The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-02
G. A. NlMOCKS' TALK.
Tells Commercial Club What He
Learned at Convention of Mu-
nicipal Accountants.
More General Checking Of Officials
Accounts Favored by Those
Who Attended.

Cnarles a. Nimocks, who was sent
by the Commercial club to attend the
convention OF expert and municipal
accountants, held in Washington, D.
ciup at noon to-day. The object Of
this convention was to perfect a sys-
tenn OF classifying and reporting the
fecelpts, disbursements and indebted
ness ana assets Of cities in such a
manner that they would be Ineligible
70 the average citizen.) A uniform
system OF municipal accounting and
reporting was recommended by the
census bureau and all those present
were strongly Impressed with the ne-
cesslty OF having every city in the
country adopt the system. Mr.. MIN
To the Board Of Directors, Commercial
Club, Minneapolis. Minn:
II was stated that municipal accounting
as at present conducted in most cities,
was merely cash book entries which only
showed that the officials were not default
ers. That duplicating accounts, bookkeep-
ing entries. and transfer accounts were
misleading and unnecessary and should
be eliminated from all reports. Accounts
We're not Kept as they were by commercial
enterprises. While they cannot show cap
ltal stock they can and should show a
complete inventory Of all permanent i'm
provements which the city owns, all bet
T
the liability account and the bonded debt
and to show how the money raised by
bonds. taxes. etc, has been invested; that
money expended for permanent improve
ments and maintenance should be kept
separate.
At the present time accounts are opened
by a credit or debit balance on the first
of the year followed by income or expendi-
lures, transfers, receipts from taxes, bond
sales, licenses, Interest expenditures for
buildings. improvements, and mainte-
nance, all so mixed UP that only an expert
accountant can ascertain how much was
expended for maintenance or permanent
/ improvements, closing up the account at
the end Of the year with a debit or credit
balance which is carried to the report of
the following year, with the account OF
| the bonded debt
Not enough attention was given to
checking of accounts of officials by disin-
/ terested accountants or experts not neces-
| sarily to detect crime or false entries, but
| it should be q part of every perfect sys-
tenn. The city Of New York was repre-
sented in the convention by three expert
accountants who were employed almost
continuously by the city, in checking ac-
counts of officials. ,s
! Our attention was also called to the fact
that some cities did not publish their re-
ceipts and expenditures in detail for the
benefit of the public, while others like
New York and Chicago show in detail the
name Of every rarty to whom was paid
the amount paid and for what purpose
and from what source received.
ID Many other matters We're discussed which
will be Of great benefit to our city as Mr.
Harvey S. Chase, who has charge of in
3 stalling our new system of municipal ac.
counting was present at the convention.
In concluding this report I wish to ex-
press my belief that the interest shown by
your llDnora BILE BODY in nllnicipal .ac.
counting which has brought about a new
system in our city will be Of great benefit
. to the city, and reflect a great deal OF
1 credit upon the Commercial club
i. The success Of tile convention was large
ly due. to T. G, Power Of Minneapolis, stat.
istician Of the department of Commerce
and Labor, our presiding officer who Is
doing. everything possible to bring abou
uniform accounting and reports which are
vital to municipal prosperity. ~