The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-03-27
CITY COMMISSIONERS ISSUE
STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC

liens Of Pensacola fled with the gov
ernor of Florida a petition for the
appointment of a state examiner of
public accounts to examine the books
of the city, and on October 6, 1915,
the governor appointed Mr.. Frank B.
Hagerman to make an audit Of the
books and accounts of the city as re-
duired by section 10 of the commits
sion government charter for the
agreed compensation of $40 per day
while engaged in the audit.
About October Mr.. Hagerman
began the work and completed his
report on March Is.
For this work Mr.. Hagerman has
made his bill against the city for
$3.50, which he has asked the COVER
nor to approve for payment by the
commissioners.
The commissioners, out Of consid-
Grafton for the taxpayers of the city,
strenuously object to the payment Of
Mr.. Hagerman's bill for the reason
that the amount charged for the work
is excessive and unreasonable, and
not justified under the terms Of his
employment.
To make the audit of the books and
accounts of the city in accordance
with Section 10 of the commission
government charter as he was en-
ployed to do, it was not necessary,
and he was not required to make
fresh audit of the books and ac-
counts of the city extending as far
back as June 1, 1913.
Mr.. Hagerman had twice previous
" been employed by the city of PEN
sacola to audit the books and ac-
counts of the city.
His first audit was for the period
from May 1, 1918, to June 1, 1914,
thirteen months, for which the city
paid him three hundred and seventy
five dollars. In this report of this
audit Mr.. Hagerman states:
"All funds handled properly ac-
counted for"
His second audit covered the pc
Rod of six months from June LIST to
December 1, 1914, for which he
charged, and the city paid him, two
hundred dollars. In this report of
this audit Mr.. Hagerman states:
Il wish to advise that the funds
collected by each Of the departments
have been accounted for by them to
a cent"
Mr.. R. T. Raines, public account
ant, was employed by the commits
sioners to make the audit of the CITY
books and accounts for the six
months from December /, 1914. to
May 81, 1915.
Mr.. Raines' report and audit. as
we'll as the two Mr.. Hagerman had
previously made, were on file in the
city comptroller's Office when Mr.. Ha-
german undertook to make the last
audit under the directions of the gov
ernor.
II Mr.. Hagerman was not satisfied
with Mr.. Raines' audit he should have
been willing to accept as correct the
two audits which he made himself
and for which the city had paid him
| all that he charged.
Had he done this, as we claim II
was his duty to have done. the re.
suits of the last audit, which he made
for the governor, would have been
the same, and the costs to the tax.
payers of the city would have beer
materially less than $3.50.
Mr.. Hagerman's audit and report
which the two newspapers and some
citizens are demanding should b
published in full in both Of the daily
newspapers, is a volurninous docu.
ment, and its publication in the twc
papers would cost the taxpayers Oh
the city about thirty-five hundred
dollars, estimated at the rate the city
is charged for its publications, which
is 81 per inch for legal publication!
of this kind, while for other publ
cations it is only thirty cents PEI
inch.
This report and audit of Mr.. Ha
german is an "open book in the of1ct
of the city comptroller, where ever!
citizen will be given full opportunit,
to make any examination of it tina
he desires. The newspaper repre-
sentatives have had access to It, an
they are at liberty to publish all, o
; any portion of it, if they desire.
The commissioners are not al
: tempting, and do not desire, to sup
press or conceal ANYTHING containe
in the report or audit.
They do desire, if possible, to say
the taxpayers the unnecessary eS
: pense Of publishing this document
the two daily newspapers, when il
publication in pamphlet form fo
/ general distribution would cost les
, than one-third of the amount that tn
newspapers would charge.
4 The Pensacola Journals editor. {
I representative, has had access to II
auditors report, for by a recent ed
torial It endeavors 70 have its reac
ers believe that this report s'reveaI
( a deplorable condition of affairs" II
at&mpts to support its conclusions b
garbled statements is so unjustifiab
| and detrimental To the cifvss hest /,