New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-09-25
entry Of the transaction. Ger
tainly, when such checks repre-

tdluly, WILL SuCu CACChS ACPAS
sent the collection Of an account
it is entirely proper to deposl
such checks in bank with the en-
. dorsement of the City thereon.
Exhibit No. %.
: Showing uncollected accounts
E due the Light, Power & Water
Department. I desire to say that
only in few cases, and from over.
, sight, was service continued to
persons owing the City after the
cut out day-the 18th Of the
month.
With reference to Auditor
Smith comment that no system
of accounting for the City was
ever adopted, | desire to say that
the system in use at this time was
certainly approved by the Trus-
tees; tacitly, if not formally.
While | do not hold that the sys-
tenn of bookkeeping, as now used
in nv department. cannot be I'M
proved upon, I do claim that the
system has some merit, and it
makes no difference what other
system might be installed, errors
would still be unavoidable.
With reference to Auditor
Smith s statement that my de-
partment has been operated at a
cost of $1333.S5, during the past
year, in addition to my own sal
airy, 1 desire to explain that the
salary of a City Clerk at the rate
of $4,000 per month was not only
authorized by special resolution,
but was more particularly author
lied in the annual City Budget.
In connection with this office
I have to reiterate the position
that | have always maintained,
since my election-that my De-
partment ordinarily needs no as
! sistance, and the clerk now en-
ployed has been made necessary
by the present system of collect
ing the Light, Power & Water &C
counts, which system has been in
sisted upon by the other City
Trustees.
With reference to salary paid
Mr.. Leopold DeBlanc, taken in
connection with my communica-
ton to the Board Of Trustees of
August 3rd, 1914, | desire to state
that l employed Mr.. DeBlanc
during the months of August and
! September, 1914 to perform the
duties Of my office at my own ex-
pense. | employed Mr.. DeBlanc
at nv own expense, for these two
months and no longer. At the
time Mr.. DeBlanc was employed
by me, Mr.. Rene Girard was the
authorized City Clerk. Mr.. Gil
rard resigned his position the
latter part of September and Mr..
DeBlanc continued as City Clerk,
during the months Of October,
November and December, 1914,
and he received the City Clerks
salary during these months.
Mr.. Mare Derouen, the present
City clerk assumed his duties
January LIST, this year. With ref
erence to payment Of one hun
dred ($100) dollars, made to Mr..
c. M. Compton for copying as
sessment roll by districts, | desire
to state that this became neces-
sary at the time it was suggested
that a $4,000 Improvement
Bond Issue, should be sumbitted
to the tax payers.
The amount of $3.50 paid Mr..
Rene Girard was for typewriting
bids and specifications for side
walk construction.
Such work as was performed
by Mr.. Compton and Mr.. Girard
certainly does not pertain to my
department, but is clearly work
devolving upon the Trustee of
Public Property, who; under the
Charter is the City Clerk.
The amount of $4,000 paid Mr..
| T. A. Derouen, was for the cost of
preparing and copying the as
sessment roll, for the year 1914.
While it is true that the assess
ment roll for 1913 was made and
prepared by my department with
out extra cost, | am not adverse
to doing this work, but it has been
found advisable, in order to get
the assessment roll earlier than
we would otherwise get it to have
the Assessor prepare the roll.
Especially is this desirable, in
view Of the fact, that under the
law Mr.. Derouen has the right
to charge the City with its pro
rata Of the cost of preparing the
assessment. which would be much