Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-17
COURT AUDITORS FEES
NET $11,714 A YEAR

A report from the Department of
Justice filed with the Senate today on
the receipts and expenditures of the
Office of the auditor for the District
Supreme Court showed the average an
nuaI net receipts to be $11,714.72 dur
ing the last four years. This is the
period that Louis A. Dent the present
auditor, has been in office.
In report to the justices of the Dis
trict Supreme Court filed recently. Mr..
Dent stated that he estimated the an
nual net receipts OF the auditor to be
$500.
The report of the Department of jus
tice. made by Examiner Alvin NJ. Nc
Nish. was compiled and submitted TO the
Senate in reply to resolution adopted
by the Senate requesting the Depart
ment of Justice to furnish the Senate
with information regarding the receipts
and expenditures OF the office of the
auditor The resolution was introduced
by Senator MARITIME of New Jersey. who
gave out statement saving he consid-
cred the enlolument of the auditor too
large and suggesting that the fee sys-
tenn be discontinued and that the aud tor
lie. put on salary.
Discrepancies Explained.
The discrepancy between the reports
planned by Mr.. McNish in his report.
He says:
1T will be noted that the auditor in
making his reorganization did not
take into consideration fees which had
not been collected by him nor esti-
mated fees for work done in uncom-
pieted cases-the latter amounting to
$2,93l15, and he has claimed credit for
outstanding contracts for law books
" hif.h nf hea f,,h
sequently, there is d variance between
his report and this report
In his report Mr.. McNish gives the
gross fees Of the auditors office for the
last four years as s61,514.33; the average
gross fees as S15S2s.5s. Deducting the
total fixed annual and incidental ex-
penses for 1919, amounting to $3,613.s6,
II leaves s11,714.T2.
Mr.. McNish states that the fees charged
III cases where the work performed was
in the nature of an audit during the last
four years WAS greatly In excess of the
charges made by Mr.. Dents predecessor.
Mr.. McNish explained that Mr.. Dent told
him that he personally did the work,
whereas his predecessor in many in
stances had not given it his personal
attention
Mr.. McNish in conclusion says:
Although strictly speaking the fees
allowed the auditor for each reference
| is fixed by the court. yet as a matter of
! fact the auditor likes his own fee for
| each reference. 1t can readily be seen
| that under this system it is possible for
abuses to creep in.
| Therefore suggest that If any change
| is made from the present system the
auditor be allowed to retain from the net
emoluments Of his office such an amount
| as might be deemed proper for his per-
| sonal services; that the expense of his
office be subject to authorization and ap-
| prevail Of some accounting officer Of the
| government. as are the expenses of the
| other federal court officers, and that a
suitable scale of fees be fixed for services
| rendered by the auditor. Any surplus re-
| naming after the allowance for the
auditors services and expenses Of office
should be covered into the United States
! Treasury in the same manner as are the
excess emoluments of other federal
officials.
I Difference in Figures Explained