The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-05
Continued From Page one.
adopt in conducting the elevator bust

adopt in conducting the. elevator bust
ness. II
Let us get down to, brass tacks,"
said Mr.. Quainme, and learn how to
manage our own business before we
plunge into starting terminal elevators
ana attempt something we don't know
anything about. - /.
II am in favor Of the idea advanced
ny Mr. Kerr Of Washington, who has
spoken before us here, of trying to de-
yelopsfhe best systems of bookkeeping
!or the elevators, SO that the stock
holders, will know, every minute where
we stand. And then in afterryears the
names Of honest men cannot be blem-
ished.
II want to get away from the com
mission merchant, not that L have any
thing. against the commission mer-
chant at all. But I first want us to
learn how to manage our businesses
before tackling the proposition of
marketing something we know abso-
lutely nothing about"
UnkenhoIz Spoke.
Sec. s. w. Unkenholz spoke effec-
lively, giving some practical ideas
about the necessity Of scale inspectors.
We want scale inspectors who
men who hold their jobs just simply
because they are influential in any GER
tain political faction that may happen
to be In power"
With MI. Quamme the speaker be-
lieyed the time had come when the
elevator men need state regulation
that will provide for a certified ac-
countant or auditor to inspect their
books.
Kerr and Cushing.
". II. Kerr Of Washington, D. c., an
assistant In the cooperative organiza-
ton of the Office of markets in the
federal department Of agriculture, and
Walter T. Gushing, secretary of the
North Dakota Railroad commission,
regular program yesterday.
MI. Gushing advocated a uniform
accounting system for the elevators
and the submission to state inspection
under direction of the state railroad
Z warehouse commission.
kerr's Splendid Address.
w. H Kerr Of Washington, D. c.
assistant in the cooperative ~organiza-'
tion office of the federal department
of agriculture delivered the chief adj
dress Of the convention on the subject
of Problems of. Auditing and Account
ing of, Farmers Elevators Of North
Dakota.
Mt. Kerr has Just completed a
twelve days inspection tour and in
vestigation Of North Dakota's farmers
elevators and his address was the re-
suit Of that research,
His talk did the delegates much
} good. In discussing this subject he
said:
"Mr. President, delegates to the
Farmers Grain Dealers association Of
North. Dakota: ,...
AT the request Of your secretary,
Mr.. U~nkenholtz, through Mr.. Brand,
chief OF the office Of markets depart
ment Of agriculture, at Washington, I
arn&to give you an address on the Ae-
counting and Auditing Problems of the
Farmers Elevators of North Dakota.
For the past ten days I have been
going over your state visiting various
farmers elevators, securing copies OF
the forms Of accounting records used
by them, and investigating and study
ing the methods of recording all the
business transactions of the elevator.
1 lind that a great many different sys-
TENS are now in use by the farmers
elevators in this state. Some are ex-
good and eXcellently an
sWer the purposes OF a complete set.
OF accoupting records; others could be
greatly improved upon,. and still Others.
Iare entirely inadequate and do not an
swer the purposes for which account.
ING records are Intended Simple, ade-
NQHates and reliable records are funda-.
mental for the success OF any business.
organization. These records Should
properly record all business 5transac-.
lions and the results thereof. and,
whatever system is devised, every pre-
caution should be made to avoid MAX
ing 1t cumbersome.
"These two facts must be kent in
mind in adopting or devising forms for
an accounting system. What do we
desire to know? How can these facts
best be obtained, summarized and ar
ranged SO as to get the most out of
them with the least trouble and ex-
pense? 1t must be considered that
modern office practice has developed
many time and labor saving devices,
such as card systems, loose leaf sys-,
TENS and the carbon copy, which have
made 1t possible to do away with
many of the duplicate entries Of the
same information. There are numer-
Gus devices for reducing the cost of
accounting, each of which serves it's
particular purpose, any one Of which
may be admirably adopted for specific
purposes in the Office. Care should be
taken in choosing a system, that It
hangs together, each part being in alb
solute accord with every other and
that no records are kept which are not
absolutely necessary for the proper re-
cording of the desired information. No
cut and dried system of accounting is
ideal for any organization. yet, by add
ing a new column here and there or
making some slight change a firm can
be adapted to the particular require
n1ents of an organization. In this con-
nection, however, I desire to say en-
phatically that accounting systems do
mot consist entirely OF forms and
bound books. The most perfect set of.
forms ever drawn is. absolutely worth
less without the knowledge and effort.
to properly conduct them. 1t is neces-
sary for every business enterprise to,
be conducted along some sort of a pre-
arranged plan.
''The question will be asked. How
are we going to get system Of ac-
counts adapted to all our methods r..
Frankly. gentlemen, to my knowledge
no system exists that can be placed
In all the elevators. OF this state all
conditions considered, as they now
4