Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-01
AUDITORS HERE
The Comptroller's Books Again Being Inspected By
 nessrs Oaks and Ruby.

Messrs Oaks and Ruby, the New York auditors at work looking up the back assessment question, are here again taking another squint at the comptroller's books. The report was expected long ago, but it isn't ready yet and the auditors don't pretend to say when they will finish their labors. In answer to question to this effect from a Democrat reporter, Mir Oaks looked at Mir Ruby and then gazed intently at big ledger which rested on the desk as though he hadn't heard the question at all. After a long pause when the reporter was about to try again, the gentleman in- quired, his eyes still fixed on the book, why such a query had been pro- pounded, to which the reporter replied that it was a matter of great public interest and he desired to enlighten the community on it. Mr Ruby in- dulged in another smile, but Mr Oaks grew more solemn tban before and, after some reflection, said that he was not at liberty to iInpart any informa- ton on the question. Then Mr Mour- ant. Comptroller Goodrichs assistant, introduced the reporter to the two accountants, both of whom acted as if they were at loss to explain why they should have been thus honored, even Mir Oaks, apparently forgetting himself and turning about with a merry twinkle in his eye to greet the scribe, who thought he saw a splen- did opportunity to ply his game, and innocently suggested that it would be safe to state that the report would be completed and submitted to the prop CT parties some time. Well" mur- mured Mir Oaks, casting alternate glances at the reporter and his book, and then starting to run up another row of figures, while Mir Mourant completed the sentence by remarking If it never came to hand somebody would wonder why" Here the inter- view ended and the newsman bowed himself out not one whit wiser than he was when he entered.
 While this is in line with how the assessment muddle has been guarded right along still the reporter could not help thinking that if everybody had MT Oaks happy faculty of keep ing his mind to himself many rash statements that find their way into the papers and often cause lot of confusion. never would reach the pub- lie ear and communities would be the better for it. People are ever ready to find fault with the papers for what they use but you rarely hear them get any credit for what they f, nt1 tn hn ha al-svrn md Were it not for the good judgment of those who have charge of what appears in the papers they would be made the vehicles through which much matter of a damaging character would be spread broadcast. for many don't realize the full meaning of what they say until they see it in cold type.
 Of course the trained news gatherer usually gets at the facts even though he may receive an eyasiye answer now and then. and if this were not so the close mouthed man would often find himself misrepresented in the newspapers. In this particular case the reporter lifted a load of censure from the auditors by discovering from another source that they have got through on thes Burpee assessment snarl and are not making an unneces- sarily long job out of it, as has been hinted in some quarters, and made commencement today on the citys books. This is in accordance with vote passed by the board of finance. authorizing the mayor to have the auditors make a thorough inspection of all the books, if in his opinion he deemed such a step advisable. Very few think the audit necessary, but a few wanted 1t and it may be well to have 1t. It will come high, but that's nothing.