Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-19
let THE PKESlDENT
ADDRESSED BY SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE AND LABOR.
Common System Of Classification OF
Accounts One of the Vital Needs
of Modern Times.

A conference of controllers of cities OF
over 10000 population to consider meth
DDS for securing uniformity of city ac-
counting systems was held here today
About twenty-five delegates, represent
ing leading cities of the country, at
tended. Secretary Cortelyou of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor made
an address. y committee was appointed
to arrange program for the sessions,
and the delegates called on the President
this afternoon.
Secretary Cortelyou's Address.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: 1t Is
pleasure to me, as Secretary of Commerce
and Labor, to welcome you to the capital
of the nation. The object that brings you
together is one which appeals strongly
to all interested as good citizens in the
best administration of our American
cities.
Il am very sorry that the director of
the census, upon whose invitation this
meeting has been called, cannot be here
today. AS some of you are probably
aware, he is attending the memorial serv-
ices in honor of his father. Before leaV-
ing the city he personally expressed to
me his keen regret at his unaVoloapie
absence.
you have met to discuss and perfect
methods of securing, far as practicable
such a uniform system of classifying ana
reporting receipts. disbursements ana IN
debtedness of our cities as VIII make tne
presentation thereof understood by the
average citizen. Those receipts. diSburse-
ments and debt totals aggregate amounts
which approximate those of the national
government. With the adoption by any
city of a method of presenting its EXHIBITS
of receipts and expenditures in form per-
fectly Ineligible to all great step mas
been taken by that city in the direction Oh
good government. With the adoption by IA
considerable number of cities of a uniform
system of INTEL g!ble, classified accounts
second great step has been taken by which
the experience of city in the honest
and economic administration of Its offices
is placed at command OF all.
Importance of the Work.
THE Importance of this work is evil
denced by the attendance here of expert
representatives of the fiscal offices of some
of our greatest cities and of state officials
who have the important duty of securing
uniformity and efficiency of accounts and
honesty of administration of the loo al gov
ernments within their respective states
THE Department of Commerce and Labor
in all it's branches has a deep concern IN
the success of your meeting. Both Director
North and Mr.. L. G. Powers. chief statls-
tician of the bureau of the census, nave
given most careful personal attention TO
the various details connected with the SUBJ
iects YOU will discuss, and in what l have
said | am sure | voice their sentiments and
ter hopes for the good to be accomplished
by this conference. Anything which Sc
cures publicity of municipal fiscal manage
ment by the introduction of a common sys-
TEN of classified accounts will unquestion-
ably give impetus to whatever may be
determined to be a proper publicity of cor
porate financial management, in which the
new department is greatly interested.
Needs of Good Government.
"The needs and requirements of various
phases of administration in the public Of
Of ,1atin
should have the earnest attention Of our
citizens. Good municipal government is one
of the demands of the hour; good financial
methods are among the essentials OF good
municipal comment l believe you gen
! tlemen, who our respective spheres are
| contributing 10 the interest felt in this
| meeting, are giving worthy support to the
| attempt to meet this demand Whoever
| adds to the sum of civic betterment is per-
forming substantial public service l con-
| graduate you that you have presented to
| you this opportunity for such public serv-
| ice. l thank you most heartily for your
attendance. and in the work that calls you
! together l wish you the largest success
| Those who were expected to be present
! nearly all of whom were in attendance,
| follow: John II. Blackjack, certified public
| accountant, Baltimore. Md: Harvey s.
| Chase public accountant and auditor, Bos-
| ton, Mass; Frederick A. Cleveland, New
York. N. Y; Frederick b. DeBerard, mer-
| chants association, New York, N. Y; Allen
| r. Foote, Columbus, Ohio; Julius w. Free
| man, deputy controller Baltimore, Md. !;
| j. X. Garrison auditor, Washington. d. c.;
| Edward NJ. Hartwell. Boston, Mass; Harry
b. Henderson, state examiner. Cheyenne.
| Wyo.; A. M. Heston. controller, Atlantic
| City. n. j.; l.. f. McGann, Chicago, Ill
| j. o. Main city controller, Wilkesbarre Pa.
| G. A Nimocks, Minneapolis. Mimi; George
| NJ. Rex, city auditor, Pawtucket, r. l.;
John r. Sparrow, supervising accountant,
New York, n. Y; Harry T. Upham, Cam
| bridge Mass; Clinton Rogers Woodruff,
; secretary National Municipal League. Phil
adelphia, Pa; E. M Fullington, Columbus,
| Ohio; George Forman, auditor of accounts,
| Newark, N. j.