The Washington herald., 1913-01-10
MONEY0RDERS
AREUNAUDITED
Continued from Page One.

that in the tabuIating and sorting ma
chimes it will effect accurate record OF
essential data. Many of the cards nave
the office number punched wrong and
a large percentage of such caros are
passed without correction. There also
are errors in tabulation. in gang punch
ing. and in sorting, and all these accu-
mulate so that the cards that are sup
posed to show in the tabulator indicators
what each office issued probably will
make showings that will have to be in
terpreted'
1T takes over $500 a day to keep this
card-audit agoing, and figures have been
made showing it will have cost the gov
ernment over $50o.Oo0 by the time Presi-
dent Taft's term expires"
The work of the law of the auditor 3
office constantly calls for reference 10
money orders that have been cashed and
sent here for auditing. 1t is an impos-
sibility to find money order in the
batch of 10000 filed, unaudited, In the
mail room.
Under the new punching system, it is
said by lawyers, the index cards would
not be accepted as evidence in any court
of law. as they merely show the post
offices by numbers, the operatives by
numbers and other details, all in figures,
tabulated into the cards.
Mr. Kram who was the originator of
the plan to install the mechanical audit
system, has been connected with the
auditors office for twenty years. Two
years ago he was elevated to the posi-
ton of auditor, previously having been
law clerk, and served in various other
capacities.
Urged Mechanical Audit.
In his first report. he recommended the
mechanical audit system. pointing out
that it would save both time and money
TO the government A saving of half
a million dollars. he asserted, could be
made Mr.. Kram last night quoted fig
ures to show that this saving has been
accomplished.
was told last night by Mr.. Kram. 1t was
pointed out that when he became auditor
it required between ten and twelve
months to audit the money order busi-
ness When the office was nine months
behind. the work was considered up to
cate owing to the delay in the orders
being submitted for auditing. 1t re
uuired over ten months to detect errors
in the service.
Mr.. Kram at once recommended a me-
cranical audit system. This went into
effect August "A last. Clerks. then work
:ng on salaries OF from 500 TO $500 year
as skilled lahorers. were transferred 10
piecework and called Operatives"
No Provision Made.
Owing to an oversight. said Mr.. Kram.
in the legislative appropriation bill FOR
the fiscal year 1913. no provision was
made for leave for the piecework opera
t.ves. This has been remedied in the
present bill. which has ben passed by
the House and awaits consideration by
the Senate.
The appropriation for the auditors Of
fee has been reduced from s19o.950 for the
fiscal year 1872 to S1l7.S2o for the fiscal
year 1919 Out OF the latter. 10000 was
used for installing the new tabulatins
ma hinery.
Clerks were allowed to take their an
nual leave this year. said Mr.. Kram. and
as soon as ii expired were placed on piece
work This became generally known and
a large number reserved their leave until
the last month in the year. Then 50
many applications were received as 10
paralyZe the Office force. Mr.. kram stat
ed that this led to the order that all
clerks on leave must return on the day
after Christmas.
Mr.. Krafn stated that under the new
receive more money than they did under
the old. 1t is only a few. unqualified
clerks. who suffer from the new methods
and who are dissatisfied.
Mr. Kram stated that the entire Of
fee had been placed on an efficiency
basis. and promotions would go TO the
clerks getting the best results. ire
speCtive of seniority. He stated that the
unaudited money orders would he clear
ed UP within two months. and the work
be brought up to date.