Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-05
FORMAKS PLACE
TO REMAIN VACANT
TILL PROBE ENDS
City Auditors Books Not Audit
ed in Forty Years, Says
Expert.

That there will be no n appointed
to succeed George Forman as city au-
ditor until the latter's books have been
completely Strengthened out and finally
closed was made evident last night
when City Counsel James r. Nugent,
appearing before the Common Councils
committee on finance, said that Mayor
Haussling would not consider a new
appointee for the office until the situa-
ton relative to the former auditors
books Is definitely cleared up.
This opinion was brought out as a
result of the discussion of the suggestion
that an outside expert be engaged to
continue the work Of Strengthening out
Mr.. Forman's books. City Expert
Theodore c. Hewson, who was present
at the committee meeting last night,
said that the work on the auditors
books had progressed much faster than
had been anticipated. and, as reported
In the EVENING STAR on Tuesday,
there Is little chance that anything but
clerical omissions and Irregularities will
be found in the records of the missing
official.
Mr.. Hewson said that he was making
as much Roadway as he could under
the present conditions. but that his
duties in other departments made the
work of strengthening out the auditors
books somewhat of a burden. City
Counsel Nugent said that the Mayor
was very DESTROYS of having the books
fixed up at the earliest possible date
and this led Alderman Congleton to
make a motion that an outside expert
accountant be employed to carry on
the work started by Mr.. Hewson.
Outsider to he Secured.
The fact that an outsider would be
greatly handicapped by ignorance Of
municipal affairs and the system in
the auditors office, which fact was
made clear by Mr.. Hewson when the
motion was discussed, did not seem to
have much weight, and it was voted to
secure the services of an outsider.
Aldermen Shape. Baum and Donnelly
were appointed a subcommittee, with
power to select such a man, n 1t is
quite likely that Frank G.. Dubois, ar
expert accountant, will be awarded the
task. He had a long conference with
the subcommittee after last nights
meeting and made a proposition that
Is likely to be accepted. The matter
will be decided at tomorrow nights
meeting of the Common Council.
AS a result of the statement made by
Mr.. Hewson that the books of the
auditors department have not been
audited since the office vas created for
ty years ago. it is likely that some
steps will be taken to remedy this
condition.
1t was also decided to instruct Act
ing City Auditor Andrew X. Brady to
| turn over to David S. Wickham the
! water bonds valued at $500 found In
T! Mr.. Forman's safe and which are re-
| corded in Mr.. Wickham's name.
At the suggestion of City Treasurer
| Albert T. Guenther it was voted to re-
lquest the Board of Education to ar
range to have Secretary Robert D
Argue. or someone delegated by him,
sign all school checks.
This Is in keeping with the evident
/ desire Of the city officials to still
, further protect the city's funds and tc
make up for some of the shortcomings
of the present school law.
These matters will be more thor
oughly threshed out at the meeting OF
| the Common Council tomorrow night