Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-19
AUDITOR TIMME.s REPORT.
Needs More Assistance to Perform the
Work of His Bureau

Ernest G. Timme, auditor for the State
and other departments, has submitted his
annual report to the Secretary Of the Treas
ury. The report deals with the increasing
work of the office, and Mr. Timme earnestly
| asks for more help. This is what he says:
II am again compelled to call your atten-
ton to the need of more assistance for the
prosecution of the work of this bureau. BY
reason alone of its variety of assignments
| under the Dockery act the work of the bu-
reau is being constantly added to In the
way of new features, well as being in
creased every year by the natural growth
and development Of the old ones.
I'm my estimates of last year 1 asked for
an addition of twelve clerks-D for the pur-
pose of carrying out the act of February 10,
1897, providing for the examination from
time to time of the books, papers, ETC.. of
disbursing officers of the various establish
ments of the government in the District of
Columbia, and co for the increase of work
already before the Office and that to come
from the new Department of Commerce and
Labor AS a result of a later appeal while
Congress was in session an increase of
seven altogether was granted by the urgent
deficiency act of February 49, 1904.
THE estimate of the number that would
be required to dispose of the work coming
from the new Department of Commerce and
Labor was, even at the time Congress was
in session, necessarily based upon a very
uncertain prospective amount of work that
would grow out of the accounts accruing in
the department, as up to that time only a
few of the features of this work had
been developed and the accounting started.
This has. however, progressed sufficiently
now to demonstrate beyond any reasonable
doubt that with the best distribution that
can be made of the additional clerks granted
for the work by the last session of Congress
the total force of the office will be utterly
unable to prevent the work from falling in
arrears This condition is already confront
ing the office There Is immediate need of
four experienced accountants in order to
bring up to the point desired the work
growing out of the new department and to
hold it at that point.
Another very important and very pro-
nounced reason for asking for additional
clerks is the assignment to this bureau of
the accounts of the isthmian canal commits
sion. No congressional provision was made
for this work. Based upon what is already
before the office in the shape of the
counts for only one quarter, with only the
framework of an organization and the work
OF constructing the canal not yet fairly be-
gun in earnest, / am satisfied that within
the year, by the most conservative calcula-
ton, 1t will require three very competent
and energetic accountants to handle this
particular work.
LAS to the examinations of the books, ETC..
of disbursing officers, contemplated by
the act of February 10, 1897, l have been
unable to make them during the past year,
even though believe it is very important
and desirable thing to do in the interest of
the service.
For the needs of the Office as outlined 1
have therefore the honor 70 urgently rec
ommend that Congress be asked to provide
eight additional clerks, as follows Three of
class 81, 500, three of class 3 ($1, 600 and
two of class G1 ,20O.'