Her duties were fully defined in rule 6 of the rules and regulations adopted by the board, and the custody of all funds was placed in her hands to be disbursed "only upon order of the board and the approval of its president."
Regular itemized statements were rendered to the board at each regular meeting showing receipts and expenditures. These accounts were each time fully set forth and always found to be absolutely correct and clearly rendered.
At the meeting called for June 9, 1905, Mrs. Coleman read her last report, the following being the final summary of all funds received and disbursed on behalf of the board of lady managers:
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION FROM MARCH 17, 1903, TO JUNE 10, 1905.
Receipts:
Received from Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company, by
appropriation of February 16, 1903 …………………………….. $3,000.00
Received from appropriation of Congress, by act of
February 18, 1904 ……………………………………………. 100,000.00
Received interest on $100,000 account ……………………………. 1,502.29
———————
104,502.29
Disbursements:
Tinting walls, staining floors, heating apparatus,
wiring for bells, awnings, screens, and plumbing—
From $100,000 ………………………. $2,263.32
From $3,000 ………………………… 64.30
—————- $2,327.62
Furniture, china, linen, freight, and packing charges—
From $100,000 ………………………. 11,692.65
From $3,000 ………………………… 652.25
—————- 12,344.90
Mileage and per diem, board meetings and rotating
committees, paid from all sources ………………… 30,272.76
Entertainment, all sources ………………………… 10,672.85
Stationery, engraving, and printing ………………… 5,906.15
Postage and telegrams …………………………….. 1,196.94
Telephones ………………………………………. 281.24
Clerical and household force expenses ………………. 5,096.17
Office incidentals ……………………………….. 274.14
House incidentals ………………………………… 1,007.84
Other incidentals ………………………………… 2,255.77
Model playground …………………………………. 5,100.00
Miscellaneous expenses, resolution June 10, 1905, in
payment ……………………………………….. 2,000.00
—————-
Total disbursements …………………………….. 78,736.38
Less returned from incidental account ………………. 900.75
—————-
Grand total of all disbursements to June 10, 1905 ….. 77,835.63
Balance in hands of treasurer June 10, 1905 …………… 26,666.66
—————- 104,502.29
===========
Amount brought forward from the treasurer's report as balance in
hands of treasurer June 10, 1905, which is the amount to be returned
to the Exposition Company by the board of lady managers,
from all funds ………………………………………………… 26,666.66
To the above amount to be returned to the Exposition Company by
the board of lady managers, as a credit, is to be added the sum
paid to the company in cash on December 14, 1904, for furniture
and articles purchased by the members of the board, amounting to ……. 2,150.00
—————-
Making the total amount returned to the Exposition Company
from all sources …………………………………………… 28,816.66
Mrs. WILLIAM H. COLEMAN, Treasurer.
The auditing committee, composed of Mrs. William E. Andrews, chairman, Mrs. Mary Phelps Montgomery, and Mrs. Finis P. Ernest, was elected by the board of lady managers March 4, 1904, for the purpose of examining and auditing the accounts of the treasurer, Mrs. William H. Coleman.
The committee met at stated intervals and examined the vouchers and checks numbered 1 to 253, inclusive, and reported that these were found to be correct, and accounted fully for all moneys received by the treasurer to that date, and this report was accepted.
The exposition closed on December 1, and the auditing committee was not again called until the time for rendering a final account of the funds of the board. At this time the absence of the chairman, Mrs. Andrews, and Mrs. Montgomery necessitated the appointment of two other members to fill said vacancies, in order to audit the bills contracted by the board from November 1, 1904, to June 10, 1905. Mrs. Hanger and Mrs. Knott were thereupon elected. Mrs. Montgomery arriving later, Mrs. Hanger withdrew from the committee, leaving the membership—Mrs. Ernest, chairman, Mrs. Montgomery, and Mrs. Knott—all present.
On June 12 and subsequently this committee met and examined the vouchers and checks from November 1, 1904, to June 10, 1905, inclusive, and found the accounts between the above-mentioned dates to be correct.