The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-24

seriously Handicapped IN the work OF
this department by fitness and other
causes beyond our control. Since the
first day Of May we have lost by
death, resignation, the call to military
duty and otherwise. no less than seven
out OF the twelve administrative off,
GERS and employees Of this department.
and we have been put to our wits end
TO keep the work of the office going.
because every one OF those whose ser
vices we were forced to lose was an
expert in his or her field
It has always been q pleasure to
us to conform to all directions and
suggestions rfven us by the State &C
countant, and ] can only regret that
under the circumstances he did not
| inform me- that he had not obtained
the information he desired on October
90. may safely say that within two
days after the receipt Of such notice
the facts and figures would have been
in his hands"
MI. Munford's letter follows:
Text OF MFR. Munfori's Letter.
Richmond, Nov. 23, 1919.
Hon. r. G. stearnes.
Superintendent Of Public
Instruction.
Richmond, Va
My attention is called to a letter of
November 81, 1916. from Mr.. A. B.
Gathright. assistant State accountant.
addressed to Mr.. w. r. Smyth. State
accountant, and I am requested by
you to make a report to you setting
forth my recollection of the visit OF
October 20, 1916, made by Mr.. Cath
right to the Department Of Public In
struction.
The statements made by Mr.. Cath
right in regard to the visit in question
are entirely correct. I think, how
ever, that Mr. Gathright, in his letter
addressed to Mr.. w. F. Smyth. State
accountant, has unintentionally done
some injustice to your department.
While It Is true that the several war
rant registers of your office had not
at the time OF Mr.. Gathrghts visit
been added up showing the totals for
the school year ending July /. 1916.
on the other hand all the dishurse-
ments for the period in question had
been duly posted, and had I under
stood that the state accountants Of
Ace was, as OF october 40, 1915. de-
sirous. Of having totals rendered
showing the disbursements of any
fund, or OF all funds, for the fiscal
school year, or for any other period.
attention to the propriety of having
suoh statements made availa1ble as
speedily as possible.
In fact, ! do recall that I told Mr.
Gathrfght that I myself would en-
ploy some young man from an
auditing company, at my own expense,
to come and add up the books II 1t
was desired to have them in complete
shape Immediately.
The absence from the Department
of public instruction OF two very use
full men had great handicapped the
work OF your office, but nevertheless
myself had done all that was posi-
Bile to bring your books up to date
when It is considered that /. of course,
had the current work Of each day to
keep up.
At the time Of Mr.. Gathright's VISIT
of October 20, the customary recon-
element Of the books OF this Office
with the books at the ONCE of the
second auditor OF Virginia. which I
understand is usually made each
autumn, had not been made, and !
understood from Mr.. Gathright that
he would prefer to return and make
his complete inspection after the
books had been reconciled with those
at the office OF the second auditor OF
Virginia. This reconcilement Of the
accounts has been in progress from
time to time during the last ten days
or more. and Is now practically COM
pleted.
This checking Of accounts with the