The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-02-04
AUDITORS SCORE
OVERSEER POOR
AND ASSESSORS.

The only book at first submitted
to us was one in which appeared the
individual accounts of those who had
received city aid. This could not be
inteiligently reported upon, or verified
on account of erasures, interlining and
penelling over. From business stand
point your auditors cannot approve Of
accounts SO presented, nor would the
same be allowed in a private business
Of the most humble proportions.
In addition to these general objec-
tons, we specifically condemn the sub
stitution of a voucher of equal amount
for one disallowed, when the second
although duly receipted, is not for the
same items as that first presented. Nor
can the second be a true voucher with
out increasing an individual account by
the sum of S24.25. We also condemn
the addition to a recepted voucher OF
an entry paid on the following month
from date thereof, and the penciling
over and adding to iternized bills from
merchants. We have no reason to be-
lieye that any of the above acts called
to your attention were done with inten-
tion to deceive, but rather from a non.
realization that only facts and figures
can govern an auditing board.
we would recommend that the com
mittee whose duty it is during the
I year to act with the overseer, familiar
ize itself more with the department de-
( tails TO the end that the present situa-
tion may not repeat itself. We think
I it is also a duty of the committee to
see that the necessary aid given to the
poor he administered with Judgment, as,
in our opinion, expenditures have been
made, in some cases, for goods, and
! in amounts not warranted under the
title Of charity. The charity commit
I tee, at request of the mayor, did on
one occasion investigate the extraordin-
airy expense, and their report Is on file.
Everything was satisfactory to them,
but we confess our inability to come to
the same conclusion.
NO report Of bills outstanding has
| been made to US, and we find the sum
\ entered as expended, to be for the nine
months $5,652.03, leaving a balance in
4 oyerseers's hands of $l7.97 The sums
4 turned over to the treasurer from towns
and individuals, by the overseer, amount
TO $76790, Of which $3.50 dated from
the first three months Of the year.
Assessors
"The assessors may appoint q clerk
whose compensation shall be fixed by
the city council" So provides the city
4 charter We find the assessors had no
less than nine different persons in their
employ, who received payment in sums
varying from S5.40 10 S1is.00, making
total Of $4,000. This, added to
/ the salaries Of the three officers, made
/ the cost Of assessing $s42.95 for the
4 year, plus stationery, etc The grand
4 list IN spite of cost, was not a model
one, either from clerical point of view,
nor for its exactitude After return
made by the assessors, $412.40 was add
ed to the list from errors and additions,
netting the city $1,113.4s.
On the other hand, Attachments on the
I original list were very large with many
yet to follow, this principally from list
l ing persons twice, as also padding list
with names Of unknown or former resi-
dents. This may appear trivial, but
! it must be borne in mind that the state
I gets IA cents on the dollar OF the whole
I list, as also the school commissioners
1 the amount raised for them, the city
general fund being the loser in every
case, besides paying all expenses in
! CURED.
We would recommend that the as.
SCISSORS in revising their list verify the
delinquent list Of former year. This in
| itself would have saved lots of expense.
We do not pretend that the listing can
be made errorless, but we think that
with reasonable care many mistakes
might be avoided. That the duty is
onerous and difficult is without ques-
ton, but the remuneration of $3.50 per
diem would seem sufficient to warrant
member devoting his whole working
time to duties that he has been willing
to undertake. We might here state our
belief that the efficiency of this and
the poor department was undoubtedly
impaired by one member holding dou-
.ble position In April and May, Mr..
Smiths accounts showed twenty-six full
days work is assessor, besides finding
time for his duties as oYerseer.
City Indebtedness.
We find the indebtedness Of the city
to be as follows.
4 per cent sewer bonds due
1909 ...*...ss ss..*..+.......S SO, 10000
4 per cent refunding bonds due
1906. .......s......... 100000
4 per cent refunding bonds due
1911 ....t..t,. ,........... 100000
per cent refunding bonds due
1916 ..s..... ....... 100000
4 per cent refunding bonds, op-
tional after 1914 ....... 57,50000
Note Barre Savings Bank q
Trust Co, due Dee. Z, 1905 66s.29
Note Barre Savings Bank &
Trust Co., due Dec. 2, 1906. 66S.29 |
Note, Barre Savings Bank a
Trust Co, due Dec. z 1907. 66s.29 /
Note, Barre Savings Bank &
Trust Co., 4 per cent, on
demand, .......... 100000
Note, Barre Savings Bank &
Trust Co., per cent, due
June, 1905 ........... 100000 /
Note, Barre Savings Bank &
Trust CO., per cent, due
June. 1905 ..s........ 100000 I
Note, Barre Savings Bank &
Trust CO., 4 per cent, due
June. 1905 ......... 100000 F
Note, Barre Savings Bank s.
Trust Co, 4 per cent, due
June |, 1906, .......... 100000 I
Note, Barre Savings Bank s.
Trust CO., per cent, due
June /, 1906, ......s 100000
Note, Barre Savings Bank &
Trust CO., per cent, due
June ], 1906, ,...s... 100000