Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-18
SHORTAGES IN
TOWNS BOOKS,
SURVEY SHOWS
Report Submitted by Citizens
Committee of Bloomfield.
Another Audit Ordered.

What may prove to be sensational
disclosures were made at a meeting
last night Of the Bloomfield Town
Council when the citizens committee
submitted report on the result of
recent survey of the town books by
the Municipal Bureau of Research, Of
New York. The report was not read,
but Henry SternberPer. a member of
the citizens committee, was accorded
the privilege Of reading what ap-
peared to be a resume of the findings
of the bureau.
incidentally. the Town Council by
a vote of four to three decided TO
engage a New York auditing firm
to go over the town books. rms
action came as a surprise, in view OF
the fact that the council only recently
paid Samuel Fisk $500 for making an
audit of the accounts. 1t was con-
tended that Fisk's work was not en-
firely satisfactory An amended re- |
port was later submitted by Fisk and
Mayor William Hauser made futile
attempt to have the report printed.
The following letter, submitted by
the committee last night to the coun-
Gil is self-eXplanatory.
THE following is a resume of the
main features established by the ac-
companying report of the Bureau OF
Municipal Research:
I'D There is an unaecounted for
shortage in the assessment improve
ment account amounting to $117, Sc. |
"(2) On December 81. 1913, there |
was due the sinking fund from the
treasurer the sum of 5,63S.40, not in
fhe hands of the treasurer at that
time
Premium on Bond Sale Misapplied.
s(s) The premium of s1,250 for the |
sale of Improvement bonds has been |
misapplied by transferring it to the
Incidental account.
40 Schedule of the auditors re-
port of April 16, 1914, contains assess |
ments that were not confirmed until
February. 1914 amounting to $5b,- |
1864, and assessments that were not |
confirmed until March, 1914. amount
ing to S2.s49.50.
$50 The incidental account of the
town for the year 1918 shows that the
budget has apparently been exceeded |
by at least $9,797.70.
"(6) The report further shows that
transactions have been incorrectly re-
corded in the town books, and specific |
instances of these errors are given,
such as the sinking fund commission
account. where the same item appears |
twice on one side of the ledger and
only once on the other side, making |
IL appear that there is an apparent
total amount of $751;, 1921 in the hands
of the sinking fund commissioners
as of April "a, 1914.
Out of Balance s93.466.5s.
40 The trial balance of the figures
reflected on the general ledger of the
treasurer shows that this ledger is
out of balance to the extent of $685.
466.5S.
This report is presented to you by
the citizens committee in accordance
with a promise made that you should /
be furnished with a copy of the find
ings of the bureau.
ut should be borne in mind that |
this report does not give complete
survey of the towns finances The /
figures used are those which appear
on the face of the books, which fig
ires have been taken at their face
value What other errors or diserep
ancies or what reconciliation of the
figures may be revealed by complete
audit is not known.
I'm making this report the commit
tee has merely taken the first of
series of steps necessary to clear up
the situation Further investigation
of the towns finances is imperative.
There are also legal phases of the
matter to be considered. The COM
mittee feels that it would be remiss
In its duty if it stopped with the
presentment herewith made
Demand Detailed Audit.
I'VE call upon you to institute
forthwith a detailed audit of the
finances of the town by an independ-
ent auditor to be chosen from among
the following concerns: Price, Water
house 81 Co, Loomis, Suffern * Fer
maid, Bureau of Municipal Research.
The employment of an obscure, ir-
responsible or biased person or con-
Germ will be repugnant to the citi-
zens at large and will not satisfy
public opinion. AS the situation is of
so serious a nature, unless a proper
contract is made with one of these
firms within a period of thirty days,
the committee will feel bound to take
such further action as it may deem
necessary"
The names signed to the letter
we're: Howard Biddulph. Charles L.
Seibert. Charles T. Gehrman. Henry
Sternberger, A. o. Wallis, William
Biggart. NJ. N. Higgins. Axel Y.
Beeken, E. F. Adams, George G. Ma
guire, Charles A. Hungerford. Frank
lin A. Stone, f. T. Davis, L. 4. Kim /
ball, j. w. Smith. c. W. Mcguire. /
d G. Gerrabrant, Charles ]. Murray, !
John A. Cohane. w. w. Breck, Sam
uel DdHhSs AIllur d AlDeI LIS Clto
Bills.
The firm engaged by the council to
conduct an audit of the books is
that of LOOMS, Suffern & Fernald, of /
New York This firm was selected /
before the letter of the committee
was read. II was one Of the concerns /
suggested in the report of the citi- |
zens. 1t was limited today by a men,
Der of the citizens committee that /
further steps may be taken later.
The matter of the audit under the +
direction of the citizens committee /
came about after the Bloomfield /
Board of Trade had made several un- |
successful attempts TO procure com
pIete Information rearding the towns /
finances. While the agitation for |
such a report was going on the eoun-
ell engaged Mr.. Fish to go over the |
books
The latter submitted a report. and, |
II is said, Councilman Edward |
Hughes pointed out several errors. /
When the amended report was sub
mitted by Mr.. Fisk, Councilman /
Hughes again entered objection. The
citizens in the meantime had Sc |
cured council permit to have the
work done at the expense of the
eonmitte. The Bureau of Municipal
Research was engaged by the citizens
and the work proceeded. The reports
submitted by Mr.. Fisk were both Of
fieiaIly rejected two weeks ago at a
meeting of the council.
Row Radlv Ritfeu nv Doc.