The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-01-15
MAYOR BROWNL OW AND
NEW BOARD TAKE CON-
troll OF CITY'S AFFAIRS,

him. the Recorder seemed consider
ably agitated and appeared u be SPEAK
Ing under excitement. Mayor Brown
low again dlscialmed any intention t.
reflect on the Recorder, but stood Hat
footed and positively by the recon
mendation made IN his message for
different system of book keeping. a
spirited colloquy ensued between
the Mayor and Recorder. which
caused a current of excitement I,
go through the large crowd present
Judge Erwin stated that he did no
object to any new system being intro
duced. hut he protested against hi
work being reflected upon in such q
manner as, he claimed, was made py
the Mayor in bis message. "And I
here and now demand an Investigation
by this board of my office ana the way
l have kept the booKs," he said, IN
conclusion.
Here the matter ended. The Mayors
message 10 full is as follows:
ITO THE BOARD Of ALDER MEN
OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA
GENTLEMEN -
In the opening of our Administers
tlon 1t is proper that we express our
thanks TO the people of Columbia for
the confidence reposed IN selecting us
as their representatives in the conduct
OF Municipal affairs; And it is also
proper that the people of Columb ia
should understand Corporate condi-
tions existing at this time, that too
much be not expected of us
With an outstanding Indebtedness
OF $l02. 300 90 and about $40. 600. 90
of this amount due. ana depleted
treasury, it will take time, economy
and good financIerlng to get affairs
even normal.
The Recorder informs me that In a
recent published statement showing
81, 600. W balance. the balance was not
a cash balance, but simply an unex
pended budget Of this amount. As
matter of fact, the newspaper reports
of This, showed it to be a cash balance,
or savings, of $7,00O.00 and that 1t
was actually divided among the various
budgets to be used In December.
In taxing over the government of
the City the people should know,
through the proper reports. the exact
financial condition of the City. Public
is called to the condition of
formed that these are III very bad con-
and If 1t has taken $13, 300. 90
for the past two years to keep up the
cross streets, and clean off grass
from the SIDE walks, how mucn will it !
require to properly repair the main
streets?
"Tne tax rate of $lhO is too nigh,
but liquidation of the indebtedness |
"A 1,x>4 81
iuced ] believe the people are will
ing to pay this rate 80 long as the in
iebtedness is being materially reduced
Lawlessness Must Stop
1--WE are also confronted by lax
condition OF lawlessness which, too,
must undergo change. These things
lave caused our citizens to get to-
yetIer and nominate and elect, what
hey were pleased to call, THE Bust
less Men Ticket, which means
business reform and 'iaw enforce
nent, and carried with 1t an agreed
platform signed by what was known
IS the representatives Of two factions.
binding themselves by this agreement
0 certain things and as the candidates
t this agreement, we are bouno by ,
hat platform. to which attention
) called.
Better System of Book keeping. .
I'm view OF the foregoing, an from {
study of Municipal affairs, having [
pent two years as member of the {
'oard of Mayor and Aldermen. as ,
hartman of the Finance Committee, I
uder the Cameron Administration, :
am constrained to make recommends /
ons and suggest some few changes 8
! the present system of book keeping, v
nd this without any reflection on any i
ne, as understand the present sys n
IN has been In vogue for many years n
nile checking and AWAITING the BOOKS 81
the Recorder l found that it was v
ot satisfactory to myself, In that It
as not thorough au1lting of the
ceipts ana expenditures of the Clty's
isiness. Under the Charter the Re- o
rider 10 made Treasurer, and all APP .
OPERATIONS by the Board are paio by u
ayable warrant, drawn by the Re- .,
rider and countersigned by the o.
ayor; and In auditing the Treas v
OF 8 books found that when an ap- U,
0priation of $500 was mace for al
,eet purposes, the Recorder issued "
Q warrant for the amount, which W
Is counterslRned by the Mayor. and re
ade payable to the Chairman Of the
rect Committee ana by him en-
rsed, leaving IL funds still In the gr
nds OF the Treasurer, who Is the b
corder, to be paid out. In auditing an
, account you find the HOOKS charged as
the amount appropriated and then at
'dited by warrant paid, as above
tied, and tine Auditor checks Ia
srge OF $500 appropriated and bu
dit OF $500 warrants paid, when no
fact he does not know that the se,
ney passed on the warrant created M
aid, " the money on the warrant Su
ying been paid to street hands by sta
Recorder, ard the vouchers for COL
SO payments do not pass under the sto
ditor's check. tic
Suggests City Depository. nm,
And on other accounts funds are OF
sed out In the same way as above the
ted. This Ia not meant as any refiec- :
on the Recorder, but seeing II ma