The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-02-12
TRAVELLING AUDITOR
REPLIES TO CRITICS
Of HIS OFFICE
Present Law Sufficient If
Force Is Increased to
Cover Field

SANTA FE. Feb iO.-A. q. whit
tier. travelling state auditor. In "a let
ter 20 a. r. Asplund. director OF To.
Taxpayer association. say that ho
h"h"ycs h present laws relative To
auditing are annie for the
intended II the office of travelling au-
ditur is given sufficient a%pproprla-
lions TO enable II to employ suffi-
client assistants and eNaminers. lils
letter says. in part:
Dear MI. Asplund.
~ have before me your letter C
December 20. 1891. and am glad tu
avail myself Of thc opportunity %
differ to make q statement ns to Ga,
status of IN. work ~ this office or
course. any public official H. subject
Co. criticism However I feet thai q
great deal Of criticism directed
against this office recently has been
both untrue and unjust. and your let
ter gives me the opportunity to rN
plain our problems, written, as u
Iu % spirit Of cooperation and a IL"
fire be- De Of service.
The office cr state travelling au-
ditur was organized aH tho result of
% law effective March a.. 1908. and
from that date 10 this there ha-
never been sufficient men nor appfu-
priafiuns to enable the office to do
90" work required 81 d. From the
rrilDd Of organization until March
1913, the travelling auditor had one
assistant, from that date until April
lIlH. ne had two assistants. and from
thc lnst period until April 1874. lac
had four assistants. and from Npril
1927 until "a" present time he has
had six assistants pf course. az you
state. % b. perfectly patent hat a. b..
o. has been. impossible to Keep
audlt- up to date win thus number
ct field men. Iuttl 1891 the office
WtH expected tu audit an county vt.
rDi.le. there being five in each toun
t' al state officials and Institutions
atd ull building ana loan arsociu
fIonH THIS Required tOE eNHminu-
tIUn" annually. ur an average of
three per month per assistant tn"
iI.i Legislature gave the office two
mur" assistants making siN lu uIt
hut added requirements for 2iN up
UtHl examination. pcrGiuiur fv
cities and towns. independent school
districts. dratnnEr districts ~ Jus
tice- of the peace. 80 .hut. as pres
entity constituted, this office b. repuir
cd. with six assistants. to make gIu
.rnunl ADULTS. or q monthly average
~ elN audits per H~sis'ant When one
realizes that. any real audlt takes
fmt the utter mpossihiNty uf meet
tr such requirements T. patent 4
recent ease i- that Of the audit 81.
fhH EDUCATIONAL department by ar IN
Dependent firm This audit took
UnWe six ga eight weeks and cost ite
promoter not less than s. o The
fldIf nf ChaNes county Last year tool
% assistant from this cfIce seven
months. tine travelling luditor himself
also spending three months additional
.Nrr.to. These two illustration arc
enough 10 how fhy ImpossibiutN uf
aru,ctiaE Hn assistant tu make an
u'oIap, ~ six uudits ry, month hy
himself
lu addition o. may De- stated that
tho examinations mad" bN this ofrc,
are thorough % pa~in~takinE There
ls uu attempt Goo hurry O. Job or AXE
.HuDrGDInl surVeNa. Each and every
Ifrm uf receipts ana payments. every
Voucher every item Eulng into 'HD
detail e an ufnra is carefully scru-
tluiz"d. Each county and Institutional
official handling public muui"- be- re
pu.rsd To make comprthrurlt'
monthly and quarterly reports to the
central office Of income. payments.
hunE balances. budget allowance,
and payments therefrDm o. imi
Dor matters The dai. thus gathered
b. uf great assistance fo state Officials
and other- needing the Information
County officials records ave uniform
ard state and institutional records
lr". practically speakiuH. els uniform
us i- possible" Vouchers. warrants
% ether official dorumrnf. have
been standardized and the ufrcr as
-um.s uch supervisory control az l-
necessary tp make effective tiH rules
In spite of the limited force and
the legislative appropriations ut Dee.
.ng hut $50 per year for office
and contingent IA travel expense Tor
she travelling auditor ana -iN mem
this office has AZ ! believe. made
% good record and one OF whieh Do
OIL. go .NAA.-N .LH 70