Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-08
A VICIOUS LAW.

There is another angle of the scandal over the
Wagner administration of the Department of Edu-
cation which deserves attention
Travelling Auditor Whittier says in the report
that the books of the office fairly we'll kept
during the first year. but that thereafter increas-
ing laxity developed. The report a period
from January 1, 1916, to June 80, 1921-four and
one-half years.
Think of a department of government handling
tens of thousands of dollars never having been
checked a single time during the four years of the
incumbancy of Mr.. Wagner! Had he been checked
at the end of the first year, with criticisms of his
methods, increased, instead Of decreased
watchfulness would have resulted the second year
Some besides the officehoder is scandalously
derelict when those handling public money no:
audited at frequent intervals
If the school superintendent office no.
audited for four and one-haf years, it would be
interesting to know what has happened in the mat.
ter of auditing other state Officers. Who knows
when the land office was last audited and the
port made public?
Some procured the passage Of an act by tho
legislature forbdding cities anG other political sub
divisions from expending public monies for the ems
poyment of private auditors The Travelling Audi
tor is made the sole auditor for state offices state
institutions counties school districts cities etc The
slightest investigation shows that auditor with
the amount of work and the number of employees in
That department can not audit all of these political
subdivisions in half-dozen years
Men and are placed upon boards and
given the responsibility for the proper adminisra
ton of great trust. They compelled to rely
upon employees for keeping the records and handling
the funds Then they left without the power
to employ experts to check up those employees
Years must go by, with discrepancies growing grad
ually worse and uncorrected while they wait for a
travelling auditor who seemingly never comes.
oh c,yatar 1t,,tI,1,
without way to get the facts. They exercise
no intelligent supervision. Laxity is bound to
suit
The law commands that there be no audit ut
public expense unless the Travelling Auditor makes
it. He probably makes it. So officials run
matters to suit their fancy
We are Informed and believe, that the auditor
Mr.. whittier, and few Interested state officials
who did not want to be hampered, procured the
passage Of this act AS a result they are immune
from Investigations stirred up by the Journal or
any one else. The governor apparently has no
authority to employ auditors to Investigate. The
state travelling auditor is too busy elsewhere The
peoples money may be used at the within of thosl
handling it. Finding Irregularities five years after
they happen is locking the barn after the horse
is stolen.
This whole thing is political scheme. In our |
judgment it was done to protect the land office !
against the Journals demands for investigation.
1t serves to leave all honest officials without way
to be given clean bill and provides a refuge for
crooks and political manipuators.
1t does not matter who asked for such law
republican legislature passed it and republican
governor signed it. The party is responsible for it,
If that party wishes to escape political RESPONSE
bility for such incompetency knavery the repub-
lican attorney general will attack the law in the
courts. We convinced that it is Unconstitutional
and could be voided, II Mr. Bowman will not at
tack 1t, the city officials OF Albuquerque or our
county officials should do so. All that is necessary
is to engage private auditor for a day or two
When an effort is made to pay him out of public
funds, let taxpayer restrain the payment by in
junction proceedings A test of the law will result
AS the law stands. officials are helpless and |,
corruption can thrive practically unrestrained
II Travelling Auditor Whittier were an arch
angel the power given him under this law would
be excessive and pernicous. No one man should
have so wide discretion over public matters Sup
pose corrupt man should be chosen for the posi-
ton? state would be at his mercy.
This matter impresses the Journal as very very
serious We have called attention to it before. The
law in its operation.
The failure of the state to check Mr.. Wagner
at intervals to CHECK him OUT at the end of
his term. Will arouse Certain degree of sympathy
for him. Mr. Wagner claims that he demanded a
CHECK out" and could not get it. The travelling
auditor was too busy There is no sense in any
such lax methods.