The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-07
Council Agrees with Majority Finding
that Present, Administration II
Like Preceding Ones.
GEcKLER OWES SMALL AMOUNT
Recommendation for Future Conduct
of ONCE Made by Special Committee
Minority Report Made.

No reflections upon the honor of City
Clerk Charles N. Elliott are made in the
report submitted by the special Council
but he is censured for permitting loose
bookkeeping.
The majority report of the committee was
submitted by Chairman Harry E. Negley
to Council last night. 1t was signed by
John III. Grail the other Republican men,
ber. Andrew Wahl, the Democratic mem
ber, presented minority report fatty disa-
greeing with the finding of the other men,
bers of the committee. The majority re-
port was adopted by Council by a strict
party vote. Councilman Spray, Republican,
voted with the Democrats, however, not
because he considers Mr.. Elliott guilty of
dishonesty, but because he feels that a
further investigation should have been
made in justice to Mr.. Elliott and every one
concerned. The report should not have
been submitted, he declared, until those
who have charged Mr.. Elliott with gross
dishonesty should have been made to re-
tract their words or compelled to substan-
tiate their charges.
LIKE OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS.
port to Council, declares that Mr. EIliott's
administration of the affairs of the city
clerks office has been. in the main. like that
of his predecessors-no better and no worse
1t has been found that Mr.. Elliott owes the
city s49.25, an amount just $2.25 greater
than former City Clerk Geckler a Demo-
crat still owes. Mr.. Geckler's books were
examined by Expert Coons after his inves-
tigation of Elliotts accounts was COM
pleted, and he found that both men had
been somewhat careless in entering fines.
and that both are in debt to the city prac-
tically the same sum- Neither against Mr.
Elliott nor Mr.. Geckler is charge of NAL
feasance made by the majority of the COM
mittee
Accompanying the finding of the ma
jority is the report of Expert John w
Coons. The expert presents a record Of fines
and fees with the result that both men are
found to be short the sums mentioned The
report of the committee, including Mr.
Coons's figures, will be found in full be-
low
After going at length into the reasons for
it's action and the method of conducting
the investigation, the committee declares
that the present system of administering
the affairs of the clerks Office is good If
done according to strict business princf-
pies. In that respect there was room for
Improvement in past administrations and
in the present one so far accurate book
keeping goes Accordingly. the committee
makes several important recommendations
II advises that the city clerk be required to
issue a receipt whenever a sum of money
is paid into his hands for any purposes
whatsoever. and that a printed form be
kept on file daily for the inspection cf
the police judge. showing what amounts
have been received each day and for what
purpose.
HAS DONE ITS DUTY.
When Mr.. Negiey offered the report for
action of Council. he made the following
statement: I'm making this report the
majority of your committee believes that
1t has done all that was suggested to the
Council by the letter of the Citizens
League and all that II was directed to do
by the resolution OF Council. and It believes
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