Evening star., 1953-03-11
Supplies
In Alexandria
Reported Short
Material Valued at
$9,224 Missing,
Auditors Soy


city employees revealed more ma
terial was missing than was on
hand. the City Council has been
informed.
The inventory revealed a short
age of about $4,000 worth of
supplies, the council was told.
The council. at it's regular
meeting last night. instructed
City Manager Ira F. Willard to
discuss with department heads
the reported shortages in cement,
sewer pipe, gasoline and other
materials.
The information was part of
an audit report officially received
by the council last night. The
audit, prepared by the firm of
Ernst & Ernst of Baltimore was
for the fiscal year July l, 1851,
to June 80, 1852, and was COM
pleted December 80.
Figure Put at 1924.
The firm reported a shortage
Of $9,224.57 in the items reported
and added this statement:
"The excessive shortage re-
f1ected in the above summary is
OF too serious a nature to permit
an assumption that it can be
attributed to the inadequacy of
the records.
1T is apparent to us that the
responsible city officials are not
making a proper effort to &C
count for inventories. It seems
to be the opinion of all city en-
ployes concerned that this is
merely a book shortage While
we found no actual evidence that
any part of these shortages was
caused by irregularities other
than in the accounting records,
we are convinced that >. no one
can be sure that misappropria-
tion is not a factor contributing
to these shortages"
Previous shortages have been
attributed to poorly kept records.
Ernst & Ernst said.
In addition to the shortages,
records failed to account for
about 100 gallons of gasoline q
month, the audit report said. The
inventory showed material on
hand worth $8,799.71, although
the city's books indicated the
value should have totaled $18,-
024.28, the firm said.
- Additional Shortage.
In the case of cement, the
shortage represents approximate
ly 5000 bags, according to the
report. A second check made
after the end of the fiscal year
showed, in September, 1852, an
additional shortage of 600 bags
of cement, the audit showed.
Council members said they re-
ceived the audit report for study
about month ago. Mr.. Willard
said he had withheld action on
the recommendations until the
council considered the report Of
ficially.
In other business, the council
asked Mr.. Willard to have an
architect prepare final plans for
a municipal auditorium -gymna-
Sium to be built at Mount Ver-
non avenue and Braddock road
when funds are available.
A report by Ralph H. Boyle in
behalf of citizens committee
and also the sports committee Of
the Chamber of Commerce, esti-
mated cost at about $665, 900.
The council has on hand $780,.
600 earmarked for the project.
The building would serve
George Washington High School
and the City Recreation Depart
ment, and would also be used for
public and political gatherings,
Mr.. Boyle said.
Barber Proposal Rejected.
The council also:
Rejected a report by Mr.. Will
lard advising against enactment
OF an ordinance regulating bar
Der shops, and referred the pro-
poSal to a committee for study
and report.
Asked Mr.. Willard, at the re-
quest of Councilman John
Ewald, to make sure that condi-
tionS imposed by the council in
granting use permits are car
ried out.
Agreed on recommendation of
Acting Mayor Leroy Bendheim
to take no part in proceedings
launched by the Alexandria, Bar
croft & Washington Transit Co.
to increase bus fares.
Voted to arrange by January
for an access road to the pro-
posed 1,000-unit Brookville prof.
ect between Duke street and
Seminary road, near Shirley
highway.
Decided to meet at 7::30 o'clock
tonight to receive the first of
Mr.. Wizards proposals for ad-
mlniStrative reorganization of
the city government.
Mayor Marshall j. Beverley, i'll
with a cold, was absent last
night.