New-York tribune., 1909-05-30
ASKS $4,000 FOR METZ
NEW SYSTEM IN DANGER.
Chamber Of Commerce Report on
4ccOunfing Investigation.

Commencing the new accounting system. which
Controller Metz has been working TO install in the
Department Of Finance. the committee on finance
and currency of the Chamber Of Commerce says
that there is grave danger that all the work far
done viii go nauGht and that the accounts will
retrograde p condition worse than before.
This statement, made in the report Of the com
nittee its Investigation of the financial affairs
Of the city and printed in the Chambers bulletin
for June viii be presented at the regular meeting
OF that body THURSDAY.
Then the Chamber viii he asked pass a reso-
luton urging the Board OF Estimate and Appor-
tion1nent TO appropriate $4,000 its next meeting
10 enable the Controller employ the temporary
expert assistants imperatvely needed to make the
new system entirely effective in the Finance De
partment-'
Il is stated the Controller needs fifty expert
accountants To assist in the installation of the
system, whereas he now has the means TO employ
only fifteen. a bill giving him power 10 employ
the necessary help was passed by the legislature
but was vetoed by the Mayor recently because OF
what he considered inperfections.
The report Of the committee Is signed by James
G. Cannon Maurice l. Muheman. Gates W Nc
Garrah and John Clafiin, regular members OF the
standing committee, and r. Fulton cutting. an
additional member Of the Chamber, serving FOR
this investigation only. II appointed a suh-coih-
ruitree of which Nr Nuheman was chairman
including Francis F. White and Robert IL Mont
Eomery. expert accountants. TO eXaHlne the ne"
accounting system. The report Of this sub-com-
sdopted l,v the main committee emood>lng It's
IDEAS Regarding The system Of accounting me
subcommittee says:
We unhesitatingIy assert that the general prin-
ciples upon which the accounting system resLS
sre sound and that their application 10 me dc
marked degree The substitution of thoroughly
coordinate accounting system for me % ,t 'Il
nv s1- Tor itself hy era bling Controller well
financial condition Of the municipality and thus
sfurnish the essen laI data 10 ,aisa tbe
credit OF the city.
But the committee found that the installation
had not proceeded satisfactorily, due TO the IacA
Of assistance. As 70 this. the report says:
Unless -icor,1ls measures are speedily adopted
there is great danger that the work alTeaoy qoIe
.-a lauglj. and the accounts a. d VIZ.
Z ZIeterI 20 % Va, inailsurated Fortunately
It is late DO what should nave nee -I3 MI
O. IL i,'ero5 nv sufficient assistants within the
@ 5I-t,- lavs very much OF what has already
been done VIII have lost its effect
T is inti;nated that a subsequent revival cf the
system might he hampered by hostility which mas
been veed heretofore 1t is also suggested that the
active interest Of some might wane II there shoula
be prospect that the system could he placed in 1uIl
operation Immediately. The report says
No other issue has been presented 10 our citizen
ship in years 50 vital to the peIfaane5 i+ of
s51ra-io13sl exhaustion. of commercial advance and
of social reform pressing though they are must
every measure of municipal advance deptnus Hpolt
2 canable honest and economical adnlnlstfatl tloi oI
the citvs finances and this cannot be secured WIN
out such system Of accounting as s8l ~ and
sibility in every stage OF municipal Tecelpls anu
municipal expenditures
The committee recommends that what is now the
stock and bond division OF the Controllers office be
separated from his jurisdiction and that the office
Of the City Chamberlain should also be entirely in
dependent Of the Controller. The report adds:
The average capacity and efficiency Of the person
Et nel in the Iepa Of Finance not as hlgl
. as they should he for the important functions of
the Controller. We convinced that great m
provernent could he effected merely by the esta ~
fshneut Of an efficiency record TO be kept by heads
Of divisions.
In connection with the holding up Of payments
for and supplies received by the city the
committee says that some delay is caused by the
charter provision that the Mayor his chief clerk
must countersign all warrants This the members
consider unnecessary, as the City Chamberlain
could act for the Mayor in the way Of holding up
any improper payments. The report also says:
Instead Of limiting the powers Of the Controller
over the ciIy's accounting the Charter Revision
Commission proposes, his jurisdiction should be eX
tended 10 embrace the accounting STAINS OF all
the depaTLrnEntS