The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-22

sacrificed TO begin At 5000. In two
years time thereafter they have
been found drawing $4,000 or more.
From this ngure they 20 on up In
money recompense and In influence
In the business world. Top-notch
public accountants are modern Dan.
iels--the modern Belshazzars have
to keep them constantly sticking
around to interpret the handwriting
on the business wall.
University Of Experience
Those who are going into the pro
fession OF accountancy are largely
going In by way OF the openings pro
vided by the big accounting firms
who are yearly requisitioning new
men for their service. II the men
who join the stats OF the big &C.
counting firms show an aptitude and
liking for the work. their rise is
bound to be rapid. As indicated
above. good man at the end OF
two years may be drawing $4,000 In
salary a. q member of the stan OF
an accounting firm. From that an
able man may 60 on until he com.
mands . salary OF around $4,000.
Then, after a man has reached the
top as q star man, there are still
two avenues of Advancement open
to him. The next step usually comes
as a matter OF natural selection.
Either an accountant may set up
In business for himself. or, on the
other hand, following the logic OF
the situation. he Is likely to step
into the authorship. or treasury pc.
sition, Of some one of the worlds
greatest business corporations. Such
q step. OF course. takes the man out
OF public accountancy and puts him
into what may be termed private &C.
countancy, but that IL q matter OF
private preference.
Ethics Of Aceountancy High
AS an innocent bystander senses
the situation. the public accountants
have rather the better OF the legal
brethren In point Of ethics. Maybe
this is because there are so many
OF the lawyers and so few of the
public accountants that the law OF
averages does not get a chance to
run Its course among the latter. But
why speculate rs to reasons? In
any event II deserves to be pointed
out that not alone theoretically, but
practically. as well, the accountants
take the stand that the public is
ever their client. As the poet miAht
put II. the accountants have accept
ed a retainer from Truth. In other
and prosaic words. when an account
ant Is called to q case--is II q
case" or a, "job?"-anyway. when
called to an Investigation In ac-
countancy, he is not called In to
bolster certain business view. On
the contrary. 1t Is the keystone or
accountancy ethics to find the truth.
AS the old saying may be adapted,
public accountants hew to the line.
letting the chips fall where they
| may.
Strong Professional Feeling
| 1t is q natural consequence that.
among men where professional feel.
ing Is so strong. there should be a
bond that would draw them into
more or less fraternal relations. SO
II is. The public accountants OF De-
troit and OF the state have an asso
citation: and this association In
turn is afYiliated with the strong ma
tional association known az the
American Association Of Certified
Accountants.
The state association meets once
a month here in Detroit. It's meet
ings are In the interest OF the pro
fession and for the discussion OF
the knotty problems and the deep.
underlying principles OF the profess
sion. The meetings are sometimes
addressed by men Of worldwide
reputation In accountancy or in
kindred matters, and then. again.
the meetings are given over to
what may be termed round table
discussions.
The association OF local public
accountants is doing much TO en-.
gender a strong professional sol
idarity among its members. The
association at the present time is
efficiently ofncered by w. ID. Bon
thron. president: David Smith. vice
president: r. A. Stevenson, secre-
tary; John J. Jerome, treasurer.
and George M. Patterson, auditor.
These oficials also constitute the
board of directors for the organixa-
ton.
Michigan Men Far Called.
Well may there be a strong feel
ing of professional pride among DE.
troit accountants. They have earn.
ed pre-emlnently high standing In
the great American business world.
The fame Of Detroit public account
ants Is by no means a little local
fame. Some Of the public account
ants OF this city have been called
into business investigations hav-
ing worldwide ramifications
Michigan has one Of the best pub
lie accounting laws. and the stand
ard OF Michigan public accountancy
is estimated as Of the highes,
throughout all America. A number
OF strong men have gone out from
Detroit to take up public account
ancy In some Of the most respon