31.   The lawsuit claims Andersen failed to reveal the firm was wildly distorting its finances, partly because Andersen auditors were too cozy with the company.

32.   The SEC has said it fears that outside auditors might be reluctant to question internal auditing work if it was done by people employed by the same accounting firm.

33.   There was no indication the auditors were aware of that practice.

34.   This is an obvious conflict of interest that completely cancels the notion that the auditor is an independent entity.

35.   Were the auditors asleep at the wheel?

36.   Where, indeed, were the auditors?

37.   And the auditors are on their way -- surest sign of U.S. bureaucracy taking root.

38.   Barrows requested a state auditor be part of the process.

39.   Despite its criticisms, the report said the auditors were not directly responsible for financial losses or the collapse of the Maxwell empire.

40.   External auditors usually represent the shareholders, while the internal auditors are answerable to the management and responsible for everything in the companies from balance sheets to operations.