The San Francisco call., 1904-03-17
INSTRUCTIVE CTUDIENC
By LNOIEIzAAGIslN AND
n%S5)NfEN ~

nritely more extensive than that which
NAV be exercised by an unqualified
medical practitioner The latter, if he
be the possessor of an extensive prac-
tice. may poison a hundred or so pa
tfents in the course of mis- career; but
the former can, while merely confinins
his attention to the affairs of one un-
dertaking, readily accomplish the ruin
Of tens of thousands in a much shorter
period"
Realizing the necessity of some means
by which the public can discriminate
between the qualified public accountant
and the unqualified public accountant.
the LEGISLATURES of the States of New
York, Pennsylvania. Illinois, Maryland
California and Washington have all
passed laws creating the title of certi-
fed public accountant and granting
same upon due examination. The laws
are not restrictive in their character,
as they do not prevent any person from
practicing as a public accountant, eX-
cept that only he who has duly passed
the examination can term himself GER
tilted public accountant" or use the
abbreviation &C. p. A" after his name.
In the State of Illinois the University
Of Illinois is the body that is eInpow-
cred to hold examinations and grant
DEGREES; the qualifications being that
the applicant must be a citizen of the
United States or have declared his IN
tention of becoming a citizen, and be
over the age of 21; he must have re-
ceived a high school education or its
equivalent, and be a man of good moral
character. He must also successfully
pass examinations on the following
subjects: Practical accounting,
theory of accounts" auditing and
commercial law
The students of law or medicine
must pass examinations successfully
before they practice as lawyers or
doctors, so that the public may be
protected against those who are un-
qualified hence the value of placing
the public accountant on the same
footing is too obvious for further COM
ment, except to state that the effect of
this law is TO give to the certified pub
lie accountant a professional stand
ing which very properly should in
crease his responsibilities.
To the young man who may desire
to prepare himself for this profession
few words will be in place as to the
qualifications which are not obtained
by study, but which rather form a
part of his character. 1t is, of course,
assumed that the candidate has a ma
tural love of figures and that he is well
versed in mathematics, and preferably
also in algebra and geometry as a
training to his reasoning faculties. To
these qualifications should be added a
large fund of common sense, caution
and patience, while accuracy in his
calculations and modes of thought and
reasoning are absolutely essential.
The man who will accept as correct
! the figures as they appear on books OF
accounts because they contain nc
clerical error or who will too readily
accept explanations given without
further investigation will never sue
ceed as an auditor. 1t is necessary to
know the reason of every step taken
and once satisfied that given result
is the true one, the accountant should
have the courage to stand by it.
In addition to the study of text
books and those natural qualifications
which have been referred to above
| experience must be gained by actual
| work in an accountants office. In nc
/ other manner can any man prepare
/ himself for those duties and respon-
sibilites which he will later be called
upon to bear after he has duly quail
! fed as a certified public accountant
During this period of apprenticeship
/ in the profession, as it may be termed
he will be called upon to perform {
| considerable amount of routine work
which at times may appear irksome
but which will give him a thorough
foundation in the principles of ac
I counting and auditing.
In conclusion nothing better can b.
| quoted than the following paragraph
out of Dicksee's Work on Auditing"
"Accountancy is a profession calling
for a width and variety of knowledg'
to which no man has yet set a limit
the foremost accountants are no
| ashamed to say that. like Epami
nondas, they learn something in addi
ton every day; let us therefore Sc
no shame in following their example.