The Detroit times., 1912-05-04
MAKES HOT ATTACK ON
ACCOUNTANCY ORDINANCE
Means Indefinite Control of APP
pointments BY Selfish Inter-
ests, Says w. S. Gurd

In reply to an inquiry from Mayor
/ Thompson as 10 what he thinks OF
the action OF the council In taking
| from the mayor the appointment OF
the city accountant and vesting II In
the council. Walter s. Gurd, De-
troit public accountant, submits a let
ter protesting strongly against the
change. Aid. Garvey has filed a
notice OF reconsideration OF the vote
by which the ordinance making the
change was adopted and the matter
will be fought out in the council next
Tuesday evening Mr.. Gurds letter
to the mayor follows in part:
Briefly and plainly stated. the ordi-
nance throughout savors or pohtlcs
| rather than an earnest desire Tor I'M
provement and TO be frank, l consider
| the adoption OF the apparently safe
guarding" provisions, VIII ineVltaoIy
result I'm perpetuating indefinite con-
troll OF these appointments Dy selhsh
interests.
TOO much faith must not be placed
upon the examining board as account
|
rived from such scheme are COM
| pletely nullihed by the fact or such
board being appointed by the CITY con
troller who may or may not De sum
GENTLY equipped from an accounting
standpoint TO select the proper mater
ial for service on the board or course
] am not in the least rejecting upon
the qualifications or past or present
controllers, as | understand the Voteis
have chosen very wisely hitherto; but
where is the future projections
Great stress is laid upon the candi-
dates knowledge or Detroit munlcipal
accounting methods In particular, yet
on the other hand. the requirements
are 10 years experience IN accounting
five OF which shall have been In proilc
accounting Is II suggested that a
public accountant OF five years stand :
ing is unequal 10 the. supervision OF
Detroit municipal requirements? Or is
the Detroit municipal accounting so
wof de rfully complex. as compared with
other cities in the world. that only a
specialist familiar with the Detroit sys-
tenn will Prove satisfactory
| note that the candidate necessar-
! lily need not possess executive ability.
inasmuch as his assistant TO be APP
pointed must go through the same
channel and routine as himself. and
also that In the event OF vacancy oc-
curing upon his presumably subordi-
| nate STAN. the vacancies are nlled In
similar fashion. No provision IL made
4
! according TO period OF service. OF those
'remaining on the stan and II Is pos
sible during any portion OF the hVe
years and vacancies should arise, Tor a
chief assistant from the outside TO be
placed over the heads OF those may
have fulfilled the duties OF an assistant
diligently and efficiently and are well
deserving OF promotion.
A minimum salary OF ST. for city
accountant is provided for, and in my
estimation this is very poor renum-
Grafton for such an important position,
I although IL IL significant that the or
dinance does not call for exclusive SER
vice nor does IL mention the daily
hours 10 be devoted TO the work. The
remuneration 10 a hrst-class man Is
| so small that sooner or later he might
be impelled by adverse circumstances
10 seek other sources OF revenue de-
I rivabl-. from the private practice OF his
profession. thereby weakening his
grasp OF AFFAIRS. and imperilling the
4 public interests
i Further. from a citizens viewpoint ]
submit that you cannot expect favor
able results when the investigated APP
points the Investigator What would
be said OF banking corporation del
eRating authority 10 the bank cashier
point an accountant to investigate the
J fina nclal position OF the bank and still
further. suppose that these citizens did
appoint man whom they knew from
a previously expressed declaration by
the cashier, would be acceptable 10
him? How much value would attach
TO the inquiry?
/ do not assert this will occur. or
that such a position al outlined above
: Is probable, but do maintain the po-
| stlon 10 be possible. ] am not a poll :
tician, past. present or future, neither
have | any ak or axes 10 grind. but
you have asked my opinion in this
matter as a public accountant and my
/ Ems lish accountancy training forces
me to answer. II I make answer at all.
that the foundation OF the ordinan .
4 is fantastical and fiimsv: and also ~
no real accounting safeguards are pro-
vided therein for efficient Investigation
OF the civic canoes sho 'c an irves-
tigatlon ey D. conside 0ecHfll.