The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-08-21
wArER-woRKs INVESTIGATION.

works Investigation made its report yes
terday afternoon to the Board OF Coun'
cilmen. the substance of which is as
follows: That the Secretary from Decem-
ber, 1878 to May, 1875, carried cash pal
ances Of over 5000 for "otfioe use,"' when
the sum needed for such was not deemed
more than $500. That from July, 1919, to
February, 1876, said Secretary neglected
his duties in not making quarterly settle
ments with collectors of oil moneys by
them collected, and in not making close
deposits of all moneys by him received
as Secretary, and that the $S,336 10 in
his hands April 13, was not made good
until May 10 to May 10, 1875.
The report says: We find from the tes-
timony that since February, 1865, said
Trustees have failed to. make monthly
reports to Council, which said failure we
find to be an omission of their duty as
Trustees aforesaid.
The report for this year, as shown by
the testimony, is the first that mentions
the outstanding liabilities of the Works,
and, like the former, no inventory OF the
stock on hand is given.
We therefore find that said failure to
make full and complete reports annually
Of the condition Of said Works was a
great irregularity and omission OF their
duty as Trustees aforesaid.
We find that since December, 1873, the
Trustees have failed to cause all moneys
collected for Water-works purposes to
thereof, as required by law, which said
failure we find to be great irregularity
and unwarranted omission OF their said
duty as Trustees aforesaid.
Had the Trustees enforced the rule
strictly requiring all water rents to be
paid when due, and the weekly deposit
of all money collected by the Collectors
fof same, the receipts would have been
for 1873, $426,S3 81 instead of $422, 113 o.;
for 1874, $433,244 33 instead of SAIL 800 Is,
thus showing that at time when said
Works were largely indebted, and said
Trustees were borrowing money and is
suing certificates of Indebtedness. at a
cost to the city Of from six to eight per
cent. interest, they were permitting said
| Collectors to carry, from 1878 to 1915, a
balance OF unpaid water rent bills and
cash collected ranging from 4,724 81 to
$27, 1853 4S, contrary to the statute on That
subject.
We further find that Christian Moer-
lein, who was elected April, 1870, as
Trustee, failed to pay for the water by
him consumed in his business during his
term; that he should have paid $2,939 80,
and the total sum by him paid for water
was $1,000, leaving a balance of 81, 1883 80,
with interest thereon, still due; that his
| co-Trustees, the Superin endent and
Secretary Of said Works, were aware of
the non-payment Of said water rent by
said Moerlein.
| We find that the estimating engineer
for the Garden Of Eden reservoir, Chas.
| Boeckh, in making the estimates of work
done on the retaining wall, included all
| the Dayton stone work in the pilasters
done under special contract, and that
upon said estimates SO made, contractor
Barger has received 81 81 per perch ior
all Dayton stone work so done, in addi-
ton to the contract price, being an over
payment Of about $1,000 on account of
said Day ton stone work in said pilasters.
| We, therefore, find that said Charles
| Boeckh, Engineer aforesaid, is guilty OF
neglect of his duty, including said Day.
ton stone-work in said pilasters in his
! estimates, by reason OF which said Bar
ger received pay twice for said work.
We find that the Trustees have kept in
the Water-aorks employ, at large sala-
ries, parties engaged in business out
side, to the loss and detriment OF said
CITY, That in 1S73'74 the Trustees
Knowingly kept in the employ Of the
Water-W orks parties who had been
guilty of great irregularities. VIZ: re-
ceipting for money on the pay-rolls and
| failing to pay the same over to the en-
ployes who were entitled to 1t, and ap-
propriating to their own use property
| belonging TO said works. We furth er find
that Andy Bowman receipted for and re.
ceived money due employees of the Works
and failed to pay same to them. That
while in the employ Of the city he took
from said Works, without authority, land
1 - III Ytcn la lot ~
brass. We, therefore, find that said
Trustees were guilty OF neglect of their
said duties in permitting such irregular
tiles to be continued after notice, and in
retaining said parties in the employ of
said Works. During 1873 and 1874 the
! Secretary employed, OF caused TO be
employed, as shown by the testimony,
parties at an expense OF about one thou
sand dollars, for the purpose Of compil.
ing statistics showing the different uses
to which water is put in this city; that,
according to the evidence submitted,
said statistics were never reported to the
Board, and we're ofllttle or no value, and
no use has ever been made of them; the
said Secretary drew from the Treasur y
$685. ~ for returned water rent, to cover
bill for exLenses of Committee East,
August, 1873. We find said Secretary
guilty OF great irregularity in thus pre-.
senting said bill and obtaining the money
thereon, and OF unnecessarily employing,
at the expense Of the city, parties to
make up useless statistics. The testi.
mony shows that the Assistant Secre.
tary in 1873 loaned 81, 300 oil Water-works
money, knowing the same to be such;
that since this Investigation commenced
he did, at the request of parties inter.
ested. make alterations in the books in
the office. We, therefore, find said As.
sistant Secretary guilty Of great irregu.
larities in loaning said Water-worka
money and in lmaking the alter
ations as aforesaid in the Office books
The report also charges Kramer will
failing to make weekly reports, with
keeping no separate accounts, with loan.
ing Water.works meney, knowing 1t tc
be such and says: We therefore, find
that said. Moses Kramer was guilty o.
great Irregularities in thus failing te
make weekly deposits, as required by
Section $40 Of the Municipal Code, II
keeping no separate account of same
and loaning Water-works money ai
aforesaid.
| A somewhat similar report was rem
dered regarding Merk and Mccormick
not, however, charging them with loan.
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