The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-08-28

seconded that motion. and the
minutes were signed by the other
members, commissioners Wilson,
Costar and Symonette. While no
record appears in the minutes as
to the completion OF that audit,
investigation shows that all COM
missioners received a copy of it.
Quoting from the original reso-
luton that enabled construction
of the bridges and stated manner
of operation, which was passed
by the Board, September g.,
1886, on page IL:
THAT 1t (the District) will at
all times keep proper books of
records and accounts in which
full, true, and correct entries will
be made of all its dealings and
transactions relating to its prop
erty and business in accordance
with standard principles of ac-
counting, and that it will prepare
and furnish to the original pur-
chaser and to any holder or hold
ers of any bonds, upon written
request OF such holder or holders,
ct more than thirty 800 days aft
er the close of each semi annual
fiscal period, an income and prof
it and loss statement of the Prof.
ect and the District, in reasonable
detail, covering such semi-annual
period, and not more than sixty
900 days after the close of each
fiscal year balance sheet and
income and profit and loss state
fnent showing the financial con-
dition of the Project and the Dis
trict, covering such fiscal year,
and certified by Independent aud
itors'.
In accordance with the above,
the State Auditing Department.
entirely independent Of the Dis
trict, presented full and COM
prehensive audit of the affairs of
the District to each and every
bondholder and member of the
Board. This was released Sep
tember 30, 1888. Another similar
audit will be made in a few days,
as ordered by the Board, by the
same department of the state.
And so, it will be seen, con-
trary to allegations made, the
District has been thoroughly
checked at all times.
1t has been alleged that the
presnt manager is unfavorbale to
publicity and advertising. While
little shows on the records that
brings out substantiation of that
stand, or denial of it, the records
do show that The Key West Citi-
zen, along with representatives of
the two Miami papers, were
called to the office to discuss adj
vertising. This was in April of
1898, shortly after the bridges
opened A campaign was started
at that time, and letters show
that inquiries had been made for
the printing of stickers and CON
struction of sign boards at various
strategic points upstate.
At the annual meeting last
year "A budget Of $4,000 was set
up for publicity purposes-the
matter being taken out of the
general managers hands at that
time, and the money given to
Mark Byron's firm in Miami for
expenditure.
However, before that budget,
the minutes of July 9, 1893, meet
ing state: Resolved, that the
Board of Commissioners dispense
with all advertising and publicity
expense until the question as to
its legality was determined
Further, on request from the
RFC, the amount of $4,000 was
reduced to approximately $4,000.
The point is. as the records show,
there is no way in which any
certain amount of toll money can
be "earmarkedp for advertising,
and the matter is further con-
trolled by the RFC and PWA.
Suffice it to say strict control of
all matters pertaining to advertis-
ing is made in line with direct
provisions in the Bridge Act.
Effort was made to determine
just what was meant by the
statement that minutes of the
Board meetings were constantly
changed and tempered with
In perusal of the minutes of
each and every meeting held by
the Board from the very start
no indication of that state of af-
fairs could be found. What was
found was that, according to good
procedure set of minutes
was signed by each and every
commissioner. the process being
that the minutes Of the previous
meeting were read at the follow
tC0ntinued on Page Fourl