The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-08-28

the dem rtmcnt to furnish prompt
informa ton 10 officials AMI 4he p.b-
lie III connection with the registered
motor vehicles. Records Of the
office are kept up to date In ~ Neat
and comprehensive manner and the
expenses incurred, although they DO
not appear legal. appear justified.
with the exception of the amount
spent for snecial agents salaries
and travelling expenses In excess OF
the amount appropriated for that
purpose. TIL. public or the depart
ment would not have been seriously
Inconvenience III this branch OF
the service had been held wlLhin the
legal amount allotted by the legisla-
ture until they deemed 1t advisable
to increase same" q
The appropriation for special
agents. I.und points out. Is $1,000 a
year but during the past year end
Ing May 81 the expense for this pur-
pose has been exceeded by the
amount charged to highway commits
sion operating funds us follows:
Special agents salaries paid 81, 1920
Special agents travelling
expenses paid .......... 1.33G.Oi
Unpaid bills on file with
the commissions:
April travelling expenses
unpaid SSJ.lS
May salaries, unpaid ...... 10000
Total special agents expense
not authorized $3.692.13
I'VE find no record of authority
given for the transfer Of funds by
the state emergency commission or
provision of law authorizing the ex-
penditures Of the motor vehicle
egist ration department in excess Of
appropriations, and assuming the
division OF appropriations by the
Legislature has Significance. the
| highway commission has exceeded
ito authority IN these expenditures.
! ShsSla Adjust AppropPiatloss
LAS stated in our previous report
we believe the coming Legislature
should give special attention 10. the
needs OF tho motor vehicle registra-
ton department and adjust their
appropriations in accordance with
the increase in the volume OF serv-
ices II performs"
! Each statement in the five.pags
letter Of transmittal In supported by
references to detailed schedules Of
the report which lists the financial
operations Of the department In
detail
The auditor voiced approval of n
new plan inaugurated by the high
way department in an effort IA
determine whether It's state-0wned
cars can be operated as cheaply a.
/ private automobiles are operated By
their owners. After enumerating the
difficulties which stood in the way
OF an accurate check OF this feature
the auditor said. II believe. however
that the commission Is on the right
track In the present method Of
handling Its automobiles and In MAX,
ing an honest effort to reduce tn,
excessive automobile expense thai
has been SO apparent in our previou.
audits. The coming year will dis
close beneficial results providing tn,
same methods are followed for
long enough period of time to enabl,
comparison 10 be made.
a point brought. out by I.und 4
that the accounts Of the highwa,
commission. and the state treasurer
who pays the vcachers are not II
: agreement and have not been 70
several years. During the first few
years OF the operation Of the high
way commission, he said. difference
arose between the accounts which
have never been rec0nciled. A com
E parison of accounts now IL heinz
made by the. highway department
. and the prese management
( agrees to have the recOncilemen
: completed within q reasonable time.
E the report said.