The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-03-01
AUTHORS REPORT
UPHELD BY FINDINGS
But Committee Also Finds
That Mr.. Smith Was Not
Excessively Extrayagant in
the Aid Furnished City's
Unfortunate.

The report Of the commission appoint
ed by Mayor Barclay to investigate the
overseer of the poor department Of the
city reported at meeting Of the city
council last evening. Overseer Charles
A. Smith was exoneratcd from all sus-
picion Of dishonesty, but was declared
to have been lax in methods. in brief
the commission finds;
WHAT Mr.. SMITH DID DO.
Conducted book keeping ii manner
not TO comply with Vermont statutes,
city ordinances. or city charter.
Gave more literally than past Gus
tom.
Got security from many Of those
helped the most.
Reported case Of Mrs. William Mitch
ell to council Sept. l3, 1908.
Used personal check in place Of youch-
ers.
Filed personal checks as vouchers,
which could not be used By the audi
tors
Got assignment Of wages, some to
overseer, others to Charles A. Smith
personally
Did last generally under advice of
city attorney.
WHAT MR.. SMITH DID NOT DO
Was not excessively extravagant
Did not exceed his authority.
did not exceed his duty In removing
Mrs William G. Mitchell to the city
farm after she was injured.
Did not conform to the law as hereto
fore practiced by city officials in max
ing up his accounts.
Was not dishonest.
The commission recommends system
and accuracy.
The report was accepted almost with
out comment by the council, with the
exception that they considered there
should be less lax methods hereafter.
The entire report is as follows:
Gentlemen:- committee APP
pointed by the mayor, by authority
Of resolution adopted by the city
council Feb. 9th, 1905,
"To make thorough investiga
tion Of all expenditures and all mat
ters connected with the support Of
the poor for the past nine months"
Respectfully reports as follows;
We find by Vermont statutes that
an overseer of the poor shall keep
In book for that purpose an item
ized account of moneys received and
expended by him, and debts in
Cured against the city The ac-
count shall state from whom such
money was received and for whom
and what purpose expenditures have
been made, and debts incurred.
We find by the city charter and
ordinances that for each and every
payment of money made BY him,
aforesaid, as be shall obtain
voucher shall show the date and
in detail the materials, supplies,
labor and relief for which the pay
ment is made, and which voucher
shall be signed by the actual per-
son, firm or corporation to whom
the payment was made.
We find that the overseer's meth.
cd of book keeping, accepting, pay
ing and filing bills and vouchers, is
not such as complies with the word.
ing or intent Of the Vermont stat
utes, city charter or ordinances, as
they have been heretofore inter-
preted for the conducting of this
and other city offices
There has not been excessive ex-
trayagance in the help furnished
those who were unfortunate and
needed same. but that there has
been more liberal assistance given
than in the past, which by the SEN
timent expressed through the press
and by private speech appeared to
be the wish Of the people.
That some Of the heaviest bills
for support or aid were in favor
of those who partially or wholly
secured the overseer for expendi-
lures made, and in several eases
those helped had balance their
due on Dec. 31st, 1904, as shown
by overseer's books.
Although some expenditures might
be criticised, we are unable to find
that the overseer exceeded his au-
thority in any particular case, or
that his judgment or act was such
as to bring any material loss to
the city.
In the Mrs William Mitchell
case it is our opinion from the