The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-26
Pevear Says It Will Re quire Year and Cost S30,000 to Appraise
 Company s Assets
SAYS SITUATION IS
 TOO ACUTE TO PERMIT
 SUCH LENGTHY DELAY
Commission Will Reply Today and May Submit Another Counter
 Proposal to Company

When the people of Birmingham vote on the proposed scent street car fare ordinance July p, they will do so with out any official information as to whether tue companys claim that it's in come IS insufficient to justify an in crease in the wages of it's employees.
 This was settled yesterday when the city commissioners refused to undertake the audit of the books of the company unless at the same time it is permitte to make a valuation of the company's property.
 Last Saturday President J. & Pevear of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company addressed a letter to the city commissioners offering to submit the company's books to the commission CTS for a complete auditing at the com pany's expense, provided the auditing De done by experts of established reputa- tion ani reliability, and on the further condition that the report of the auditor be published at least one week before the election.
 DIR. BARRETTS LETTER
 To this letter President N. A. Barrett of the beard of city commissioners re- pied as follows
 June 22 1918. MT. J. s. Pevear, President Birmin ghan Railway, Light and Power Co, CIJy.
 Dear Sir; Your favor of June 22, of fering to submit your books to the city of Birmingham for a full examination and audit, and to make public the report of the audit prior to the date of the election on the 6-cent fare ordinance, has been received.
 that the commission does hereby accept your invitation, subject however, to the notifications hereinafter stated
 We are advised that it will be impos- sible to conduct complete and exhaus- tive audit of your books and accounts and valuation of your plants so as to make public the report thereof one week prior to July P. 1918.
 we will conduct this examination upon the following conditions:
 "First-We will cooperate with you in getting the date of the election changed to such date as we may hereafter deter mine, after the conference with the &C., countants and engineers selected, and after it has been determined what time is necessary to complete the audit and valuation.
 "Scond-We shall expect the company to furnish to our engineers and account ants a complete inventory of all of the property of every kind and character owned by the company and used or use- ful in the rendition of public service in each and every department of the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Power company
 GIVEN FREE ACCESS
 s.'Th irj-The accountants and engineers appointed by us are also to be given full access not only to your books, puo to all contracts, documents. vouchers, estimates, records, stock ledgers, minute books and archives and reports of every kind and character.
 ''Fourth-The engineers are to be given free access to your plants and properties for the purpose of inspection and valua- tion
 'Fifth-The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company shall, upon demand. reimburse the city for the ex- pense incurred in such examination of your booys and such valuation of your property.
 If the foregoing meets with your ap- proval we will be glad to be advised of the same, and we shall proceed to appoint engineers and accountants to conduct this work, and will make the report of such engineers and accountants public at least one week before the date of the election, as the same may here after be fixed
 The men to be selected by the city commission are to be accountants and engineers of recognized ability and na- tional reputation. Yours very truly,
 IN. A. BARRETT,
 ''President of the Commission
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