The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-07
The Water-,vorlss IYar.

The charges that have been mad
against the management of the Water
| works are about to conclude in an inves
tigation of that branch of the city gov
ernment. These charges relate. to
great many official transactions, and tn
| Investigation must necessarily cover th
questions OF contracts, construction an,
management and the collection and dis
oursements of money. The investiga
tion which has been pending for som,
time has been forced by the delinquency
of collectors.
These delinquencies have been &C
counted for in var ious ways by the delin
quents, and it was not until Chas. Hill
was elected member Of the Board O.
Water-works Trustees, and assumed the
duties OF the office, that the Collectors
were forced to the wall and an investi
CATION really threatened.
The excitement has been on the in
crease during the past few days, until
to-day it had attained its height. Along
Third street about noon it was the only
thing talked about. Hilb is the favorite
and betting, or rather prognosticating
is in his favor. 81 tell you that Charley
Hilb has got the courage to fight 1t out
on this line il it takes all summer" said
prominent politician in the midst of a
group.
Joseph H. Redmond, member Of Coun.
Gil from the First ward, is talking at a
lively rate, and ii all that he says Is
true the prospect for an interesting ex-
pose of past events connected with the
inside history Of the Water-works ring
is good. lie states that he has on sew
eral different occasions borrowed money
from different Collectors of the Water-
works, and that the amount so borrowed
will exceed $1,000. He is now in debt
to one of them about 5000.
He states further that Mayor Johnston
has also borrowed largely from the same
source, and that even members of the
Mayors family were borrowers of the
public funds. He claims that the Clerk
of the Water-works Office and the former
Secretary and others, have also been
feeding at the public crib in a like
manner.
The general impression among busk
ness men Is that the dlsordered affairs
OF the department should be placed in
the hands OF receiver, and an 1nvesti-
cation by Council Committee made.
There is some question, however, as to
the authority OF Council to empower one
of its Committees to send for persons
and papers connected with other city
departments.
A STAR reporter called on Mr.. Henry
Pearce. a member of the Water-works
for ten years. Mr.. Pearce declined to
express any opinion as to the policy of
the present Board. He stated that he
had been waiting some time tor the an
nual report, usually published the 1st of
January, but this year it had failed to
appear.
Ii an investigation was had, he wanted
it to extend back and embrace every
contract for material for the Eden res,
eryoir made while he was member Of
the Board.
He also wanted the construction OF
that piece-of masonry during that time
looked into, and he had no fears as to
the result. He thought that members of
the Board should appoint no men to po-
sitions in the pumping or street service.
1t was bad policy. Those appointments
should be left to the Engineer and Su.
perintendent.
He knew nothing as to the rumor afloat
that these tales of mismanagement were
for the purpose of con-
iincing the public of the necessity tor
selling the Water-works. He was Op-
,osed to any such sale.
: The matter may possibly come up in
Council to-day.