The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-11
AUDITOR WARREN
MAY Be RETIRED
City May Retain His Ser
vices in Advisory.
Capacity.
MANY ERRORS IN REPORTS
Shows 100000 Still Available
Tor Schools After Money
Has Been Expended.

Although members Of the Council
Finance Committee are unwilling to
discuss details as yet. it is understood
that plans arc being prepared for re-
organization Of the City Auditors office
along more modern and businesslike
lines City Auditor Warren it is un-
dcrstOod. viii he retained because of
his long and valuable service TO the
city and his intimate knowledge OF
city finances. especially as regards the
sinking fund and bonded debt. lie
may be given the title OF auditor en-
eritus and an assistant auditor, with
supervisory powers over the conduct
of the office. may be appointed 10 take
act0al charge of the bookkeeping and
daily conduct of the city's business.
Discrepancy of $2O0.O00.
Mr. Warren was quoted yesterday az
declining TO discuss the errors pointed
out i'm his most recent report TO the
Council on the ground that they were
too trivial and inconsequential for con-
sidcration in an Office handling mil
lions Of dollars. Mr.. Warren did not
explain discrepancy of 100000 in
tine same report. which amount could
hardly be described AS trivial. On
September Is, 1911. the City Council
authorized an issue of bonds to the
amount of $4,000 for various specj-
fed purposes, including the new Mayo
Bridge. the South Richmond sewer.
eas and water systems and a number
OF other items. including 100000 for
public school buildings and sites. out
of this fund the City School Board
purchased the Van Lew property as a
81 has
and occupied the now Madison and
Buchanan Street schools.
Money Has Been Paid out.
Although the money has been used
as il was intended and tho Buildings
are now completed. occupied and paid
for Mr. Warren's most recent report to
the city Council shows in the table
OF funds from bond issues S2oo.oo9 as
appropriated. with no charge for any
expenditure. leaving the whole amount
to appear in the uneXpended column as
though il were still available.
On the face of the expended and IN
expended items in the same table there
is A discrepancy OF $40 in the item
for stand pipe alte~atic7ls. Yet. not
understanding the error. the totals OF
expended and unexpended columns are
made to balance with the approprio-
tiOns.
The bond issue alluded to above. pro-
vided after all other items se5.330 TO
meet any deficit that may arise Mr.
Warren's report of available bond issue
items docs not show what has become
Of this bslancc. IL was intended that
tho supplemental appropriation ot
ss24I.f0 Oh the new Mayo Bridge, AL
lowed for construction across the is
land be taken from this fund. but the
Auditor has entered 1t as current
appropriation.
How Does He Get His Bslnnees
Tho printed report of disbursements
To January !. lc%5. on account OF ap-
proprIati ms ending January 81, placed
on the desk of each member of the
Council 1t the January meeting of eaeh
branch. shows overdrafts in twenty
five items aggregating sl2.lO$-e"- Most
of the Ovcrdrafts arr explained by
salary increases MADE during the year
with no compromising increase IN the
pay roll appropriation to meet the ad-
ditioraI charge What members Of
the Council with a figuring turn OF
mind have been unable TO understand
is how the Auditors Office manages
10 add the total " expenditures 10 the
unexpen1e5 balances. and get eNactN
the total OF appropriations. without
twenty-five items in which the appro-
priations are oVerdTawn
IL is stated that the present en-
ployes Of the Auditors ONCE have OBJ
iected to the use Of adding machines
as new-fangled devices. and to the
Introduction Of modern systems of ac-
counfTn. Proposed by the Council FL
nance Committee.
No one believes that there has been
any intentional wronSdcing in the
Office or that there has been the
slightest diversion OF public funds, but
il is nevertheless claimed that re-
cent reports to the Council nave not
given a correct index of the status or
various accounts. Bookkeepers of the
various departments have almost de-
gpaired ~ being able 10 check with the
Auditors books.
Finance Committee To Act
II is expected that the whole matter
o. the conduct OF the Auditors office
and plans for its rehabilitation wi!i
Be taken NJ At meeting OF the Coun-
oil Finance Committee to be held dur
ing the coming week. and that some
definite recommended will be made
10 the next meeting " the City Coun-
ciI II - not known as yet whether
the plan of employing az assistant aH-
ditor with supervisory powers over
Ire books. with the .-efcntion Of Mr.
Warren for the b~neht % his advice
on citv finances. viii meet with sp-
-,rova1 or not There are those on the
Finance Committee who believe that
zinc trouble isl not with the head OF
the Office. but that ne has not been
-ivcn the proper KIND u clerical as
eie:arce.