TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 83 



DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION. 



H. R. Mitchell, Chief Clerk ;iiul IManngjer of Privileges; 

 William Mitch ki,i,, C.-isiiicr. 



The appropriation of $282,400 granted by the city for the 

 maintenance of the Park during 1921 would have been sufficient 

 for the purpose if the savings made in certain budget items 

 could have been utilized in other accounts where the allowances 

 were insufficient for our requirements. Unfortunately, provi- 

 sions for such transfer of funds was not allowed by the Board of 

 Estimate and, as a result, there was a shortage of $2,401.51 

 which had to be made up by the Society, although savings of 

 nearly $5,500 accrued in other accounts, chiefly salaries and 

 forage and veterinary supplies, which were turned back to the 

 city. The amount to be made up by the Society would have been 

 very much larger except for receding prices during the latter 

 part of the year on certain items of forage and veterinary sup- 

 plies, of which we are large consumers. 



During the coming year, it does not seem possible that the 

 Society will be able to avoid contributing a considerably larger 

 amount toward Park maintenance. The amounts granted for 

 some items in our appropriations are less than our known and 

 irreducible obligations. We are prepared to make rigid economies 

 in every possible way not involving actually reducing the stand- 

 ard that has been set by the Society for the maintenance of this 

 institution and, if it is possible to make savings in any budget 

 items, application will be made to the Board of Estimate for 

 transfers to other accounts where funds are inadequate. 



Near the end of the year the question of a rather extensive 

 revision of the funds and accounts of the Society was taken up 

 and given considerable study by this office at the suggestion of 

 officers of the Society. During recent years a number of new 

 funds have been created from time to time that seemed to be 

 justified by the circumstances until a revision and regrouping 

 have become quite desirable. After a number of consultations 

 with officers and members of the Executive Committee, it was 

 decided to group the accounts under the following six funds: 



Group I, Maintenance Funds: 



Accounts covering the maintenance of the Park and 

 Aquarium to be handled separately under this heading. 



