Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-03-24

j. That, as suggestions were asked,t
will here say, that while no ledger
accounts are now kept by the clerk,
excepting with water consumers, and
none are necessary as regards the va
rious funds of the city under the sys-
tenn of bookkeeping now in vogue
| cot recording receipts and disburse-
ments in books divided into columns
properly headed or disignated,) it
would not be inadvisable, and if not
strictly necessary would at times
prove to be convenient, to have the
clerk maintain ledger accounts, or
some book record Of license receipts,
including expiration dates of licenses
granted. and with sources whence OF
her miscellaneous city revenues are
it's use is not, as now, .gratuitously
granted, as it would be advisable, or
at least convenient, to have him
maintain a ledger or other book rec
ord Of expenditures, classified as to
nature, or purpose whereof or per-
sons or property Whereto or wherefor,
payments are made, as for example,
salaries, the fire department, the
parks, the streets, water works plant,
repairs thereat, electric lights, ETC.,
etc, rather than have recourse only
to an examination and classification
annually or otherwise, of the paid
warrants, or record thereof, involV-
ing time and extra labor and expense
because performed long after the
transactions have occurred. And, like
wise, do I suggest the keeping Dy
the clerk of a permanent record or
register of the now outstanding bonds
of the city, the payments thereon
made as made, to which would be
added a record of any bonds which
may hereafter be voted and issued,
or any like evidence of indebtedness
on the part of the city, which may
hereafter lawfully come into exis-
tence
Passing now to the examination of
the city treasurer's office for the
two fiscal years ending January l,
1906, and to my statements or ex-
hibits touching the same, it is found:
k. That the treasurer has accounted
for all funds received
l. That in the disbursing of the funds,
in the paying out of the money, lit
tie or no regard was had to the di-
vision of the funds in the treasury
funds belonging to one fund being
used for the payment of orders on
another fund which was temporarily
exhausted. This is not said as intend
ed criticism. The result was a saving
Of interest which otherwise would have
accrued. The funds were kept in one
pocket book, SO to say, and, generally
so disbursed.
m. That nevertheless there were Oft
times marked lack of attention to
the condition of the treasury, and
frequently an apparent careless Gus
tom or practice Of declining to pay
orders as for want of funds when,
under the usage described in last pre-
ceding paragraph, such orders could
have been promptly paid and interest
payment on such orders avoided This
is especially true as to the year 1904
5, during which payment on presenta-
ton of orders exceeding 100000 in
the aggregate was refused, and 1921
interest paid on orders, substantially |
all of which orders, under said usage,
could or might have been promptly |
paid, and substantially all of said in
terest saved-any occasion for dis |
counting orders by needy owners
practical removed, and the city's To- |
cal credit better conserved During |
the last fiscal year these condition. |
were greatly improved upon, and but |
4 small amount of interest was paid |
Technically speaking, the treasurer
doubtless had the right to refuse. as
ne did refuse, the payment of many
orders as for want of money in the
particular fund drawn upon, and for
hat reason whatever interest might
lave been saved if the usage referred
o had been uniformly followed which
t was not, may not now be recouped |
oy the city
If a small interest rate had been