Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-06-22


the day the present Commissioner was
appointed 60 the present period. 1he
disbursements la this office were IN
many cases irregular, and. a. Win De
seen by the report of the expert ac-
counfants, many Of the payments were
made by warrant drawn In the name
of g. w. kOiner,' unaccompanied ny
vouchers showing for what purpose
the I1oaey WIS expended. This prac-
tiee cannot be too highly condemned
oil cite further from accountant s
statement, page 43, same report:
"The expenditures for the most part
were attested by vouchers but we
fouud Uany of the vouchers not ne
cOmpanied by proper iteniized bill or
statement, and we note that many OF
the said vouchers were drawn 10 tue
account of G. w. kOlner.
sThe funds beIRE drawn by Mr.
I(oIner and expended without furnish
ing any statement Of how expended
and from the same statement, page
SO, same report: q
"Sundry vouchers presented TO the
Committee for their iufOrmn ton, etc
You will note that we have taken
these vouchers from the beginning 20
the end OF the term OF the preseht
incumbent to show the methods which
have obtained during the entire teri"'
VOUCHERS TO G. W. KOINER.
Not accompanied with detailed state
ment, etc:
1899, Sept. 30, No. SIS, COntin- .o o.
1900 con- Mar s%s 81, No. oii. naci, 90
.aiary, COntinge-t Fund. l-o.OO
Mar rn a. NO INV . 'o 200 90
APl, ,,n 49, No 300 ' OoH'' 1000 90
day y no $40 '""' 1000 90
pd r"n ~. No. &. Postage Jan
unry Fl, 1900, 20 March l. ooo oo
,aa a9Oi Lar "a. No. 49,, postage
for Members Board ......: Is w
Jan. H. NO. oa'' 'o"''" 100 90
~ 20 No 5Ot. stunt. Heiges 10 90
pee. -, No. o., Deposit Inst -, On
1903 S"S Mar. 81, No. 1889. Mar. ,oe oc
AS Sa'a as, No. :I'IIO. .Bond Pre- an
june 10, No. 1906, Tobacco % 40
Ciath ........... .....-... ." wv
1895 Jan. 10, No. 24s4, No.
voucher signed ........... 10 w
Noy. u, No -'''' No. '" $50 90
E, - 15eo. F,xpeu.e Train 500 90
Feby. > NO. +oi'' 20 90
If will be noted that the above are
not given as complete lists OF youch-
ers without accompanying statement
Of expenditures, bat samples ito show
the methods which have obtained
durinu the entire term
FIFTH: That from Mr.. Koiner's in
duction into office Jan. list, 1893 up
to 1906. with the exception Of one
wear. every annual report issued by
him as showing the financial opera
lions of the Department was arbitra'
riiy made up and not susceptible OF
proof from his books.
In evidence cite the same report,
page 6:
.'Thc annual reports Of the Commits
sioner seem TO have been arbitrarily
made UP, and the expert accountants,
with one exception, were unable to
verify them"
| cite further from accountants
statement, page "A Of same report:
1--WE we're unnbIe to check any Of
the financial statements published in
the Annual Reports of the DEPART
menf, except that for the year 1905,
or could we secure from the Ofjce force
any of the detnil from which said re-
ports were made up. We were in
formed that they were made from the
hooks turned over to us for cxamiBa-
fIon, but few of the figures could be
worked out, although we made an ef-
fort to do no. The Department having
practIccd carrying receipts from one
year to another as eAp'"'"eu ""o'e'
In this connection the accountants
also say, same page, same report:
owe Ale with this report n num-
Der of questions md the answers TO
same by Mr.. T.. Bruce Chcstermnu,
chief Clerk TO the Commissioners,
which speak for themselves.
PhIs examIDatiOn developed the fact
TINT nj no time had the books been
balanced and closed at the end OF the
year; or has any effort been mnde 90
balance with the state Auditors
books"
SIXTH: This report further shows
most careless and unbusiness meth
DDS in the issue and sale Of fertilizer
tags, the source Of all revenue to the
Department.
In evidence | cite the accountants
statement, page "A, same report;
"Therc appears to have been very
HttIe care in the handling Of these
tnSE. First in the obtaining, Hecond
In the care taken of them. As these
foqs repreEcnf the basis of the ne
counting of this department and have
n monetary value, they should ne
treated accordingly. At present they
are ordered i'm lots from some print
ing firm In boxes Of 100 each. These
boxes are placed in store room to
which others than the stamp clerk
have access. Numbers of these tags
could he removed without his kaONl-
would thereby entail loss To the de-
pRrtment."
Such careless or incompetent meth
DDS in the issue and sale of these tags,
when it is considered that there was
a revenue of over Sal 100000 last year
to the Department of Agriculture from
this source alone Us cents tag-tax on
each ton of fertilizer sold in the
State), taken in conjunction with the
Iaxity already shown to exist as to
the enforcement of the law as to VIC
lations, forcibly illustrate the neces-
sity for reform in the business meth
DDS of this office.
| hold the view that the record Of
public officer asking reelection ut
the hands of the people is a proper
subject of investigation, and Of crit
icism if conditions demand it. and it
will not satisfy the public mind as to
his fitness to continue in Office for
Mr. Koiner and his friends to meet
the issue here presented by any de.
precation of such dignifed and proper
criticism.
Mr. Koiner must meet the issue
squarely and answer TO the indictment
Nc To his manncnmnnt of his nacn