Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-04
MATTER OF APPROVAL
; 60 E RS:;=:5 69l6enberg E HS:s1 50; -:
QUESTION PRESENTED TO COM
MISSIONER WEST.
Old Rule Regarding Regulations Had
Been Set Aside, but Is Tenn
porarily Readopted.

Property Clerk F. o. Beckett Of the Dis
trict government entered Commissioner
Vests ante room this morning with a large
bundle of acquisitions for general supplies
I'm his hands He announced that Auditor
John r. Garrison had refused to approve
any more reauisitions. Just why he would
not do so the property clerk did not know.
He declared he had been met with the nat
refusal
1t developed later that Commissioner
West In conference with the auditor, had
agreed with the latter that 1t ought not to
be a part of his duty to approve the reauisi-
lions for supplies.
The responsibilities for such purchases. 1t
was stated. should rest with the property
clerk. whose office was created as the pur-
chasing branch of the local government
and whose duty II should be to see that
the purchases are proper purchases anu
that the prices quoted are correct Inc
auditors share in the TRANSACTION. IL was
asserted. should not begin until the pur-
chase had been concluded and the vouch-
ers for payment presented. Then the au-
dior should see that the purchase Is prop
erly chargeable to the appropriation indi-
Gated and that the certificate or oenVery
Is correct.
Existing regulations adopted by the Com
missi0nerS some years ago provide. now
ever. that all general supplies shall be Sc
cured through requisition approved by the
property clerk and the auditor. This being
the case. Commissioner West this afternoon
instructed Auditor Garrison to proceed with
the approval of the acquisitions until such
time the order OF the Commissioners
now governing the matter can be amended.
Auditor Garrison is anxious to be relieved
of the task of approving acquisitions. as he
holds that such action on his part Is not
necessary for efficient administration. Com
missioner West agrees with him thoroughly
and will suggest an amendment to the
Commissioners.
Mr.. West expresses a desire for adoption
of the old system. This system required
the approval of the Commissioners on all
acquisitions. AS a matter of fact Mr.. West
has already directed that acquisitions for
supplies shall come before him for the
time being. Mr.. West Is the only civilian
Commissioner In the city Commissioner
Mcfarland being away on vacation. Ord
inarily 1t is presumed thaht the Commits
sieners In charge of the department for
which the supplies are intended will ap-
prove the acquisitions therefor.
A Perplexing Problem.
The matter of reforming the system of
acquisitions and the purchase of supplies
is engrossins Mr. Vests attention at this
time almost wholly and Will be straighten-
ed out at the first opportunity.
Under date of February IL. 1873, the
Commissioners adopted an order to the
effect that all acquisitions must be sub
mitted to the Commissioners for approval
May %. 1898, this order was amended to
read that acquisitions for general supplies
should be filled upon the approval Of the
auditor and the property clerk. Under this
system the Commissioners were seldom
cognizant of what was being purchased by
their subordinates. The only acquisitions
which came before them for action were
those affecting the contingent fund All
supplies from general appropriations were
purchased by the property clerk upon
acquisitions approved by the auditor. The
papers were then filed away, without COM
ing to the attention of the Commissioners
In any way.
Commissioner West believes that the
principles of good administration call for a
closer supervision of purchases on the part
of the members of the District board.
Results Of Reform.
ter of purchase of supplies In the open
market, 1t Is said, are already being felt
1t was recited today that in the purchase
of beds for the fire departments 1t has
been the custom In years gone by to pur
chase the beds by private arrangement.
Within the past few days 1t became neces-
sary to purchase more beds Proposals
were called for and as a result Of the COM
petition the same class of bed as purchased
in former years will be secured at this
time for % cents less on each bed In the
purchase of fifty beds the saving Is con-
siderable. propOrtiOnately.
Commissioner West today withheld his
approval OF the purchase OF desk in
the open market by one of the subordinates
purchased after competitive bids are In
Sfted