Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-04-07
For the Paying Of Its Debts can be improved
Opinions and Suggestions and Experts.

information concerning the manner
In which the city settled Its liabilit.
les, as we'll as to ascertain If possible
some more secure system by which
the speculations now absorbing
public mind could be av-
oided In the future. Believing
that the opinions of experts would
be better than those of an In
divldual who had not made study
of the matter, the Review sought
Messrs. Aggas and Birmingham,
who had are at present employed
to assist the finance committee In
the investigation of the books OF
the city, who are thus made pos
sibly more familiar with them and
more able to speak of them than
any one else, and secured from
them the cause which might have
led to the present deplorable con-
dition, as we'll as such suggestions
as would prevent In the future any
any such drain upon the treasury
as we have experienced during the
past three years, without any
oonjuoienf rett1rn
Mr.. .Aggas was the first Inter
viewed, and very clearly and com.
pletely does he outline system by
which great security could be at
tanned and almost absolutely safe
Mr.. Aggas said:
"The fault does not seem to be so
much with the system the city has
used as the misplaced confidence of
the city officials In Capt. Pine.
They had unbounded confidence In
his honesty, never dreamed he
would take advantage OF them, and
as result they got 1t good aud
hard"
Eyes, I think the present system
could be improved on so that there
would be a much better check on
these handling the money. l would
suggest doing away with the order
now used on the city treasurer al
together, and substituting therefor
a combination order and voucher
cover similar to the style cow used
by 9 number of oil companies.
These would be In the possession
ofthe city clerk, and when council
approved bills, a voucher would be
made out for each so approved, and
the bill attached thereto. When
these are prepared they should 60
to the mayor for his approval and
signature. This gives that official
an opportunity to see that the bill
Is ready to 90 to the treasurer just
as approved by council. Upon the
presentation of these vouchers
with the attached bills to the city
treasurer, he will pay them and file
them away. When the firms are
out of town, the clerk should hand
such vouchers to the treasurer, and
he should attend to their pay
ment by enclosing checks and
mailing them to the proper address.
es. In the case of street and city
water works labor, where the heads
of departments hand In list, one
voucher should cover each list and
be made In favor of the heads of
such department. Upon presenta-
ton of such vouchers, the treasur-
er would have 1t signed by the
head of such department as the
list might indicate, and Issue a
check to each man on said list.
With each check so made should
be attached sub.voucher or pay
roll receipt. to be signed by each
individual on the list, and these re
celpts returned by the head of the
department to the treasurer to be
filed with the original voucher,
Each month the city clerk should
prepare list of all bills approved
by council during the month and
hand to the treasurer to check
with his vouchers on file. The
total footing of this statement
should correspond exactly with the
footing of the credit side of the
treasurers cash book, less vouchers
not presented, which will be tar
and few between. The treasurer
should have his bank book balanc-
ed every month, and there should
be an audit made twelve times in
stead Of once year, between the
minutes ard the treasurer's cash
book
S -, d and ii to he tabula ed and
publish 4 lor The - .ornation Is
public.