Knowledge that Transforms

Reviews the book "Manual on Commercial Law," by A. Lincoln Lavine.

Reviews the book "The Guarantee of Work and Wages," Joseph L. Snider.

The article discuss recent developments in the statistical utilization of accounting data by the federal government. In particular, attention will be focused on the statistical utilization of accounting information for what may be called top-policy purposes. Most accountants are familiar to some extent with the utilization of accounting data by various federal agencies for direct administrative purposes. In the administration of tax laws and for regulatory bodies, accounting data have proved indispensable for handling individual cases. Moreover, most accountants are probably familiar with the fact that individual case information is frequently compiled into statistical information as a means of orienting agency policy, setting standards, and serving as a basis for recommendations to the U.S. Congress. In a sense various recent developments in business financial statistics represent extensions of accounting to new areas of great importance. These extensions require the development of new techniques and point of view, and it is hoped that the instrumentalities of classification and analysis made possible by accounting will gain in the process. Full utilization of the potentialities of accounting will occur, however, only if accountants can be persuaded to take a continuing interest in these developments and to acquire the necessary familiarity with the problems involved to adapt their techniques to the requirements.

Reviews the book "Corporate Financial Policy," by Harry G. Guthmann and Herbert E. Dougall.

The art of accounting including cost accounting, consists primarily of accounting methods which may be described as procedures or practices. However, a comprehensive statement of cost accounting necessitates that one look behind the accounting methods and see upon what ground the whole system of cost accounting is constructed. Cost accounting concepts, as well as concepts of general accounting, may be divided into two groups: first, those ideas having to do with the nature and purpose to the organization which cost accounting. is to serve; second, those ideas as to the purpose and function of cost accounting in rendering its services to the organization. Cost accounting consists of those phases of accounting in general which have to do with the classification and assignment of costs to centers of operation, to product units, and to portions of the revenue stream. In addition it includes the reporting of all types of cost information. Within its scope are the accounting techniques which seek to determine the over all periodic net income of the business firm as well as the portions of that income derived from divisions, departments, product lines, or other subdivisions of the business enterprise.

Reviews the book "Records Management and Filing Operations," by Margaret K. Odell and Earl P. Strong.

In the June, 1947, issue of the "Journal of Accountancy," appeared an article entitled "TVA's first audit by General Accounting Office (GAO) points way to businesslike evaluation." The article starts out with an editorial comment stating failure of TVA . . . to provide "yard-sticks" to measure private corporate operation; or, to be capable of being evaluated as going businesses, springs from lack of facts. General Accounting Office has made a commercial-type audit of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), plus recommendations, which show how TVA may be made comparable to commercial operation. . . failure to charge property taxes, depreciation, interest, and other expenses makes business men feel that government corporations, like TVA, cannot be considered commercial enterprises. The business man's objection grows out of the belief that government should not set up privileged competition with him, using his own money, and giving this competition the added advantages of freedom from taxes, interest, and other charges.

Reviews the book " Bank Frauds, Their Detection and Presentation," Lester A. Pratt.

In 1943; the American Institute of Accountants appointed a committee on selection of Personnel to investigate procedures for selecting and guiding into public accounting well qualified young people and to develop a program of selection. After preliminary investigation, the Committee secured the cooperation of several specialists in evaluation to serve in an advisory capacity and to handle the technical aspects of the project. The Educational Records Bureau, a non-profit making organization of schools arid colleges, which had many years of experience in handling a test service program, was chosen as the operating agency for the project. From the outset, the Committee took a broad-gage view of both the technical and social aspects of the total problem. They recognized from the outset that the personnel in the profession at any given time was the result of a long process ranging from original recruitment of students through selection at the point of employment, and elimination, retention, and promotion after employment.

Municipal Airports are more and more taking on the characteristics of business enterprises. As business ventures, municipal airports naturally strive to be self-supporting, a condition they can achieve only by meeting their costs and expenses from charges made for their commodities. This development places a new importance on the accounting program of the municipal airport. To achieve a condition of self-support requires, among other things, a complete, accurate knowledge of the financial activities and condition of the airport. Only through the operation of a businesslike accounting program is it possible to obtain this information. The municipal airport, with few exceptions, is classified as a function of the general fund. In this capacity its accounting has developed along lines required in general fund accounting, whose objective is to record what information is necessary for budgetary purposes. This type of accounting is concerned primarily with the cash activities of the various functions of the General Fund in relation to their budgetary requirements.