The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-04-19
COMPTR0LL, ~ y.
NECESSITATtSfS;;' Sf;;'
TRAINED CHIEF

Our present Comptroller, Erman
M. Skipton, seeks reelection. AS the
time rapidly approaches for the city
election much cognizance should be
taken of the various candidates for
municipal position. One of the most
important Offices to be filled is that
of city comptroller. This office ranks
second, in vitalness, to that OF the
Mayor. In view of this fact it is
necessary as well as expedient that
the best man obtainable be supported
for this Office. To our very best
opinion, Mr.. Skipton is the logical
candidate for Office and deserves the
support of our group. His past ad-
ministration clearly demonstrates his
efficiency in his particular vocation.
Mr.. Skipton seeks the support OF
the voters solely on the merits of his
past administration. That admins
tration is known by every citizen who
has made an investigation of the re-
cord of city officers. Those who have
not made a research of these activi-
ties will do well to analyze the fact
before making a decision as to who
they will vote for.
Well Experienced
Mr.. Skipton has had twenty years
experience as an accountant. or
these twenty years, ten years have
been devoted to practical municipal
accounting. This experience. obvious
ly, places him in more advantageous
position than that of his opponent,
who secured his education thru cor
respcndence course. Mr.. Skipton's
knowledge of the inside working of
things, his ability to analyze the
causes and effects of propositions and
his technique in correcting flaws to
the extent that leakages in the city's
expense budget might be stopped
makes him best choice for the po-
sition of comptroller. The fiscal af-
fairs Of any Municipal government
must be as carefully dealt with as the
financial matters of an individual.
Since an individual cannot judicious-
ly spend in excess of his earnings, a
city is placed in the same position.
City Using His Idea
When the present city charter was
adopted in 1914 Mr.. Skipton, who
was appointed special accountant for
the city, installed the accounting sys-
tenn, completed the annual reports,
supervised the audits and for the past
seven years has had charge of all ex-
aminations in the comptrolIer's Of
fees.
His opponent, who is employed in
the water department of the city, has
one record to his credit and that is
the installation of index cards. This
carries no major significance in that
an average bookkeeper could install a
similar system.
1t has been the opinion of Mr.. Skip
ton that has carried st. Paul through
the most successful fiscal period of
its history. To attempt change Of
men at this time would be synoni-
nous to taking convalescing pa
tient from the hands of skilled ply
sician and placing him under the di-
rection of a novice.
A Brief Comparison
The following is brief comparison
and 1t might be added, there are
many more points to be made in ia
vor of Mr.. Skipton:
/. Mr.. Skipton has been an ex-
pert accountant for the past twenty
years. He has had experience in
wholesale and manufacturing ac-
counting for seven years, three years.
practice as public accountant and
for the past ten years has been con-
nected with the Office of Comptroller
of the City of st. Paul.
2. His opponent has publicly ad-
mitted that his only qualification for
the Office of comptroller is the fact
that he has taken a correspondence
school course In accounting, and that
he installed a card index system in
the water department of the city
where he is now employed.
8. Mr.. Skipton is unquestionably
entitled to reelection to this office,
and a review of Mr.. Skipton's past
administration, as well as his long
years of experience in the work Of
municipal accounting, will doubtless
speak for itself. so far as the voters
are concerned.
Judge for yourself who will make
the best comptroller for st. Paul.
After a few weeks of inactivity,
tho n n y cIuh will resumo their