Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-26
ALL EXPENSE BILLS
SUBJECT TO AUDIT
Controller DoWney Sustains
Rejection of Items in Me-
diation Board Account.

The contention of Martin A Knapp.
chairman of the board of mediation and
Cancellation, that he ard his associates on
that board belong to a class of govern
ment officials whose expense accounts
have custonarily and properly been pass
ed without submission of subvouchers or
greater detail of items. meets neither
with the approval of the auditor for the
State and other departments nor of the
controller of the Treasury, George E.
Downey.
The auditor had done as he should have
done, Controller Downey says. in sus-
tanning him. in first suspending and then
disallowing accounts for which Chairman
Knapp asked approval without submits
sion of receipted vouchers. Unless such
vouchers, receipted, are offered as evil
dence of the expenditure. the disallow-
ance will stand.
Accounts Disallowed.
The total of accounts disallowed is $50.
consisting of $12 for room in the Hotel
Manhattan, New York. and SIS for con-
ference room in the same hotel. The ex
penditures were made in October. during
the discussions of the troubles of the
eastern railroads. which threatened an
extensive strike of employees.
The recognized high standing Of the
men composing this board. their charac-
ter and integrity" says Controller Dow
ney, softening the harShnesS OF his opin-
Ion, assure me that there is no real
necessity for any proof of their unsup-
ported statements, and appeal strongly
for an exception to the rule in their ia
vor: but rule fractured must soon be
fractured again, and If il is to remain eff
fective and an instrument for good it
must of necessity be enforced against
the just as we'll as the unjust.
The auditor has but done his duty in
this matter: and j would not only be lax
in mine, but would be doing him an in
justice, IL. out of consideration for those
adversely, 1 should fail to sus-
tain him"
No Special Privilege.
There is no law nor practice, the con-
troller of the Treasury finds, that war
rants the special privilege claimed for
the board of mediation and conciliat ton
or its members of having their accounts
o. KID without the submission of the
usual documentary evidence of receipted
bills.
ing officers shall not examine and audit
accounts upon their merits Congress has
made special exceptions therefor by stat
utory enactment" asserts Controller Dow
ney in his opinion.
He cites instances. and they are rare
as follows:
Congressional provision for approval by
certain committees of vouchers for pay
ment from the contingent fund as con-
elusive upon all officers of the govern
ment.
Ffnality of the signature of the Speaker
of the House of Representatives on GER
tificates for salary and mileage of MEM
bers of Congress.
Another exception. somewhat more lin
tied. directing payment by the United
States marshals upon the judges writ
ten certificate" of reasonable expenses
actua ly incurred for travel and main
tenance of circuit and district judges of
the United States, consequent uaon their
attending court or transacting other off,
cal business at places other than their
official place of business.
No exception has been made by law
exempting the members of the board of
mediation and Cancellation from the ordi-
nary requirements of accounting, Con-
troller Downey finds. On the contrary,
the law creating that body especially di-
rected that the accounts should be 'au-
dited' by the proper accounting officers.