New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-09-11
no deposits have been made, as also

AOuDIc pay uCItS. III l14S AiottSA "! ~
funds covering deposits on meters, it is
the opinion of your auditor that the
practice as has been perused should be
discontinued Immediately, and that no
meter deposit should be transferable
The issuing of checks where patron does
not call in person, and check IS maze
payable to the party in whose favor same
should be drawn "Or Bearer; endorsed
by the Trustee of Finance and deposit
ed by him to the credit Of Light & Power
account, after crediting consumer with
service rendered, should not be indulget
in further Credits in this matter should
be handled only thru the journal, aud
check issued for that balance due patron
only when called for.
Exhibit No 23.-Uncollected accounts
due the New Iberia Electric Light and
Waterworks show numerous accounts
where service has been continued for two
or more months without settlement, be-
fore service was discontinued, and con-
trary to the rule that bills not paid on or
before the 18th of the month after pre-
sentation, service will be discontinued I
also find several items, in this list Of ap-
parent unpaid accounts, on the Water &
Light Journal. in the "Date Paid" col
umn, the initials of ar. G." and IS. l.
which indicates accounts collected by
Rene Girard and Simon Lassalle and the
amount of these collections not turned
in by these parties. l am advised by ST.
mon Lassalle that those items indicated
by his initials have been adjusted by
him, but do not think that it should be
the duty of your auditor to check up the
various collectors of water and light ser
vice, and would suggest that your Trus-
tee of Finance adopt some system of
check against these collections and en-
force settlement.
Exhibit No. 24.-I wish to bring 20
your attention very forcibly the matter
of Accounts Receivable and Accounts
Payable, as shown by the General Ledger
of the New Iberia Electric Light and
Waterworks, and to say that the condi-
tion Of these accounts, as we'll as those
of the City of New iberia, is not at all
satisfactory. From the records there APP
pear to be numerous accounts overpayed;
balances due creditors where accounts
have been paid in full, and ss whole
are not kept in any systematic manner.
~oAA1S AAVoASCS oAS JOuAAoAALSOS a. my
should be, others are paid direct from the
invoice, making the whole very hard to
verify, and allowing for errors to de-
velop as in the matter Of the United
States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Co.,
where account was overpayed $509.4s, and
the Fort Wayne Electric Works, WHICH
was also overpaid $9e.46, checks cover
ing which were later RENTED the City
of New Iberia. Too much care cannot
be exercised in the handling Of these pAEr
chasing accounts, in checking pE1ees' ex-
additions, ETC., and 100, IN tAelE
proper entry for payment.
Exhibit NO. Lo.-Ihis statement covers
prepayment on salaries OF Water and
Light Piant employees, and is self ex- 1
If these employees axe to De
advanced at various times during the
month, and in various amounts, thete
should be ledger account with each, ID
order to safeguard against such errors as
these. This also applies to City en-
ployees as well, other than day labor
which is settled with from pay rolls, as
the overpayment of one police officer has q
already been noted. ii
Exhibit No. 20.-Unendorsed checks
by banks, account New Iberia
Electric Light & Waterworks, to which
will apply same comment as remarks IN
der Exhibit No. II. I
After concluding my remarks relative /.
TO the various exhibits as contained in
this audit, wish also to call your at
tention very forcibly to the matter of the
accounting system now employed IN the =
office of your Trustee Of Finance; to the
inadequacy of same, and to your duty
rs prescribed by the charter.
Article 50, Section 6, provides: "The
Board of Trustees shall prescribe the 2
method of his Trustee of Finance) &C
counting and disbursements of public
funds" Article g. Section 6, provides
1.-THE Board of Trustees shall, by ordi- I
nance" provide a system for the collec-
ton, custody, and disbursement of all
public monies, and system Of account
ing for the City" These articles have
not been complied with, and it is the
duty of all concerned to take up this q
matter with as little delay as possible, !.
not only with the view OF arriving at a :
satisfactory statement of conditions and =
AAoAo, 81 SuSA t1AAAS as ~ AAASAI OS NC n
but also for the protection and !
of the interests of the tax
payers and the public in general, to say
the least Of your own protection as the
Trustees of this City.
The system of an Incorporated City
and of all its various departments, should
be no less carefully and judiciously hand
led than that of large manufacturing
or other corporation, carrying COM
plete double entry, balance system of ac-
counts, taking trial balances from these 8
books at regular intervals, not exceeding
thirty 800 days, and cash balances not
less than every seven "a days.
This system of accounting would not q
only facilitate the work in the depart u
ment of the Trustee of Finance, but u
would materially reduce the time your ;
auditor would consume in the audit of ,
these books and accounts, with a more Il
intelligent statement of the condition of - .
affairs as natural result
In find too, that Article so, Section 2. :,
Of the Charter, relative to the overdraft !,
Of annual appropriations, has not been