The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-09-19
SYSTEMATIC
Plan Of Public Accounting In
Use In Colorado.
AN EXAMINER AND DEPUTIES
To Keep Track Of All the financial
Institutions Handling Public
Funds In That State.

Colorado has passed a law provid-
Ing for system Of public accounting.
Governor Jesse F. Mcdonald in his
biennial message, and Governor Henry
A. Buchtel, In his inaugural address,
recommended that a state examiner
and sufficient number of deputies be
appointed to keep track Of the busi-
ness of all financial institutions han.
ding public funds During the last
session Of the legislature (1907) an
act was passed creating the Office Of
public examiner and establishing a
uniform system of public accounting
and reporting. This official, who SUI
perintends and examines public ac-
counts, is appointed by the state audi.
tor and the only restrictions imposed
are that the person appointed shall be
qualified elector. having a thorough
knowledge Of public accounting and
be fLlly qualified to discharge the
technical and executive duties of his
Office. The public examiner appoints
chief deputy examiner, who must
also be skilled accountant. Their
salaries are $500 and $1,000, and to-
gether they are allowed necessary
travelling expenses not to exceed $500
per annum
It is the duty of the auditor of state
and public examiner to formulate, pre-
scr be and install q uniform system
OF accounting before January 1, 1909.
The system Of accounting and re-
porting when drawn up is to be
uniform for every state and coun-
ty official receiving and distribut-
ing public funds. It must be
drawn to show the true accounts and
detailed statements of funds collected,
received and expended for any pur-
pose, and the receipt, use and disposi-
ton of all public property and all
sources of public income and the
amount due and receivable from
each source. In short, It Is to be q
complete and uniform system of ba1S.
keeping, which will show receipts Ind
expenditures in their minutest detail
AS soon as such system is decided
upon the public examiner Is to install
! 1t and instruct public officials as to its
operation aud use. II Is the duty Of
} the public examiner to visit without
notice and examine the accounts OF
the state officers, institutions and
: other Offices at irregular intervals, and
! also to make an examination at any
time when ordered by the state
? auditor.
; In order to enable the public exam
iner to rerform his duties properly
J every publ official or employe Is re
: Quired to afford him every reasonable
, facility and assistance in making ex
4 aminations. II any person required
TO make returns and exhibits or give
inforTa Ton refuses or neglects to dt
his duty, he is TO be deemed guilty
of misdemeanor and fined $500. A!
: safeguard against bribery, II is made
, a misdemeanor for the public exam
liner. the deputy or any one connected
with the public examiners office Il
receive, eithe- directly or indirectly
any pay for services or extra services
or neglect Of services.
1t is seldom disputed that a system
Of p blic and uniform accounting Is
, benefit to the state and to the taxpay
ing public. The enactment of thl,
, law is another step in the right direc
= tion. Hitherto public accounts hav,
; not as a rule been carefully kept, ant
|. 1t was almost impossible to tell Jus
! what the financial condition of th,
city or county was. but at the presen
time In states with system like thu
: one prevailing In Ohio, or the one Il
:, be introduced In Oregon, an exper
accountant can easily tell Just hov
). the affairs of the county and stat,
stand. A public servant entrusted
with the public funds is compelled q
keep his books In business-like way
Public business is the peoples bust
s ness, and the people have Just q
:. much right to know how the fund
s are expended as the manager Of a prl
r vate concern.