Evening star., 1941-01-26
Sweeping Audit
0fD.C. Revenue
Funds Ordered
Police to Aid Probe
Of $1,338 Shortage
In. Dog Taxes

." IVY t0<SS
Investigation of a 1888 short
age in the accounts of the sale Of
District dog tags between last July
and last November 80, will be pur-
sued with the aid of the police
while auditing of many other Dis
trict receipts is continued, under
orders issued yesterday by the Com
Discovery of the reported shortage
in the dog tag accounts followed an
order of the Commissioners for a
audit of the receipts of
all District agencies receiving funds
from the public. The order was
issued after the disclosure last Oc-
tober of a $4,000 shortage in the
accounts of the collectors agent at
the Department of Vehicles and
traffic.
Announcement by the Commits
sioners of the shortage in the dog
tag accounts was made following a
conference between the three Com
missioners, Corporation Counsel
Richmond B. Keech, Police Supt.
E. w. Brown, Vice Squad Leader
Earl P. Hartman, Acting Auditor
Arthur r Pilkerton and his chief
field examiner, George Kidwell. The
Commissioners said the investigation
has not been concluded and that
they were unable to place RESPONSE
hi1jtV for the neU SHORTAGE
Pearson Not Involved.
On the other hand, prominent
District officials eliminated the new
tax collector, Guy w. Pearson, from
any responsibility. expressing that
he had taken Office December 2,
where as the audit covered the
period from July to November 80.
In addition, it was noted that after
the October order of the Commis-
sioners for an audit of all District
tax receipts, shortages in the dog tax
account dwindled and finally
stopped.
There are more than so District
agents and agencies which COL
lect funds from the public, many
Of which never have been the
subject of a specie. audit. it was
said. While the staff of the auditors
Office is not sufficient to make au-
dts of all of these accounts each
quarter. as provided in. the Com
missioners' recent order, the city
heads voiced determination to go in
to each of them as soon as time per-
mits. One extra District official has
been transferred to the auditors
Office to aid in this work and the
city heads hope to provide more aid.
Shortage Explained.
The s1,338 shortage represents
difference between 50 dog tag re-
ceipts turned over to the collector
by his agents and the amount the
register of dog tag sales indicated
should have been turned in.
While the District has but one
clerk regularly assigned to handle
the dog tag sale, during the peak
sale period of July, August and Sep
tember of each year, as many as
seven or eight clerks are assigned
from time to time as aides, it was
said. About $4,000 is collected each
year from the sale of dog tags.
Somewhat complicating the &C
counts is the fact that embassy and
legation officials are given dog tags
free. Collector Pearson said between
80 and 40 tags are issued free each
year to representatives of foreign
governments. Also, when a person
has lost the tag for his dog. he may
buy substitute tag for 25 cents.
Mr.. Pearson said there were $50 or
more such cases each year.
Other ADULTS Planned.
The Commissioners revealed that
agents of Acting Auditor Pilkerton
were auditing, or would audit, the
accounts of such agencies as the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
for liquor stamp sales and other re-
ceipts: the personal property tax on
automobiles; gas tax receipts and
refunds; the tax deed" sales for
delinquent realty property taxes;
sales by the commissaries of the
penal institutions: fees charges for
gas meter inspections: fines and
fees collected by the various District
courts receipts from sales of pro-
duce by welfare institutions; receipts
of sale of stolen property by the
Police Department.: amounts of COL
lateral left with police precinct sta
tions; coin box receipts in con-
venience stations; all types of
license fee receipts; District market
rents; receipts by the dozen or more
or less independent agencies at
tached to the municipal govern
ment; the amount of cash in hand
at the Office of the District disburs-
ing officer; cash on hand, from re-
payments and insurance accounts, Of
the Public Assistance Division, and
book rental fees and other accounts
Of the Free Public Library.