The Penn's Grove record., 1915-01-08
STOPS LEAKAGE
IN ExCHEQUER
System Devised by Comptroller
Edwards, Saves Thousands
WATCHES EVERY DOLLAR
Chief Auditor NevIn Works Out
Scheme by Which Finances Are Al
ways Known = Errors Agare-
eating $4,000 Detected.

SahiH9 YIoyUUU Detected.
Especial Trenton Correspondence
Trenton.-In the opinion of those
who are in close touch with the detail
and complications of the
OF State departments and State fnan-
ees, the most important and most valu-
liable piece Of legislation enacted at
the session of 1914 was what is known
os the "Requisition act" While it
was expected that this Measure would
prove of immense benefit and profit
to the State, the full force of Just what
the law meant Is about being realized.
10 summarize in a few words what
has been accomplished by the audit
system, ~inaugurated under the supervi-
sion Of State Comptroller Edward I.
Edwards, 1t might be said that since
May l errors and Implications in de-
partments have been detected aggre-
eating upwards of $3.50 abuses Of
the State aid for patients in county
institutions have been brought to light
IN such numbers that thousands of
dollars will be saved to the State: 10
months bills have been paid by de-
partments out Of the appropriation
for IL months; physical inventories
have been made of institutions, with
the result that during this year $780,
600 has been saved; changes have
been made in the n of letting
contracts for printing supplies that
means not only a saving of a great
sum, but infinitely greater satisfac-
ton to the departments themselves;
the requisition system has left the de-
partmental and institutional heads
free of all interference in manage
ment, and what is greater than all CT
these at the end of every working
day financial officers Of the State
know exactly what its financial condi-
ton is. All this has been accomp-
lished since May /, but with monument
tai effort on the part of not only a
corps OF men, but one man in particu-
lar. This person was John j. Nevin,
of Jersey City, selected by State
Comptroller Edwards as the one man
in the State to bring about a read
justment of the States way Of doing
business. AT the present time the sys-
TEN is working SO smoothly that the
department heads have forgotten their
wrath of a few months ago at what
they called the Outrageous and un-
reasonable demands' Of the head of
the auditing department.
Mr.. Nevin persisted in the adoption
by the departments of the new scheme
of doing business, and now the pre-
audit way is conceded to be the best
that has ever been tried in this State.
Had Ineffective System.
The Legislature of 1914 consolidated
the Department of Accounts with the
Comptroller's Department on May l
and authorized the Comptroller to en-
oloy such additional assistants as he
needed to put the consolidation in
,ull operation. The method of audit
ng prir to that consisted of a chief
auditor and five assistants, who main
aimed headquarters in one Of the
ouildinss adjoining the Capitol, and
who audited the accounts of the de-
oartmeIts and institutions after the
%accounf has been paid by the Comp
troller'a department. AS the former
chief auditor was interested in charit-
able work, the records of the depart
ment show that its energies were
chiefly directed toward investigating
the conditions existing in the State
institutions. With the force in hand
his was about all that he could cover
and was as effective as could be OBJ
tanned by that method in view of the
TACT that the institutions are the larg-
est mo1ey-spenders of all the State
departments. On June 1 succeeding
the consolidation of the department.
the Comptroller directed the audit of
all accodnts of departments and insti-
buttons brior to payment. This audit
covered not only the correctness OF
the figuies involved in every transac-
ton of the State, but Eso concerned
itself with the statutes affecting the
Different departments and institutions
with a view of ascertaining the legal
ity Of tile methods employed, and the
correctness of the expenditures involv-
ed from the standpoint of existing law.
The first Indication of a change in
the methods became public by a
change in the system Of advertising
for SUPPLIES. Prior to the activity of
the Cehptroller's department adver-
tisemeIts appeared in the various
State papers inviting proposals for
supple for the different institutions,
but rasely indicated the character of
the Supplies to be furnished or the
exact lime of the receipt of bids and
awarding of the contract.