Show lU JI N f I TAX INTEREST 1 To Of DE PROBED i Apparent Irregularities Are Pointed Out by Mayor Bowman A AUDITOR U D I T 0 R REPORTS Books Expertly Jimmied He Declares I By ORVIN MALMQUIST Possibility that an investigation of delinquent tax interest collections for the past several years might add many thousands of dol lars to the city shortage was brought out at the city commission meeting Wednesday Attention was directed to the heretofore source of loot by Mayor John 1 F. F Bo man Bowman an who reported that several specific examples of apparent irregularities in delinquent tax Interest collections l UJo l According ing- ing to information received b by the ma mayor or private arran arrangements have frequently been mado made by the city treasurer for the collection of oC delinquent interest from flom property owners desiring to redeem i property and instalment payment arran arrangements arrangements arrange arrange- e- e ments ment have been made mada without the knowledge knowledge- of the city commission Joseph N. N Casella one ono of the special special cial chat auditors who appeared before the commission to give a preliminary preliminary preliminary nary verbal report on the tho pro progress of tho the audit said that such practices tices are aro indicated by the tho books bools As a result the commission instructed instruct instruct- ed cd the auditors to thoroughly in investigate investigate In- In ate this p ase of or the accounts to determine if possible the tho loss to tho the city either through the the- theft or of delinquent tax interest payments Th Ih instalment payment practice it was pointed out might show an an additional loss to the elt city because of the tho fact that titles have been cleared be before before before be- be fore the instalments were wele paid out in iii which case the balance is now EXPERTLY JIMMIED Reporting on the audit Mr lr Casella Casella Casella Ca Ca- sella described the tho city treasury a az- az counts as the most expertly jimmied jimmied jim jim- books over ever to come como to my at at- at The he reported were apparently kept with the specific view of making makin an audit difficult and an nn elaborate s system stem for covering co up UI shortages had been worked ou out t. t T o 0 chief safeguard d against dete detection said was the M SM M. M Beaver special account account account ac ac- ac- ac count kept in the tho Continental National National National Na Na- bank and from which the treasurer could draw v at will wUl to cover shortages in the revenue or special funds A short time before the tho looting system was uncovered Continued on page page- 5 Ie COLLECTION OF TAX INTEREST TO BE PROBED Continued from itom page 1 the auditor reported d Beaver Deaver had borrowed to credit to this special accent Had the special auditors not moved in unexpectedly unexpected Mr Casella added the treasurer could have hae so manipulated this ac account account account ac- ac count as to make the tIe discovery of ofa ofa ofa a shortage impossible without a ami- ami minute mi ml- nute examination of the books The special auditors according to their report are virtually setting tp new records f the period under audit as none none of the accounts can be ace acc d d as correct This task has been virtually completed for tho thi years ears 26 27 In the revenue fund account but less progress has bt been en made in the special fund ac ac- ac- ac count t Up p to date a shortage e of from J to has be ben been n established with an apparent additional additional additional addi addi- discrepancy of or some in the tax redemption receipts According to the auditors all an Indications in indications indications' In- In are that cash extractions from the treasury treasur during durIn the past two years ears will n t amount to more than about If JC the tax redemption receipts unaccounted ed for are definitely shown to be a loss they said the discrepancies must have occurred d over over- overa a period of ot several years Test cheeks checks they added have hav shown irregularities Irre be between between between be- be tween hank bank statements and the accounts accounts accounts ac ac- ac- ac counts back to January Januar 1 I 1923 1023 |