The Washington times., 1909-09-27
IWEEDALE URGES
UNIF FORM SYSTEM
Creditor Condemns Methods
in Vogue in District
Government.
WOULD SET MODEL
FOR OTHER CITIES
Plans Are Fully Explained in Letter
10 Secretary of National
Municipal League.

Expressing the belief that no larger
corporation would permit the conduct
OF its business along the lines in vogue
in city governments. Alonzo Tweedale.
Auditor of the District and president of
the National Association Of Accounting
Officers and COmptrollers. is earnestly
advocating the adoption OF a uniform
system of State and municipal account
ing throughout the United States.
Mr.. Tweedale is working to the end
that the accounting and auditing system
Of the District government may be used
as a model for other municipalities.
One of the first steps in the move
ment is the arrangement Of the Com
missioners estimates in such manner
as will enable them at a glance to
determine whether each important
need Of the District is receiving its
Just proportion of the appropriations.
Have Old Form.
In conformity with the law, the
budget will be forwarded to Congress
in it's usual form. accompanied by a
statement prepared by the Auditor,
showing the exact amount apprOpriat-
ed for general government. protec-
tion of life and property, health and
sanitation, highways, charities and
corrections, education, recreation,
misc. llaneOus. public service enter
prises, interest and debt. and miscel-
lsneous temporary payments.
Copies viii be sent broadcast through
out the United States with the purpose
of obtaining a uniform system Of ac-
counting in the large municipalities,
founded upon methods in the District
Mr. Tweedale's plans are fully ex-
planned in a letter forwarded today 10
Clinton Woodruff, Secretary of the Ma
tioaal Municipal League, Philadelphia,
an response TO an inquiry concerning the
president.
With respect to my plans" writes
Mr.. Tweedale, Il desire to say the OBJ
Ject of the association is the considera-
ton and Improvement Of methods in
public finance and the extension OF a
movement of the installation of uni
form system OF accounting State and
municipal accounting and reporting
throughout the United States.
Object Is Broad.
This object, as you well know, is
broad. embracing as Il does the business
operation Of the various municipal. State
and county governments. I believe, in
order to accomplish this work, we must
start at the beginning, and as the be-
ginning OF all governmental finance is
first considered in the budget. my spe-
ciai aim is 10 seriously consider
uniformity in the budgetary estimates
which are submitted to the appropria-
tion power.
CLOSELY allied to this subject must be
taken up the question or the business
management Of the various Government
organizations, including the improve
ment Of methods I'm public finance. and
the uniformity OF accounting and re-
porting"
Slackness of Method
From practical Experience. il is my
belief there can not be found anywhere.
such large number OF corporations
upon practically the same lines, the
volumes Of whose business run yearly
into the millions, or the result Of whose
transactions affects the rights and in
tereSts OF so large a portion Of the popu-
lauon OF the United States. which have
been allowed 10 drift along for such a
length of time without a combined con
Cel1ated effort to investigate and ana
I'VE the methods, systems. and opera
tione used I'm the transaction OF their
affairs. IN order to reduce - a cOmpaT-
q bic basis the costs of the various funC-
tions Of the corporations. and To place
the opera tiOns thereof upon scientific
business basis, whereby the public may
determine whether the various admins
tratiye officers are managing the func-
lions committed 70 their charge with
The greatest efficiency and economy.
Even the most casual reader Of Lhe
Gaily newspapers must be aware that
public opinion has Geen awakened and
j. now demanding of their public serv-
ants they shall so express the results
Of the Governmental business com
nlitted 90 their charge. that the public
may he able TO inteliigentlv determine
how that trust has been admins
tered"