Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-07-18
CLEANUP COST OVER $1,000
AMOUNT PAID TO JULY s IS ST.
s4s.s5: OTHER AMOUNTS SAID
TO BE DUE
AUDIT OF BOOKS IS ORDERED
CLERK CHARLES TAMME RE-
QUESTS COUNCIL TO AUTHOR
lzE CLOSE INVESTIGATION

According to the report of City Clerk
Charles Tamme, read last night at an
adjourned regular session Of the city
council. there was in the general muni-
cipal fund on July balance oil
s214.74. On May /, about the ume
the present city administration TOOK
office, the same fund contained a pal
ance Of $2,S12.S6. The clerks report
showh that between April p and July
expeditures have been $4.6o6.54, ex-
cIusive OF interest payments, which
cone from another fund. 1t will be
seen. therefore, that the city admin
istration has been spending money as
randy as It is collected and has got
away with s2,Os762 from the general
fund in addiction.
IN I'd July the expense OF the
cleaning campaign has been Sl,64S.S0
ana II Is understood liberal amount
has been paid on the same account
since that date. The expediture OF
thls money. it is authoritatively stated
never was authorized by the council
the knayor and members of the street
committee having ordered the work
d6ne. Altogether, 1t is estimated the
sgreet and yard cleaning campaign viii
obst the taxpayers considerably over
$1,000. The men employed by the
elfv IA this work spent fully as much
lime cleaning up private property as
was expended in cleaning and repair
ing the streets, so that much expense
could have been averted by instruct
ihg the police to force property owners
fo clean their lots, while the work on
The streets could have been done by
the city. The city has ample power
nnder laws and ordinances, to force
property owners and agents to keep
sheir property in cleancy condition.
The report of the clerk showed the
cityis finances to be in the following
condition:
Library fund, deficit, April
|, 1910. to April l, 1s12....$ 1855
Park fund. balance ........ OOS.os
Interest fund, balance ...... 2,226.5S
Sewer sund, balance ........ S.4ou.lo
Fire hydrant fund. balance. 24O.24
General fund, balance ....... 2l4.74
At the conclusion of the reading OF
his report Clerk Tamme requested the
council to order an audit of the books
h stated that such should be done
by some person or persons not con
nected with the city government, fol
the information Of the council and the
citizens. Mr.. Tamme said his books
always had been at the disposal OF any
citizen or city official and some time
ago had been gone over by two mem
bers of the council but that he would
deem it the proper action on the part
Of the council should a thorough audit
be made. After Mr.. Tamme's re
marks Mayor Taupert also requested
an audit, producing communication
addressed by himself to the council
making such demand.
Alderman Reynolds suggested thai
the council secure the services Of
Robert L. NJ. Ross to make the audi
and the finance committee was au
thorized to consult Mr.. Ross in regard
to doing the work. An appropriation
Of sufficient money to pay for the au
dit also was authorized, it being the
understanding of the council that ths
audit should be secured at the leas
possible expense.
James O'Byrne, former alderman
was present and was given permission
to address the council in regard to Ii
censes. Mr.. o'Byrne said he had pait
no license for several years because
he was convinced several other per
sons in the city we're not paying tn,