The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-10
SHORTAGES BRING MOVE BY CITIZENS Latest Discrepancy Found To Involve Accounts
 Of Rail Line TOTAL NOW PLACED ].
 AT AROUND 1000 Auditors Report Expect ed To Run Figure To-
 More Than $75, ,OOO ------ -.se ALDERMANIC FORGE
 NOT IN NEW MOVE Ward Suggests Publication Of Names As Means To Clear
 Situation
TOTAL NOW PLACED <
 AT AROUND $37, 7,O00
ALDERMANIC FORGE
 NOT IN NEW MOVE

Simultaneous with official verificas tion, of an additional shortage of $9, ,760. 70 at city hall, discovered in the public improvement accounts of the Birmingham-South railroad and bringing the grand total to approxi- mately $37,000, it was learned Saturday that formal requests will be made um Gov. w. w. Brandon this week to call the state legisla tiure into special ses$ sion to consider abolishment of, the commission form of government and substitution of some other type of cons trol.
 Few observers of the city half situas tion felt that the governor would call q special session for this purpose, but the information that requests for it would be made came from authoritar tive sources. A group of citizens are behind the movement, it was learned. Leaders of the drive for restoration of mayor-aldermanic government said they were not connected with it.
 Definite announcement concerning the new shortage was made by Com missioners W. l.. Harrison and w. E. Dickson, after the comptroller's office. had kept it dark for two days. IF. Hopkinson Smith, who is auditing the. books, had requested that no publicity be given it at this time. sMgs
 Fifth Uncovered M
 This shortage is the fifth uncovered in the department of public improve ments. It occurred in the same mans ner as the previous ones. Checks of the corporation had been run through the bank but credit for. them was not entered on the books. Cash was taken to balance off the checks. There is no direct clue as to who got the moneys officials admitted.
 It is now freely predicted at city hall that the shortages will reach $75,- 900 or more before Smith completes his audit. "A
 The dates on which the amounts lately found to be missing were actually taken have not been announced but it, is reported that, of the. $37, ,000 total, about half was embedded before the present comptroller, O.. E. Arm strong, took office.
 MT. Armstrong said he and his as. sistants were making no further. checks of the books but were leaving the entire situation in the auditors hands and lending him full cooperation ia his work,
 Plan Is Suggested
 George Ward, former Birmingham mayor, wrote Commission President D.. E. McLendon Saturday, suggesting a method by which the condition of the public improvement department could be cleared up quickly-'.if you want it cleared up." He proposed that the names of all persons now charged with assessments be published In the news papers. McLendon was ill at his home. but was expected to return to his ofs flee Monday and refer Mir. Wards letter to the auditor.
 Following is the text of Mir. Wards letter: .. Et.e "Mr. D. E. McLendon, av
 President of City Commission,
 City. " &..
 'Dear Sir: The condition of the public bond improvement fund can be cleared up speedily if you want 1t cleared up. The work and time expended by special auditors can be curtailed at least 80 per cent. .'
 'This can be done by publishing in the newspapers right away the namer of ments assessed against him, and the
  show that they owe.
 ''When this is done, every property owner will naturally look to see if his name is on the list, and if SO, figure out whether the amount the city has charged against him agrees with. bis books. Then if the tax payers figures and the city's books do not agree the thing is known. The special audi tors will then be in possession of speS cific information and can check np what appears to be a discrepancy A4 {,
 "Doubtless the city's books in many instances will be correct and the prop erty owner wrong; doubtless in many cases it will be the other way round, and what now appears to be a four months audit will be cleared up in a very short time The people want thu matter cleared up, even though the presis dent of the commission appears to want it covered up instead of cleared up, as is indicated by his maneuVering for the past six months.
 Having incompetent accountants check accounts of personal and fi- nancial friends of involved officials is not the way to disclose irregularities Sincerely, ..--.-.
 "GEORGH B. WARD"