The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-28
HANDLING OF
MATERIALS IS
PROBE SUBJECT
System Of Disp0sing Of War
Surplus Materials Held
Deficient
COST OF HANDLING
Highway Commission Lost
Money in Handling
the Materials
COST OF HANDLING:

Inc highway commission lnVeStl-
eating committee today delved into
accounts of the equipment depart
ment of the commission, particularly
on the basis of an examination made
recently by o. B. Lund, auditor, as
it moved toward conclusion of the
taking of testimony in the inquiry.
A report is expected 60 be made next
week by the committee on the basis
of its inquiry.
Mr.. Lund made an audit of the
Highway Commission up to Novem-
Der 20, 1923, and recently he was di
rectcd to investigate affairs since
that time. He was questioned chief
ly about records Of the equipment
department, which he brought up to
January 1, 1925.
The equipment department, which
handles surplus war materials and
looks after trucks and autos of the
Highway Commission, carries a "pet-
ty cash" or revolving fund. which he
was first asked about. This fund,
he said, was used to pay freight, ex-
press, etc. on various articles and
reimbursed when bills were put
through the auditing board. The re-
cords showed, he said, warrants on
hand over $4,000 for sale of mater
ials, chiefly to counties; accounts re-
ceivable of over 100000; past due
auto mileage from the government
of $4,000; an unsettled factor in
truck sales of over $4,000.
Much Money Spent
The records showed $357,000 had
been spent in this department from
the 10 percent fund Of the Highway
Commission, he said, and $24O,075.5l
received. There is still about $4,000
war material not sold, he said. He
said $21 ,485.43 of Highway Commits
sion funds also were used
Asked if this meant loss in oper-
alton of $4,000, he said yes.
Among the items charged off since
he made his last audit, he said, was
$500 on shops which burned east of
Bismarck. He said the loss had been
about $4,000 and was partly insur-
cd by the state. A policy had been
taken out with the Farmers Insur-
ance Company of Dickinson, which
later failed, but it had not been COM
pleted and it was decided nothing
could be collected and the amount
charged off, he said.
"Do you mean to say that this was
not all insured with the state?' he
was asked by Rep. Vogel, committee
member, and he replied in the af-
fjrmative.
Lund listed the value of cars on
hand in excess of $4,000, and $4,000
government autos. The total loss in
the equipment department.. he said,
was brought up to $53,2sS.O6.
Gasoline Used
Asked concerning an item of ST.
1884 for oil, gasoline, and grease
used since November 20, 1923, to
Dec. 81, 1924, Lund said that it APP
peared from the records that this
much was used on cars of the High
way Commission office and the shops
at Bismarck. The oil, gas and grease
used by men in the field. he under
stood, was charged to different
fund.
There had been auto equipment
sold during the period of $1s,14S.67.
he said. The total amount of sales
Of government equipment he figur-
ed at s4S,654.2O during the period.
This left gross profit of $l9,OS7.O7
before taking out expenses. Total
rentals and earnings brought the
amount to $43,160.98.
The expense exceeded the income
by $l9,6O5.14, however, he said.
Cars Not Sold
He was asked concerning three an-
tos which were in the hands of r. r.
Atkinson of Bismarck and which he
was informed Mr.. Black said had
been sold to him.
Mr.. Lund said that he found no
memorandum of sale and it was his
understanding that the cars were as
signed to Mr.. Atkinson the same
as cars to any other employees.
He was asked about a Liberty B
CONTINUED on page 81