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bookkeeping and more detailed infor
nation in the auditors printed report
would be of benefit and interest to the
state This | undertook to accom-
plish, and | do not hesitate to invite
comparison to the system of bookkeep
| ing now In the auditors office and
which is substantially the method in.
| stalled by me, with the one heretofore
existing, nor to the form and sub
stance of the auditors printed report
in comparison with those of former
| terms.
Few persons who have not investiga
ted the matter, realize the amount of
work devolving upon the office of aud
itor of accounts.
| specify some. Every year more
than three hundred pages of ledger
accounts, in which are necessarily
made thousands of separate entries,
must be kept by him; he Is required to
pass upon claims againstthe state ag-
gregating from 100000 to $4,000 or
more; be draws at least seventeen hum
dred orders, each of which will aver
age to require at least three separate
entries in addition to those made upon
the ledger relating thereto; he writes
twelve hundred fifty to fifteen hundred
letters, copies of which should be
preserved, and sends out five thousand
TO six thousand letters, which are not
copied. annually. He is required to
visit each county twice year, to aud.
it the accounts OF the courts, sheriffs,
jailors and justices of the peace; to
visit each probate court annually and
90. tyf ntta, .lv vi
it and audit certain OF the city courts
he must audit the expenses OF the state
treasurer semi annually; settle annual
ly with all officers and institutions
that receive or dsburse moneys be-
longing to the state, including the
state treasurer: must have his books
and papers in readiness for examina-
tion by the inspector of finance annu-
ally, and last but not least, is required
every two years to spend about two
months attending upon the session Of
Legislature at Montpelier, where he is
allowed the privilege of paying his
own expenses.
| agree withthe Democratic members
of the Investigating committee that it
is possible for the auditor to require
the governor, the judges ofthesupreme
court, and every other person whose
accounts he audits to furnish vouch-
er for railroad fares, hotel bills, tele-
graph and telephone tolls, postage
stamps and in fact for practically
every penny OF the states money that
is expended; the number of vouchers
that under the existing practice are
furnished TO the state auditor, and
yh iph lie al lanCt tun thnneopA
annually, would be largely increased
and perhaps doubled.
What good purpose, however, would
these additional vouchers serve unless
the same could be carefully scrutin-
lied.
The Auditor receives two thousand
dollars pei year and his necessary ex-
penses when away from home on OF
fetal business, except when attending
upon the sessions of the legislature,
and in addition, has been allowed,
since November 81, 1900, five hundred
dollars for clerical assistance annu.
ally.
Is not it oh vious that the state can.
not expect to procure and cannot pro-
cure it's auditing to be we'll done,
the Auditors books TO be we'll kept
and all the duties of the Office carefully
for the paltry sum 1t
now pays! In asserting that it is
phi ysically impossible for the Auditor
and his authorized clerical assistants |
to perform the work cast upon his de- |
partment, | am simply repeating what !
is said in my printed reports of 1900 |
and 1902 and to which legislative at |
tention was then called.
AS long as the state continues its |!
present parsimonious policy in provid
ing for this department, SO long the |
tax payers may expect an increase in |
he state expenses through existing |
channels, and it will not be surprising
At any time to discover that printed,
and clerical errors" if
lot those more serious, have occurred.
| suggest;
/. The Auditors Office be perman-
entity established at Montpelier and
hat Vermont Statutes Section 3l2 re-
ating to deputy auditor, be amended
o provide that the Auditor may fix
he compensation of his deputy not ex-
eeding One Thousand Dollars annu.
lily, and his necessary expenses when
way from home on official business.
2. That at least two thousand dol
ars annually be appropriated to
provide for an expert bookkeeper in
he office and for other necessary as
istance therein.
The foregoing will enable the Audi
or to compensate and depend upon
lis duty to relieve him of some of his
nultifarious duties and will be suffi-
lent to provide an expert bookkeeper
nd necessary stenographic assistance
n his Office.
Beyond question, the money thus
invested will yield large return.
If the report Of the committee in
uestion shall, by calling attention to
ne subject, contribute in any degree
} the adoption by the state of pol
~ towards the auditors Office which
ill enable my successor to avoid the
listakes have made and render to
he State the full measure of his valu- I
BILE services as an auditor, and not 4,
S clerk, | shall feel that although I
he errors in my printed report may /