect
i've periods charged. and are entitled to pay
ment therefor
with reference to pay rolls of per diem en-
ployes has always conformed so far as
practicable with this suggestion. Pay rolls
OF annual employees have, however, uniform
ly been approved in. advance so that as a
simple matter of fact at the time Of ap-
prevail of such rolls these employees have
neither been actually employed nor rendered
service for the periods specified, nor are
they entitled to payment therefor.
In order to carry out the suggestion in
the order above referred to 1t will be neces-
sary. 1t seems to me. TO delay the approval
of the rolls of annual employees until after
the close of the period to which such pay
rolls relate. l respectfully request to be
advised whether this Is the practice in
tended to be established by the approval Of
the auditors suggestions and If it be not,
would suggest that the order of the 24th
instant be modified so as to indicate OK
actly his wishes and the wishes of the
Commissioners with respect to such rolls"
The Auditors Explanation.
The matter was referred by the Commits
sioners to Auditor Garrison, and he has
made a statement which does not seem to
| clear the matter very materially. He says:
Respectfully returned, with the remark
| that. in the opinion of the auditor the GER
| tificate of approval upon pay rolls by the
| approving officer necessarily relates to the
| date upon which certificate Is made, and
| cannot extend or cover a period of time
known fact that, a rule, all pay rolls
| must be made out and certified in advance
| of the date to which payment is to be
| made, but the certificate of approval speaks
| from Its date. 1 do not think the Comm.s-
| sioners' order requires delaying the ap-
prevail of pay rolls until after the close of
\ the month. Attention is invited to the
| form of certificate used upon the pay rolls.
1 which has been used for years past, and
| has been signed without objection.
| 1T Is not proposed to change the form Of
| this certificate. which is as follows: Ger
| tificate of supervising officer-I certify that
| the above receipt roll is correct and just.
! that the services were rendered as stated,
| and that the rates set forth are in con-
| formity with law. hereby approve the
| SALE This certificate has been and is
| made In advance of the date to which pay
| ment is to be made as set forth upon the
pay roll"
| Commissioner West in speaking Of the
matter this afternoon said 1t was very
plain to him. The general rule is that the
certificate cannot cover subsequent periods,
but the certifying officer Is simply put on
his honor to inform the auditor If there is
any change In the interregnum.
The auditors Endorsement raises very
pretty question. however, in the minds of
| ut ntStri h,,fy L.