The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-02-15
EXPERT ACCOUNTANTS
EASILY OBTAINED A "SNAP"
Given Authority to Expert the County's
Books and Records at SIS a Day,
Time Unlimited.


ties VINO are engaged in a legitimate
business, whether they are residents of
this city or not; furthermore, it is far
thest from the desire of the paper to
criticise the acts of the county commits
sioners, who, it is more than willing to
concede, are actuated by sincerest mo-
tives in transacting the business of the
county. Nevertheless, we do feel that
very serious mistake was made at the
last session of the board, and one that
is bound to call forth vigorous protest
from the taxpayers, in signing contract
with a couple of outsiders from Port
land, giving them authority to expert"
the books and records of the county for
period of six years past. 1t is not
the fact that an exporting was ordered
that is objected to; on the contrary this
was commendable and perfectly proper.
The objection lies in the form of the con-
tract, which gives Messrs. Clark and
Buchanan of Portland, Or, or their en-
ployes, authority to audit, expert and
examine the accounts and records of the
various officials Of Yakima county back
to the first Monday in January, 1889, and
from that date down to the 9th of Jan
uary, 1905, for which service they are
to receive the sum of SIS per day, or
$50 per day each, and in addition their
railroad fares from Portland to North
Yakima and return. The contract binds
the accountants to work diligently for
eight hours each working day, but places
no further restrictions upon them as to
the time they shall be allowed in which
to complete the work.
Messrs. Clark and Buchanan are also
"to inaugurate complete modern safe
guard system of accounting in and for
said county" This latter provision
seems rather vague; but, if in order to
carry it out it should be necessary for
the county to adopt new system of
book and record keeping that calls for
tnc hhstahat'oH VI eNPeHSiNc scIs vi
patent devices, the county might find
itself called upon in the course of the
next few years to expend sum in this
direction sufficient to build new court
house and equip it according to the
ideas of men who reside in and nave an
interest in the county, and who know
its needs as well as the public account
ants of Portland can be expected to
know them.
Messrs. Clark and Buchanan have re-
Gently been engaged in exporting the
books of Kittitas county. They dropped
in on the board here last week, and ev-
identity had no difficulty in convincing
tine Yakima commissioners of the neces-
sity and value of their services. Meth
or of these are questioned by the Her
aid, but it appears that there is an ex-
cellent opportunity for the proverbial At
rican gentleman to hide in the county's
| woodpile, whether ne is there now OF
not. From a careful reading of the con-
tract, we see nothing to hinder the ac-
countants from drawing their SIS per
day up to next Christmas, long before
which time the county would nave paid
out many times the amount necessary
to have the records examined. The mat.
ter came up at the suggestion of Messrs
Clark and Buchanan, and the form OF
contract is the one offered by them. II
is made now, and unless some of the
methods suggested and urged by many
who have expressed themselves in oppo
sition to it are adopted, it will be ear
ried out, so it seems that about all that
can be done is to remind the commission
ers that there are often more ways thar
one of having necessary thing done, es
pecially where the work can be done q,
we'll by any one of large number Of
competent persons who live here ant
pay taxes into the county treasury a,
by non resident accountants or expert!
in any line.
The order made by the board in re
gard to this matter reads:
The accounts and records Of the var
ious officials of the county not having
been thoroughly and exclusively exam
ined and audited for some years pas
and it appearing to the board that mor'
modern and systematic method of keep
ing its accounts and records Of the coun
ty would result in reducing clerical la
Dor besides providing safe guards against
errors and in the interest of the off
Gals and taxpayers the board have this
day employed Clark and Buchanan, pub
lie accountants of Portland, Oregon, II
expert and audit the accounts and rec.
ords of the county as shown by the
agreement on file in the auditors office
agreement on file in the auditors Office
which Is - follows: