The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-11-15
THE CITIZENS SHOULD AUDIT
THEIR OWN BOOKS

While Ardmore people have been working during
the days of the war to support the army in the field
with the purchase of bonds and with gifts to the Red
Cross the men to whom they have entrusted their city
affairs have by ncompetency or by neglect or by some
other not performed their duties and people
must shoulder heavy loss in money.
The people of this city have not been treated fairly
and it shall be the purpose Of The Ardmorete to deve
into these matters and to give them to the public.
The Ardmore Construction Company, which was
awarded a contract more than year ago TO build
about 3 miles of water mains, has not completed that
work and the city has already paid out on the work
more than the contract prce.
If any manager of any business concern in town
to do something like that he would hasten to
resign before the boss had chance to dispense with
his services
But in the matter of city affairs there is way by
which an executive can be summarily dismissed and
there are no hurried designations.
1t is stated that bonds which have been properly
executed and which intended to be sold and the
money used for street paving purposes have been
wrongfuy taken from the city and sold These bonds
must be paid because they are in the hands of innocent
purchasers, but not much dollar arising from
this sale has reached the treasury Of the city.
If any bookkeeper or manager of private busl-
ness were to permit such conduct in his office he
would be summary dismissed but the city must go on
under the management until an election is held.
The charge is made that rule has been estab-
lished of overgurng interest on street paving taxes
Men who have figured their interest complain that
they have been overcharged from 81 up to much
as 50 on their interest Whether this has been general
not is not known but every man should figure the
interest on his own paving taxes and make report OF
it. If it is estimated right the report should be made
just as promptly if wrong.
Any criticism OF - administration that is not de-
signed to be helpful wrong and ii cannot conduct
publicity in way that is fair and that will be whole
some in its results then we have not done our part
toward the people nor the city administration,
The city books being audited by the
mayor and commissioners by competent man and
while this audit is being made the people themselves
ought to hire another auditor to work with him.
A committee of eight men has been appointed to
look into the city affairs Two of these men from
the Retailers, two from the Chamber Of Commerce.
two from the Lions and two from IDtarians j. r.
Pennington is hartman of this committee, and The
Ardmoreite will contribute $50 to this committee to
help pay for citizens auditor to have the books
checked by him and if the people have enough interest
in the matter they very easily place funds in the
hands of this committee to make audit of the
books and the reports of this audit be given them
through the Ardmoreite.
1t is fair to state that the audit that is now in
process shows irregularities under the w. R. Roberts
administration, under the 10 +. Williams administra-
ton and under the W. f. Freeman administration The
people are entitled to know all the truth about each
administration and no honest man fears complete
checking of all his acts
Some effort ought to be made restore the city
the money derived from the sale of bonds the money
that has been paid paving where credit has
been given ought to be restored to its proper place,
and if the people have paid excess paving taxes that
money ought to be refunded.
In conducting an investigation into the affairs Of
the city it shall be policy to be as fair know
how to be- nothing shall restrain from doing our
duty as it and shall be just fair to the
two men who have served and who now out of
office as to the present incumbent,
In opinion the citizens require the service of
an auditor and the service of attorney and if the
committee of eight men headed by J. r. Pennington
will ask the people for funds to provide them with this
help, these funds will be placed in their hands.