The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-28
Bond Imnrovement Records.


 Under the head of exception to Pub lie Improvement Records the report says;
 We find that while the balance of cash in bank agrees in the aggregate with the balance as shown on the treasureTs books, the amounts appearing to the cred 1t of each ordinance separately are not correct. Within the period covered by this examination we found that in number of instances amounts were credited to cer- tain ordinances that should have been credited to others. After spending sev- eral days in an effort to reconcile and adjust these differences, we found that 1t would be impossible in this examination to do so; for if we were to adjust and correct the errors which appear to have been made between January l. 1904, and May 1, 1905, that would make only a par tial correction, as the same state of af- fairs undoubtedly existed before this period We would therefore, suggest the advisability of employing some competent person to correct these records from the beginning to date.
 The serious consequences which may arise by reason of these errors may be seen by reference to the following sections of the present city code: Section 62 pro- vides ''that the proceeds arising from the collection of assessments levied for each improvement shall be and constitute a separate and distinct fund, and each such fund, together with it's tions, shall be and is hereby sacredly pledged to the payment of bonds and interest coupons issued for the improvement from the as- easements for which such fund arises and shall be applied exclusively to the payments of said bonds and coupons. It shall be the duty of the city treasurer to keep an accurate account of all funds arising from all assessments for public improvements and to carefully and &C., curately keep a separate account of the fund arising from, the collection of as- sessments for each particular improve ment and no proceeds arising from as- sessments levied for one improvement shall be diverted to the payment of bonds issued for any other improvement, or to the payment of any other indebtedness of the city"
 Section 63 provides "That any city treas urer who shall divert part of a public improvement bond fund to the payment of any bonds or interest coupons other than those entitled to he paid out of such fund, or to the payment of any other indebtedness of the city, or to any other purpose than that required by this act, or who shall use or inappropriate any of the funds out of which any Of the bonds issued under the authority of this act, are required to be paid, for any oth- CT purpose than such as Is contemplated DN thlS act, WnetneT SucIl uSt UT uliSdp- propriation be for his own benefit, or for the benefit of the city or of others; and any member of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen who shall by his vote or in any other manner, order, cause, aid. encour- age, or abet any such diversion, use or misappropiation of such funds, or any part thereof shall be deemed guilty of embezzement and be punished as If he had stolen the same"
 It will thus be seen that it is of the utmost importance to have these records absolutely accurate, and no time should be lost in having them corrected.
 In making the examination of this de- partment we found that large sums of money had been paid by the city out of the general fund towards settling the amounts due by some property owners for improvements made under this law an itemized list of which is herto att taehed marked statement No. 13," showing all such payments which state ment Is made a part of this report. We examined the minutes covering the period from January 1, 1904. to May l, 1905, to as- certain whether any or all of the pay ments made by the city during that nerlod had been authorized by the board. Those payments which are shown by the minutes to have been authorized by the hoard are marked with star on said list