The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1915-09-04
THE AUDITORS REPORT.

The auditor for the City of
New iberia. Mr. Harry Smith, Of
the books and accounts IF the
city. appointed. in accordance
with the requirements Of the
oity's charter, by the oaahiers Of
the banks Of this city, completed
the work Of tahnlating .his report
last week and fled u copy Of the
report with tho Board of Trus
tees. The commissioners receiv-
ed the report and ordered same
published.
1t waa our privilege to have q
hasty glance Mt a copy of the re.
port, but the brief time II was In
our hands was not sufficient for
the obtaining Of u comprehensive
underst anding Of { he whole stu
alton II ia safe to say, however,
that the report M u whole, can
hardly be considered az bouquet
thrown At the Trustee Of Finance.
When the Board of Trustees re.
ceived the report Mayor Sealey
was Of the opinion, IL seems, that
the Auditor should not have IN
dulged IN any comments on his
work aud that il was strainiDg
hia privilege to indulge In critic.
isms or recommendations.
Mr., Sealey was but few
weeks ago inductca into Office, to
till the nDexpiied urm OF the late
Hon. Alpine Fonteiieu. There
fore, any expression from him ut
this time, could not be construed
AZ being oolored by self intereet.
lie gave his view Of the policy of
making public accounting quite
plain and public. In order TO
get a clear underst andiBg Of the
merits Of THE difference Of opin-
ion as 10 the proper course Of the
auditor, it IL bat necessary to de-
tinitely determine who the Audi.
tor is serving. II he were serv'
ing single individual, who
might be engaged In some branch
nf trade, he might make bis re
port either In writing, or orally,
~ required by the proprietor,
The auditor would be morally
bound to make no disclosures to
anyone else than the proprietor,
The proprietor might treat the
report OF the auditor az would
best appear to him as conserving
his interest.
II the auditor were serving
banking house, u merchandising
concern or u manufacturing en-
terprise, controlled by a board oi
directors, then II would be In
keeping with the properties OF
custom for the auditor TO submit
bis report, explanations, and
comments to the head OF the
company, Arm OF corporation, AZ
the case mi ght be. This "bead''
Ia usually u Board Of Directors
The directors see that ell parties
in interest are properly advised.
The principle is not at oil
changed when Il comes to the re.
port Of the auditor on the city'r
books and accounts. The audi
tor IN axes his reports to the City
Council, instead Of to the usual
board Of directors. Behind the
City Council, instead Of stock
holders, we have the tar payers.
| Every taxpayer aud every voter
| Ia privileged to have It made per-
tectly plain to him how the reve'
nues Of the city have been admin
| istered. If tabulated statements
do not carry the full force Of the
situation, then the auditor In mo
rally bound to supplement bic
listing of items with such ex
planatory noter, criticis me, and
recommendations ~ may be ne
cessaiy TO make his findings per
tectly clear to the people be
serves, and to saveguard theii
every interest.
| The auditor, In his written re-
port, IL perfectly competent, (oi
should bel to call attention Il
any law regulating the handling
OF public accounts or funda. Hs
would be fully warranted In max
ling such recon mendations 81
we're calculated to improve
met hods, lncrcase the security
40 d decrease the liability Of 81