Evening star., 1903-07-17
Not Practicable.

THE collector" continues Mr. Petty In
his report. in an interview held by him
with Mr.. Ross, stated that it was not prac-
tiCable to make such an answer to the sec
end Inquiry contained in my communication
as he understood me to desire. On the fol-
lowing day Commissioner Ross sent an un-
addressed letter. or memorandum, to tho
collector. copy OF which follows:
July 20, 1899.
Upon a further conference with the au-
dtor 1 learn that the object sought to be
attained by the accompanying request will
be accomplished by statement Of the total
amount deposited in bank for the items
named in the first clause. not separating
the totals under each item. and that it
Will not be necessary to scrutinize the stubs
for that purpose Also that the bank book
any other mode OF showing the second
item will be sufficient.
(signeO JOHN w ROSS.
commissioner"
note the collector. Mr.. f. G. Davis, sub
mitted a statement showing the balance on
hand January l. 1893. to be $73164.32 De-
posits from January to June 30 amounted
to SI I,741.G3, making the total received
$40 ,9)5.55 The expenditures from January
to June 80 1899 were slO1 900, leaving a
balance July 1. 1899. of sf9.9O555. After
citing this statement. Mr.. Petty says:
LAS the figures thus furnished by the COL
lector We're not what required, and the
bank book to which Mr.. Ross referred, and
which was essential to the accomplishment
OF my purpose could not be found, l was
compelled to defer the execution of my plan
for the preparation Of a complete statement
of the fund account from the time of the
initial deposit to that of the one last made
Now that the data is at hand, however,
and the work Is being vigorously pushed by
the two clerks recently appointed in the Of
nee. 1t may be safely assumed that the day
Is not distant when the result. 50 long de-
sired. will have been fully attained
A Later Suggestion.
Later on 1 suggested to Mr.. Ross that.
as next in Importance a statement show
ing the amount advanced to the auditor for
deposit in bank. the sum of the checks
drawn against the same, and the balance
thereof remaining at the close Of the year,
constituting 1t did a full exhibit of the
actual operations in connection with the
funds" would form a fitting addendum.
feature of the annual report Appearing
first in that for 19OO-19O1 which Comprised
two years. thus going back to July 1899
SO as to include the time when l first con-
lerred with the Commissioner in relation
to the matter.
This appendix Is not nor was 1t intend
ed to be what Commissioner West erro-
neonsly describes as statement of the
condition OF the deposit fund.- but is pre-
c1sely what In terms it purports to be: "A
statement of amounts received and dis
bursed by the auditor Of the District of
Columbia. on account Of permits from
July I. 1899. to June 30. 1901 and agrees
with the footings OF the ledgers as they
appeared of record at the time the report
was made.
Commissioner West summarizes my
statement follows:
1T will be seen that. according to your
statement there was balance on hand
in that fund on June 30. 1901. Of $50. .626. 49,
This summary of the balances exist
ing June 30, 1901. Is inaccurate in that 1t
includes LOOT. 40 for crossing Sidewalks
which is not a balance at all. but the
gross sum ON hand and received and ex-
cludes S. 153. II. which represents the bal
ance June 30. 1901 in the plumbers de-
pOSit accounts.
Reforming this statement on q correct
basis gives the following result: Permits