The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-05-14
Voluminous Document Covering the
Financial Transactions Of the
City Since 1911 is Pre-
sented to Council
BETTER ACCOUNTING
SYSTEM SUGGESTED
Bookkeeping Of varions Depart.
ments Criticized i City Employees
Delinquent in Water Dues
Report Open to Public

The report of R. NJ. Nash, special
deputy sent from the office of the
state examiner and inspector to Chick
asha to audit the books, records ana
fiscal reports of the city, upon re-
guest to the governor by the council,
of Chickasha, was submitted to the
council at the meeting last night and
| duly approved.
1t is one of the most complete and
voluminous documents ever filed in
the city of Chickasha Bound in the
form of book it is fully is by "a
inches, and contains SO typewriter
pages of reading matter and tabulated
figures. The audit dates back, in the
treasurer's office, to 1911, at which
date c. l.. Stone of this city complet-
ed an audit of the general books in
that office. Balances designated by
Mr. Stone at that time were accepted
by Mr. Nash and from them his work
commenced.
In letter addressed to Fred Parkin
son, state examiner and inspector, and
which is filed with the report as a
summary of the findings, Mr. Nash
outlines the condition in which he
found the various offices of the city,
the methods used in keeping the
records and certain recommendations
that in his opinion would bring about
better results in the future.
Police Department.
After summarizing to some extent,
the letter of Mr.. Nash takes up the
police department, stating that ne
finds that in the past four years fines
have been collected to the amount Of
10,5S959. and that the amount has
been fully accounted for by Judge H.
L. Grigsby and Mayor ]. B. Burton act
ing as police Judge. "The system could
be greatly improved by using the
proper blanks for the release of pris-
oners upon payment of their fines"
states Mr.. Nash. "One case in partic-
ular, noticed where prisoner had
paid half of a fine and had given a
watch to one of the officers as pay
ment of the other half of the fine !
did not find the watch among the re-
ceipts of the office"
The letter states that in the street
commissioners department S2l2l.So
have been collected in the last four
years. The letter continues, There
is a great lot of room for improve
ment in the method of collecting and
reporting the poll tax, worked and
paid to this department, and a thor
ough system of receipts and reports
should be adopted"
Salaries Illegal.
Regarding the water department
the report states: "The water depart
ment has been we'll managed. The
auditing of this department was easy.
However, l find that there are a great
MANY delinquent accounts on the
books. was surprised to find among
fist the names of officers and en-
Moves of the city. Unless the coun'
ell gives them their water rental free
as mart of their salary, they have
no more right to free water than anv
other citizen" The letter mentioned
that for one year the mayor had acted
as water commissioner at an add
tional salary of $50 per month, and
stated that in the writer's opinion the
mayor has no power, under the law, to
occupy both positions.
The license system of the city was
declared to be not up to the proper
standard. As an instance, was citeo
the fact that in the past the occupation
and automobile tax had been paid e
the treasurer while the auto drivers
license had been paid to the clerk
recommendation followed in which i
was stated that the clerk should issue
ALI licenses. The tripncate receipt !
was stated, should be used in all de
partments where revenue is collected
with the exception of the water de
partment. which has separate ant