The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-11
|KO|NER OPPOSED
TO MOORE'S PLAN
Will Not Change System to
Make Vouchers Show What
Money Is For.
NOBODY CHARGES FRAUD
NOBODY CHARGES
Commissioner Explains That Spe
cial Auditor Examined Records,
Which Board Approved.

Changes requested in the methods
of issuing vouchers in the State De-
partment OF Agriculture. making them
show for what purpose the money was
being paid out, would necessitate z
complete change in bookkeeping in tho
department, according to statement
issued yesterday by Commissioner G..
w. Koiner. of the Department of Agri-
culture and Immigration. Correspond
ence published yesterday indicated that
Mr.. Koiner had declined to accede to
suggestion Of the State Auditor that
vouchers be so drawn as to show what
the money was being paid out for.
Mr.. Moore requested this plan shortly
after coming into Office, in order that
| the Auditors department would have
a complete record OF all payments of
state funds, even though. as has hap
pened In the past, vouchers be lost or
stolen from the records of the Apri
cultural Department
1t Is stated that in former years IL
was the custom for a very large num-
Der OF vouchers to be drawn merely to
@. w. koiner, without any indica ton
OF what they were for. and that dem
onstrators and lecturers employed by
the department in some instances were
paid by Mr.. KoineTs personal check.
the records of the Auditors office not
indicating what amount they received
No one has charged Misrepresentation
OF funds, but the system is held to be
slack one, which might readily lend
Itself to abuses.
w. NcK Evans and George S. Cren-
shaw, expert accountants sharply
criticizing the methods of accounting
In the Department OF Agriculture. the
board introduced system OF book
keeping which Is still in vogue Mr..
Ia nt no =,
to change from that system to meet
the views OF the State Auditor of Pub
lie Accounts.
MI. Koiner's Statement.
NJ. Koiner issued yesterday the fol-
lowing statement:
The system Of bookkeeping en-
ployed in the State Department of
Agriculture and immigration was
adopted six years ago by the State
Board OF Agriculture upon the recon-
rnendation OF the State Accountant
appointed by the legislative Auditing
Committee, and has been strictly fol-
lowed. The books of the Department
OF Agriculture were made according
70 that system, and all the accounts
have been examined three times a year
by the State Board OF Agriculture. and
once each year by the State Account
ant. and have been found to be cor
rect by all Of them.
The change that was recommended
by Mr. Moore would 'necessftate a
change in the system that was adopted
six years ago My financial clerk
Mr.. Berry, stated that Mr. Moore s
plan could not he adopted without
change IN our system. brought
this matter TO the attention of the
State Boa.t of Agriculture. and they
agreed with myself and Mr.. Berry,
and instructed me to adhere to the
system now IN use This is not the
only department that does not use Mr.
Moore's plan. Every warrant sent to
the chairman OF the State board for
his approval has attached to IL the
bill for which the warrant Is in pay
ment, and these receipted bills are eX-
am!ned by the State board at each
meeting of the board"