The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-08-28
HANDLINC OF SURPLUS WAR EQUIPMENT
COST STATE LARGE sum, AUDIT SHOWS

IN. nartment to furnish prompt
information to officials AMI the pub
liz IN connection with the registe. cd
motor vehicles. Records OF the
office are kept UP 10 date IN u neat
and comprehensive manner ana the
expenses incurred, although they do
not appear legal, appear justified.
with the exception of the amount
spent for special agents salaries
and travelling expenses in excess Of
the amount appropriated for that
purpose. Th, public or the lcpart-
ment would not have been seriously
inconvenienced III this branch Of
the service. had been held wiIhin the
legal amount allotted by the legisla-
ture until they deemed 1t advisable
to increase same.
The appropriation for special
agents. Lund paints out. is s1.OVO a
year but during the past year end
ing May 81 tho expense for this pur-
pose has been exceeded by the
amount charged to highway commits
sion operating funds as follows:'
Special agents salaries paid 81. 80
Special agents travelling
expenses paid 1,JS6."i
Unpaid bills on file with
the commission:
April travelling expenses
unpaid ................ 3S5.lS
| May salaries, unpaid ...... 10000
Total special agents expense ~
/ not authorized S,693.l
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-
pcnditures Of the motor vehicle
registration department in excess Of
appropriations, and assuming the
division OF appropriations by the
legislature has Significance. the
highway commission has exceeded
it's authority in these expenditures
SHOULD Adjust Approprlstaens
As stated in our previous report
we believe the coming Legislature
should give special attention to the
needs Of the motor vehicle registra
ton department and adjust thciI
appropria tiOns in accordance with
the increase In the volume Of serv.
ices It performs"
Each statement in the fivc.pagt
letter of transmittal liz supported by
references to detailed schedules Of
the report which lists the financial
operations of the department II
detail.
The auditor voiced approval Of .
new ljesln inaugurated by tho high
way department in an effort {,
determine whether it's state owned
cars can be operated as cheaply q,
private automobiles are operated b,
their owners. After enumerating tn
difficulties which stood in tho wa!
Of an accurate check Of this featur,
the auditor said. II believe, however
That the commission is OH tho righ
track in the present method .
handling it's automobiles and ID MAX
ing an honest effort to reduce a,
excessive automobile expense tina
has beea So apparent In our previou
audits. The coming year will dis
close beneficial results providing q,
same methods are followed for
! long enough period of time To- cha bl
a comparison to be made
4 point brought out by Lund
2 that tho accounts Of the litgfwa
y commission. and the state Treasures
: who pays the vouchers are not
= agreement and have, not beGn IL
= several years. During the first fe'
years Of the operation OF the liigl
: way commission. he E;id. difference
arose between the accounts wkic
# have never been rcconciled. A don
G parison of accounts now Ii belil
8 made By the highway dcbaftnlei
I. and ''thc pre- sent managemei
4 agrees to have the reconCilemcl
i completed within q reasonable time
< the report said $50