The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-19

After an automobile ride around the
city in the afternoon and an m
formal banquet at the Jefferson Hotel
l. last night, the National Association OF
Comptrollers and Accounting Officers
concluded their second annual conven-a
ton. Tie gathering, which has CEN
tired its interest on number OF the
most Important municipal problems now
before the cities of this country, has
proved very pleasant and profitable.
lust previous to adjournment the an
nual election of officers took place.
President S. 3. Williams, the City
Comptroller of Rochester. n. Y. de-
clined to allow his name TO be put up
for reelection. and the honor fell to
MIR. Louis Betz, the City Comptroller
of st. Paul. Mimi, who has been the
vice-p president OF the central section OF
the association. For the yice-presl-
dency, officers were elected from the
grand divisions Of the country. each
vice!president to have charge of the
organization of the work In his terri
tory. For the Eastern section, com
posed of the North Atlantic and New
England States, Mr.. George II. Priest
was reelected. Mr.. Priest Is in charge
of the Bureau OF Statistics and Labor
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Mr.. W. Nick. Evans, of Richmond,
was. reelected vice president for the
Southern Section. In the Central Sec
ton, succeeding Mr. Betz, who becomes
president OF the association. elected
Mr.. p. j. Koehler. deputy comptroller
of Milwaukee. For vice-presideEt of
the Western Section Mr.. Harry b.
Henderson, the State Examiner OF Wyo-
ming. was chosen. The secretary, Mr..
Howard G. Beck. of Detroit. Mich,
and the treasurer, Mr.. George M. Rex.
of Pawtucket r. l.. We're reelected.
Choice of the next meeting place is
left to the board OF directors.
Resolutions Adopted.
At the convention just closed there
were present accounting officers rep
", sse ny N tr IN tas am fph
work of a helpful nature was consid-
cred.
AT the first session the association
passed two resolutions which sum up
the members of the association are
pledged to push with vigor.,
The first resolution provides for the
anthology the committee to consist of
five members appointed by the presi-
dent together with DR.. J.. G. Powers.
of the United States Government Cen
sus Bureau
The object of this resolution. as ex-
planned by the secretary, Mr. Beck, is
to provide for uniformity in the express
sions and terms used in regard to ac-
! counts. That is to say, the committee,
for the purposes of uniformity, will
draw up scheme or headings, show
Ing the meaning OF the various accounts
under which city business Is transacted.
In referring to the books and show
ings made by different cities, the com
PARSONS may then be of reliable ma
same class of accounting. 1t is ex-
plained that in some cities all expendi-
lures for police and fire protection are
charged to the one account OF public
safety, and may mean only sub
division of one of these departments.
| II there is to be any value in the ex-
change of figures between the various
cities Tor purposes OF comparison, the
| fFrN 10.
] basis, and the terms used must have
the same usage and meaning In all the
| cities.
The other resolution passed was in
I tended for much the same purpose be-
ling paper urging the general adoption
! OF a uniform style of budget for NUM-
/ clpal appropriations.
The members of the association drew
UP such a budget during this session
and urge It's adoption by cities. Thl.
i model gives under certain classified
/ tons the various amounts that nat
uraily come in the cityss budget, ant
more readily lends itself to study ant
| comparison.
What They Did In Ohio.
Hon. Joseph G. Tracy. Deputy Audi
VALUABLE paper yesterday morning. or
Some Results Of the State Examlna
1 lions of Municipal Accounts" Th'
I paper provoked general discussion, an:
|
i features Of the convention.
! In opening his remarks. Mr.. Trac,
explained that the present inspection
and auditing system had been in ef
4 feet in Ohio for aboutAfour years. Il
answer to a direct question as to hoy
much the state had recovered IN TIL
Z four years of money that had pee1
\ Illegally collected, the. answer r'ns
something upwards of six hundre'
4 thousand dollars" In order to recoYe
this amount and thoroughly to in
aspect all the accounts of the cities an
L counties in Ollio,Nthe State pays on
from fifty to sixty thousand dollars
| year, employing from thirty to thirty
FIVE auditors.
!. After reviewing briefly. q number, Q
!. features Of the system N vogue MI
, The inspection5of public Offices ha
4 been so Important to the public as
Il require practically all the time OF u
II three supervisors during the gpast thre
years in aiding and 1nstruGting ou
Z examiners, so as to8secnre fel l DE ~
! uniform audits throughout inc Stat
of Ohio. The aggregate amount g IS n
! findings returned by our examiners
!. consisting of illegal fees taxed, COZ
] IS Az ~, ~