The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-12
PATCH THINGS UP
City Treasurer Hale VIII Report
Daily Treasury Balances.
Best That Can Be Done Under
Existing Law.
HOWE HAS SOME IDEAS
Fifth Ward Councilman Would
Let City Collect Own Taxes.
Thinks City and County Finances
Should Be Divorced.
HOWE HAS SOME IDEAS

Daily reports showing the balances
in each of the two general funds of the
city, the general revenue and general
Improvement funds, are now being
prepared by the city treasurer This is
the first time that anything of this
kind has been attempted by any Of
fetal holding the position of city
treasurer and 1t approximates the con
dition which should obtain in the con-
duct Of the city's financial and book
keeping affairs.
Probably no one realizes the neces-
sity more than members of the city
council who have often occasion to dis
cover in a few minutes the exact status
of the two general funds in planning
contemplated improvements. The in
formation is often desired in a few
minutes and without undergoing the
delay Of casting up accounts to discov-
er the condition Of the two funds.
The fault has not been lodged with
either the city treasurer or city clerk
who at .pPesentsh hold those ofnces or
any of their predecessors but to the
laXity of the city itself in maintaining
a nondescript system of accounting
the kind that is IN vogue IN ali tAells-As
cities but which does not bear taVor-
able COMPARISON with that IN use IN
large corporations where the volume
of business corresponds to that done
by the city. In an attempt to anchor
ate the present existing conditions M
NJ. Hale has introduced daily reports
showing the condition of the general
Improvement fund and the general
revenue fund. These reports are on
file in the Office of the city treasurer
and 1t takes only a glance at these re-
Dorts to Indicate exactly how the city
stands with reference to these two
main funds.
Apropos of conditions elsewhere the
Wichita Beacon reports this sugges-
ton which Senator J. H Stewart OF
that CITY makes with reference to con-
ditions in Wichita after having at
tended the meeting in topeka held
last week in the interests of COM
mission form of government: Senator
Stewart spoke of the systems of book
keeping. He said that considerable re-
form might be had in Wichita's pres
ent system of bookkeeping He said
that visit of experts to the city might
result in an Improvement"
Councilman S. 7. Howe stated today
that he was in favor of number OF
amendments in the present city charter
act Mr.. Howe is chairman of the ways
and means committee of the council and
the principal amendments, which he
+ has to suggest affect the financial side
of the citysS affairs.
should be redrafted," said Mr.. Howe.
THE charter act should be put on
broader basis. In Texas the cities have
all powers and rights except those that
are expressly reserved. In Kansas it is
different. Here We can only exercise
those powers that are specified in the
charter act and no Others
Il am in favor of several amend
ments to the act which will make it
broader. In the first place l think the
amendment should be introduced which
will provide 70 the ceation Of the Of
flee of comptroller or auditor who Shall
of as
present system of bookkeeping is old
and rusty. We should have an up to
charge of it. A budget should be pro-
vided and each department give credit
for so much money to be expended
during the year and the comptroller
should draw on the funds credited as
the vouchers are presented. The budget
should be expressly provided for in the
charter act and the details governing
it should be stated In addition |
think that the county and city should
be entirely delivered from each other
giving the city the right to levy its
own taxes and collect them as well.
The present plan is unsa tisfactory to
the city and we are continually the
losers. These are only couple of the
amendments that 1 have been thinking
of and others will suggest themselves
later The present charter act is mar
row and badly in need of revision
If the divorce measure goes through
it will call for an addition to the num-
Der of city officials for an assessor Of
taxes will be necessary in the list of Of
ficers. It is probable that two officials
will have to be provided, a collector As
we'll as an assessor. A suggestion has
been made that these two duties could
be handled from the office of the city
treasurer ard city clerk by increasing
the clerical force The extra expense,
however, would be more than offset it
is claimed by the increased receipts of
delinquent taxes