Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-11-20
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Auditor Raffles Picks Flaws in
City's Bookkeeping System.
QUESTION OF CHECKING BONDS
Police Court Books Too Lacking I'm
system 90 he Checked UP Mt ALL
Affidnvits as to Change In
Paving Petition.

Paving Petition.
Auditor J. c. Rafflcs, who is at present
engaged In checking over the accounts OF
tho city. expects to conclude his work
some time this week.
Mr.. Raffles Is now engaged in checking
over the bonds and coupons of the city.
lie has concluded the work in the clerks
office the tax department, the school
board and the police court. The work of
the treasurer's office has also been fin
ished with the exception OF the bonds and
coupons.
Mr.. Raffles said yesterday that his re-
port would be compendious, not to say
exhaustive. He declared that any effort
to obtain an adequate check on the city
bonds would necessitate review OF the
same for ten years back. He said that
without such check there is always the
possibility Of duplicate issues and coupons
especially coupons which do not necessi-
tate the actual signatures of the clerk
and mayor.
In the tax department the auditor
claimed that the system Of bookkeeping
was not up to date He showed that In
the books under the present system there
is no possibility of keeping separate the
accounts OF principal and interest and no
possibility of getting a rock bottom bal
ance.
OF the police court books Mr.. Raffles
declared he was unable to make a check
at all, due to the lack OF system In the
books as they are at present kept. 1t is
probable that he will make recommends
lions of or at least, indicate a more per-
feet and accurate system OF keeping a
check in the interest OF the city.
In summing UP Mr.. Raffles admitted
that he would recommend to the city
fathers the installation of a new set of
books together with system that will
be up to date ard accurate. In case the
the council authorizes such action the
auditor can either install the books and
leave them to be opened by the city en-
ployes or he can remain to inaugurate the
system himself.
Signatures for Brick Blocks.
Three affidavits were yesterday filed
with the city clerk deposing that John
Stranslan, Mrs John Stranglan and
Rasmus Larsen had been approached on
November II by one Kratky. who sought
their signatures to q petition for the
paving Of Twentieth street from s to Y
streets with Moberly brick block.
The deponents say that they all signed
for the material mentioned, and not for
Buffalo brick block, which has since been
substituted on the petition.
These affidavits are filed in the interest
of Dan Harmon, contractor, who claims
that the contracts awarded to the Parks
Letter Paving company were not in strict
accord with the law.
Contractor Harmon said yesterday that
he would eujon the city officials from
spending the money for the contracts
with Parks-Lefler unless the council
rectified the matter without delay.
A Panitorium Trust.
Notwithstanding the mandate Of the
supreme court of the United States the
organization of trusts and combination
alleged by the rabble to be in restraint
{ Of trade goes on with undated zeal. Tn,
latest is a cleaning trust.
1t is understood that most, II not all
the clothes cleaning shops in the South
Omaha business district have been bough
by an Omaha concern, which will operat,
them under the old names and titles
Many OF the present owners, II is said
win be retained In the employ of the new
company.
II is asserted that prices have alread,
been advanced among the cleaning fra
ternlty.
Arthur RicIzarf Cleared.
Arthur Rickart, a young man OF 21
North Nineteenth street Omaha, was yes
terday tried and discharged in the Soutl
Omaha police court on the charge OF oh
taining goods under false pretenses from
A. l.. Bergquist of South Omaha
According to the testimony adduced, 1
seems that Rickart. who worked In
local drug store for some time, ordere
coal from Bergquist without paying TO
the same. 1t was shown that the youn
man after buying the coal had change
his place Of employment. Thinking him
self the victim of fraud Bergquist brough
charges against Rickart.
Witnesses introduced by Rickart Shove
that he enjoyed good reputation an
that the charge was groundless.
Diphtheria scare Over.
City Health Inspector Chris Perina n
ports that the diptheria scare that 70
a time threatened the lower part OF tn
city seems to be ON the wane.
only one case Of quarantine remain
and that, the inspector expects to rails
by Monday.
During the last two weeks the healt
department has had to cope with whs
promised for a time to be an epidemic {
diptheIia.
Madison school where a number
cases were reported was ordered close
by the school board, whose prompt actio
in the premises did much to allay III
danger.
The Presbyterian church at Fifteent
and Madison streets was thought to hay