Some facts about accountants;

              44 HASKINS & SELLS June
ONE of the earliest references to the ac-countant
as such seems to have oc­curred
in the year A. D. 831, when the
term "Rationator" (accountant) is said to
have been used in a deed of Italian origin.
In 1164 there is evidence of accountants
having been employed in Italy by the ca­thedral
authorities, ducal courts, and the
Commune. In the interval between such
date and 1484 frequent mention is made
of such an individual, especially in Milan.
In the latter year the post of accountant
to the Duke Galeazzo became that of ac­countant
to the City of Milan. This
position carried with it the right to hand
down the title.
Venice, it seems, should be credited with
being the cradle of accountancy, since it
was there, so far as is known, that the first
society of accountants was formed. In
1581 there was formed at Venice the "Col-legio
dei Raxonati (college of account­ants).
This college apparently grew in
strength and influence, because in 1669 no
one was permitted to practise as an ac­countant
without first becoming a member
of the college.
The requirements of the college at that
time are rather interesting in the light of
developments in recent years on the part
of the New York State Education Depart­ment
with regard to those who would
become candidates for the state certificate.
The Italian aspirant was obliged first to
obtain a certificate from a magistrate as
to his fitness. His next task was to serve
six years in the office of a public account­ant,
after which he presented himself for
examination. The examining board then
required a further certificate from a magis­trate
as to his legal attainments, and a
declaration from the accountant in whose
office he had served as to his ability. He
afterwards drew by lot and answered two
questions which had been prepared. If he
answered the questions to the satisfaction
of two-thirds of the examiners, he was
permitted to attempt another examination
before the governing body. Having Suc­cessfully
negotiated the ladder of trial, he
was granted a certificate entitling him to
membership in the college.
Milan, in 1745, followed Venice with a
College of Accountants. The requirements
were somewhat different but comparatively
strict. The candidate was obliged to pass
preliminary examinations in Latin, arith­metic,
and economics, and to serve an ap­prenticeship
of five years. At the end of
such term the apprentice submitted to an ex­amination
in the principles of accountancy.
It may be of interest in passing to note
that about this time (1742) the Senate of
Milan issued an order regulating the fees
which accountants might charge. The his­torians
do not record what the fees were.
Some of the histories do mention the fact
that fees in some parts of Italy at one time
were regulated by the saving to the client.
To Scotland is accorded the honor of
Some Facts About Accountants