Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-19
TOTAL OF $3098.O4
Alleged Shortage in Accounts
of W. J. Landers, Gardiner,
Joint Special Committee Makes Re
port to City Government.
Further Investigations Will Be ke.
ported in February.

Gardiner, Me-. Jan. 1S.-(SpeciaD.
A special meeting of the city govern
in@nt was held, OH call of Mayor e. L.
Russell, Monday evening, and the feat
ure Of the meeting was the hearing of
the report Of the joint special commit
tee appointed to investigate the ac
counts of w. J. Landers, ex-treasurer
OF the Board of Directors of the High
school. This report was read by Alder
man {. o. Turner, chairman of the
committee. 1t was as follows:
Gardiner, Me-, Jan. IS, 1904
To the Hon. Mayor and members of
the city council:
Gertlemcn-YO committee appoiat
ed to investigate the accounts of Mr..
W. j. LanGers, cx-treasurcr Of the
High School Board. have attended to
the duty assigned them and beg leave
to report.
After hearing the reasons OF the High
school board for sustaining Irregular
tiles in Mr.. Lander's accounts, we met
Mr.. Ldndcrs, who stated that such ir-
Irregularities, il they existed were caus-
cd by transferring amounts from one
account to another. That he had in
no instance misapplied any money re-
ccived by Elm for use OF the High
school.
The committee thought it advisable
to secure the services of an expert ac-
countant and accordingly employed
Mr.. Herbert +. French of Boston, who
drew off the accounts in ledger form
and sent the committee about $50 sepa-
rate accounts with the request that we
verify and return to him with sworn
statements for each. Mr.. French TAX
! ing 20 himself the work Of verifying
| the Boston accounts.
On attempting to comply with Mr..
French'S request, it was found that
| many Of the parties concerned were
either dead or away from the city, or
did not have sufficient data to furnish
accurate information.
Under the circumstances the COM
mittec thought it best to avoid further
expense Of time or money and asked
| Mr.. French to make q report of what
accounts, he held. which he did.
Mr. l.anders has given credit for
money received from mayors warrants
| and other sources. This side Of his
! account is practically correct.
oks-Mr. French submits sworn
| statements from Boston firms showing
| that Mr. Landers has charged $500. %
| in excess of their credits.
Tuition-Mr French also presents a
summary of the treasurer's reports.
| showing $253.60 more charged by Mr.
| L,andcrs than the treasurer credits him.
| &c crnHitnl Inv
| his cash book $45.61. leaving total diff
| ference found by Mr.. French. $1S4S.I2.
| Salaries-Mr. Landcis claims to have
| Daid the teachers between March l.,
! 1898 and March /. 1902, 31,203.1S;
| amount actually due teachers, March
/. 1902, S36669: total. S31,569.S1.
| Amount actually earned by teachers
| from March 1. 1899. to March !, 1902,
$30.32O.55: difference. S1249.32.
The teachers say they have never
| received more than the amount actu-
ally earned.
| Some of the items seem OvcrcharScd.
! that for lack OF positive evidence the
| committee does not feel at liberty to
mention. AS the High school board
| has placed the case before the grand
| iury. we have no recommendations to
offer. except to add that. in cur opin-
| ion. Mr.. Landers' communication to the
city government. Dec. Z, 1903. with TIE
| execution of the words "KnOwing that
| Il communication would come to your
| body. from the High school board, /
| wish to state thai the insinuation is
absolutely unfounded and false. Every
expenditure incurred while | was con-
nected with the board was examined
by Il committee Of the city government
and approved" be stricken from the
records. This is Il report of progress
to date.
| Respectfully submitted.
| 6. o. TURNER.
EDWIN +. LADD,
D. DOUGLASS,
r. F. HARMON.
| i. II. WARD.
| Mr.. Turner added 10 the above report
| by saying that this was report simply
| of progress up to date. He also stated
| that the committee was interviewed by
| the counsel Tor Mr.. Landcrs previous to
| the meeting. Monday evening. and the
| Continued on page 81