Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-01
Subcommittee Reports on Ac.
countant BIanton'S Audit.
GOES TO COUNCIL NOW
Findings. including Recommendations
As to Changes in System and Meth
DDS, Adopted by Finance Committee
As Its Report.

| AS Its Report.
Through it's chairman, Councilman
r. NJ. Nelson, the subcommittee of
. the city council finance committee last
night made a detailed report to the
/ committee OF the whole on It's exam
; ination of the report OF Accountant
r. Stuart Blanton on his audit OF the
| books OF the city auditor for the three
wears ending on July 81. 1910. Besides
I showing that the exceptions noted by
, Mr.. Blanton are borne out by the rec
ords in the auditors Office, the report
recommends several improvements in
the handling Of the business In the
! auditing department and the instalia-
tjon of an entirely new set of books for
the city dating back from the time
OF the incorporation of the municipal
ity.
After some discussion OF few OF
the items. the finance committee
adopted the entire report as IFS own
and sent it on to the city council
with the recommendation that the
improvements and changes proposed
bv the report be adopted by the coun-
ell Ordinances providing for the
changes and for the employing of an
accountant to install a new set OF
books showing the cost OF all OF the
city property. including schools Jail
bridges, paving court house, etc. VIII
be prepared today by City Attorney
]. A. Massie and submitted to the
common council tonight along with
the report.
Some % Recommendation.
Among other things. the sub-com-
mittee recommended that the system
of paying the laborers employed py
the city be so changed that instead
of the head of the department paying
the men of. the employees be required
TO go to the treasurer's Office and be
paid individually by the treasurer
The committee also recommended that
in the future the auditor be required
to see to il that all bills contracted
by the purchasing committee be ap-
proved by the chairman OF that COM
mittee by the chairman's signature
before such bill is paid. 1t also recon-
mended that the auditor be required
to see to it that the detail OF bills
conform to voucher payment and thai
all bills are properly and regularly
approved before being paid.
The question Of whether or not the
city treasurer is to receive any COM
mission on the $4,000 collected from
the street railway companies in part
payment for the sum advanced the
companies by the city for their part
of the street paving recently laid here
was discussed at some length and
finally was referred to the city attor-
ney. City Treasurer Curtis has not
presented a bill for any commission
on this sum.
Makes Another Report.
Accountant Blanton made his re-
port TO the committee last night on
the work he has done in posting up
the auditors book for the month OF
July and giving a trial balance as OF
July 81. 1910. This report was turned
over to City Auditor c. X. Messick
with instructions to him to verify IT
as a true and correct report Of the
condition of the books of that date
and to certify that fact back to the
committee in writing. This is TO be
done so that the city will have rec
ords to show that the new auditor
started with clean bill of health.
The finance committee held a busy
regular meeting last night and dis
posed Of much business. Chairman
Ford presided and Messrs. c. ID. West.
r. W. West, Grimes and Nelson were
present.
Wants Mules and Sweepers.
Chairman George F. Via. OF the
committee on highways and sewers,
appeared before the cOmmitte ana
asked tor an appropriation Of sl.20o
with which to purchase foIr mules Tor
the street department and an addi-
ional appropriation Of $500 with
which C. buy a new street sweeper
and the necessary appliances. MI
Via explained that three mules in the
street and sewer department are too
old for the work and that they must
be disposed OF. lie said that the
number OF mules in the department
will not he increased. and that the
new sweeper Is the only additional
equipment the department wants.
Replying 10 a question from MI
| c. u. West. Mr.. Via said that the de-
4partn.rnt now has Twice IS much
paved street o. keep clean as u had
year age. and that the additional
equipment Is absolutely necessary.
Upon motion Of Mr.. r. W. West.
the committee unanimously recon
mcnded 10 the council that $500 be
J appropriated with which 70 buy the
mules and sweeper.
Money For Summer Normal.
President : Otis Bland. II the
Chamber Of Commerce. and Division
Superintendent Of Schools Willis A.
jenkins. appeared before he com
! mfffcc and asked the committee 20