The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-13
AUDIT COMES HIGH
Work of Special Accountants a
Big Item.
May Be on Court House Job
Many Months.
COST COUNTY $4,000.
To Obtain Figures in R. L.
Thomas Office, $1,000.
People Fooled When Auditors
Leave Clerks Office.

The special county audit is an expen-
sive pastirne and when completed will
cost ShawneC county thousands of dol
lars Work has not yet been compile
ted On the books of r. L. Thomas, clerk
of the district court.
In an evident intent to deceive, the
special county auditors removed to the
office of the register of deeds several
weeks ago. but are still working on the
books OF Richard L. Thomas. The re-
ports circulated to the effect that the
accountants have completed their work
in Thomas office are untrue.
1t was early in September when the
three special auditors began their work
in the Office of the clerk of the district
court. This work has never been I'M
ished For several weeks many people
have inquired when the Thomas audit
would close. These questions were a
source of worry to the auditors and re-
cent ~ they went to the office OF Robert
Tasker, register of deeds. Very little
work has been done on the Tasker
books: and almost the entire time since
the auditors left the clerk office has
been employed on the original audit.
Just when the Thomas audit VIII
close. is problematical. The report may
go to the commissioners this week
next week or in a month. No one seems
to know. Since beginning their work,
the accountants have been allowed $685.
u
$3.50 subsistence fund for Sunday.
Counting Il weeks actual work, it has
cost Shawnee county something IKE
So 400 for the work done to date. There
is no assurance that the courts will
approve the work when it is completed
Neither does the auditing firms con-
tract with the county, state the time
when the work shall be completed.
When the work was started, the coun-
tv commissioners stated that all coun-
ty offices would be audited. This would
include an audit of the offices of county
clerk. treasurer, sheriff, register OF
deeds and county attorney. 1t is claim
ed that there is no law permitting the
audit of the Office of probate judge, as
he retains such fees as come over the
counter
on the basis of the Thomas audit,
it will cost Shawnee county something
like $4,000 to check the books in the
county fee offices. In addition to this
price paid the auditors, is the expense
of possible future litigation-if ques-
ton is raised as to the merits of the
audit-and extra attorneys fees and
costs if the case goes to the supreme
court.
neat expense in the KOening expert
ence Koening, as an auditor, actually
cost about $400- His report furnished
ONLY material for newspaper stories
ated by the men who circulated the
reports. Simon, as county attorney,
was entitled to a special fee when the
county began the Thomas suit in the
supreme court and the expenses incur
red in the several cases will probably
increase the cost of Koenings work to
$500 or $500.
Allowing a reasonable expense for
possible litigation resulting from the
figures in the present audit and pre-
Stunning that these cases occupy the
usual amount of time, it has been estf-
mated that Shawnee county may be
able to complete its special audit and
not draw on the county treasury for
more than $4,000 to pay the bills.
There was a difference of less than
$1,000 in the amounts which Koening
claimed were due the county and that
which Thomas admitted he owed
Koening's report was so defective that
the county board refused to accept it.
Yet should Shawnee county ultimately
collect every dollar Koening claimed,
it would pay $4,000 to get the money.
He's a gun man. amt he?" Gun
man nothin'i'' Cant he shoot?'' Him