Arizona republican., 1919-01-08
Our Loose Method

There may be other states whose business is as loosely mana ged that of Arizona but hardly think If Governor Campbell have his way there will be a sweeping change in this respect It may not ne generally known how very loose system is. hardly the slightest cheek upon the expendi of public money, it has been voted by the legislature The legislature only knows how much money should from what heads of departments tell it and their estimates always liberal. When it is all doae legislature knows if it stops add up how much money it has appropriated. But that is only the money that is to be paid by the taxpayers. II has been told now much, if any, will the offices from It is est- mated that such receipts amount to almost million dollars annually. Of this the legislature knows nothing.
 There is appropriated to the of the various offices, each certain sum. the amount asked for ranging as high as S15OOOO. That appropriation then yelled every human eye except that Of the man officially charged with the expenditure of it. gethcr with other moneys that may come into his tody from other sources. There is really check against his financial operations though probably people think there is
 We have it is true. state examiner. but he has nothing to with the state offices and commissions His business is exclusively with the county offices he is allowed insignificant for expenses that does enable him properly to discharge his duties
 We have a state auditor who many persons sup- pose check upon all operations involving the penditure of money by the authorities. But he is really no check at all He has not access to the accounts of any office His business is to see that lhere have been mathematical inaccuracies in mat tcrs which brought into his office and that lhere legislative authority the payment of money for which it is purportcd to be paid. In other words the auditor go below the surface. He cannot ascertain real financial condition any state Of flee commission.
 Some of the offices and commissions have from time to furnished alslits themselves made by accountants whom they have called in for that pur- pose But obligatory and it is a practice that has by means been generally adopted.
 The annual reports of the various offices not greatly enl ghtenns those who might be sup posed to be familiar with such documents On count of tte manner in which they made up they Voally show nothing financial conditions the time when they are issued The period covered by them has usually expired months previously.
 Governor Camubell, understand, will mend to the legislature a correction this sip-shod system by provision for a legislative audit of all the state offices. The governor will also probably sug -cst the enactment of law proposed two years ago by Senator Wilkinson reforming the method of mak- ing appropriations. That bill proposed the enactment the general appropriation early session the evening the last day when concessions have mad 10 be made to extravagance. Some people careless of speech call this rolling The bill fur proposed that previous to the adopting of gen. eral appropriation bill appropriation could be made except for emergencies.
 Such a law, of course could not become effective during the present legislature but the spirit of it might become effective. It would be so if majority of the members of the legislature inclined to economy should refuse to pass any bill carrying appropria- ton until the general appropriation bill had been enacted.