The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-01
Mr.. SQUIRES BALKS.
City Clerk Says He Has Reached
Limit of His Capacity.

The ways and means committee OF
the city council has decided that the
city clerk must open up two new sets
of books for the purpose of keeping
closer track of the city's money.
City Clerk J. H. SquireS says he
works from in the morning until II at
night as things are now, and if the
council puts any more work on him,
there will have to be an increase in his
Office force. The city clerk now has two
assistants. besides a stenographer who
prepares all the minutes of the city
council
They have kept piling work on me, -
says Mr.. Squires, and 1 have been
working longer hours to save the city
some money. But they have about
reached the limit, and if they require
much more work, they will have TO
give me some help 1 don't see any use
in opening these new books, anyway
What's the city treasurer's report for if
not to show these things about city
finances %
One of the proposed new accounts
which the city clerk will be asked to
keep is for the purpose of finding out
how much of the tax levied by the city
each year is not collected by the coun-
ty treasurer. The other series of ac-
counts which the city clerk must keep
are for the purpose of keeping daily
balance on the money in the hands of
the city treasurer.
It seems that the object of the pro-
posed change is to give the city dou-
BILE check on the county treasurer and
city treasurer. The city clerk is placed
in the position of sponsor for both of
these officials and must at any time be
able to tell the true condition of their
accounts. 1t no doubt means a good
deal of work for the city clerk to keep
such a system of accounts in good
shape but it will doubtless be a valu-
able thing for the city to have. 1t Will
enable the city to keep better track or
its income and expenses.
Councilman Samuel T, Howe brought
the matter before the ways and means
committee at the last meeting of that
body, and he has prepared resolution
on the subject which will come before
the council this evening. The resolution
in full is as follows:
Resolved, by the mayor and council
of the city of Topeka, that the city
clerk be and he is hereby instructed to
procure the books necessary to open two
series of accounts, one series with the
county treasurer and one with the city
treasurer.
when the county clerk shall have
certified to the city clerk as required by
statute the amount of money to be
raised for each city fund by the levy
for such fund, it shall be the duty of
the city clerk to charge the county
treasurer in one series of accounts with
the amount for each fund separately
and he shall enter in such accounts ali
credits as they arise whether on account
of moneys paid by the county treasurer
to the city treasurer or by reason OF
erroneous assessments and personal
property taxes returned not found
duly certified by the county authori-
ties. There shall be such series of ac-
counts kept for each tax year.
In the second series of accounts
above provided for, the city clerk snail
charge the city treasurer with all
received by the said treasurer
from whatever source, distributing the
same among the proper funds, and
whenever bonds, coupons or warrants
are paid and cancelled the amount
thereof and also the amount of all other
credits shall be entered in the proper
accounts. The said accounts shall be so
kept as to show duly balances in order
that the same may be speedily inves1-
gated and checked whenever desired by
the mayor and council, and also for
purposes of settlement with the city
treasurer whenever a settlement may
be ordered by the mayor and council
1.-The city treasurer shall keep such
books as may be necessary to show the
actual condition of the finances of the
city
If the council passes this resolution
at its meeting this evening, it may
have to comply with the city clerks
request for more help. The clerk says
he is already overworked, and it would
be rather unusual for the council to de-
liberately give him more work than he
nelp at the same time. 1t seems to be
up to the council to decide whether the
city clerk is able to take care of any
additional work. More assistants for the
city clerk means more expense for the
current expenses of the city, and that is
one of the things which the city is try
ing to avoid.