The morning call., 1891-06-03
FAST AND LOOSE.
Revelations in Regard to the Fire
Department.
Exorbitant Bills for Supplies and a General
Violation Of Rules-A Good Field for Re-
form-Hydrants and Bits.

Supervisor Ebert, chairman of the Finance
Committee, has long been of the opinion
that tue affairs of the entire Fire Depart
ment were conducted in a very lax manner.
and he had made up his mind some time
ago to give it thorough oyerhauling. The
recent exposure of the reckless and dis
graceful manner in which the Charity Fund
has been conducted only served to strengthen
his convictions, and, aiming to get at the
truth before the close of the present year,
he set his expert at work several days ago.
Mr.. Williams completed his labOrs y5ster-
day. and submitted very elaborate report.
There is hardly line in it from begin
ming to end that does not substantiate
fully all Supervisor EIlert'S suspicious, and
the result will be, if he gets the support Of
his brother Supervisors, that many rigid
and healthful reforms will take place in the
department befors it is many months older.
ACCOUNTS ovERDRAwN.
The expert finds that the running expense
account of the department is oYsrdrawn
S19S95 81, but to PARTIALLY offset this there
is credit to the material and salaries ac-
counts of Stages SO, making the amount
drawn in excess of the appropriation 1926 81.
Included in this are bills unpaid, and for
which demands have been issued amounting
to S6999 08.
The average monthly disbursements have
been $50, 5z3 90. or 1923 90 above the allow
aDce. The department will probably be
0Verdrawn by July 1st at least $1,000.
AS an instance OF the price the city is taxed
for everything, the following item OF ny
drants is given in detail, showing their actual
cost and the amount paid the Spring Valley
Water Company for putting them in;
Two men half day at 81. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 90
One man half day at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. so
Twelve feet 4-iBch Observation-Disclosures. 90
Twelve pounds of lead. Observation-Disclosures. so
Charcoal, hauling, etc Observation-Disclosures. 90
Possible relaying OF fleet Of stone sidewalk. 90
Total. 10
Clty 40 W
ReSettng, two men hours .................- 81 90
Wy oo
Hydrants and bents are delivered to the
water company complete.
BIG BILLS FOR BITS.
The bills for harness last year ran up to
1864 50 for June. In March and April of
the present year they were SOS 70 and
S124 80 respectively. This curious dis
cTepancY is explained at the yard by saying
that it was necessary in June of last year to
purchase a great deal of new harness. and
make many rep airs. Then any member of
the department could 90 TO the harness.
makers for repairs or new harness; now It
is necessary TO get resolution OF the
Commissioners.
The regulations of the department are
very explicit as to the duties of the Clerk of
the Cooperation Yard, aud yet so little re-
gard has been paid TO rules that he has
been practically poWerleSS to do a thing cor
rectIy were he so disposed. One clause
says: In no case shall ne deliver any SUP
plies except upon a written order from the
Chief Engineer, Assistant Chief or Clerk of
the Fire Department, except at alarms OF
fire"
RULES IGNORED.
Mr.. Broad, the clerk, explains that many
supplies have not passed through his hands
at all but instead have gone from the stores
direct 20 the various engine-houSeS,
The consequence was that the expert could
not axe an invoice, as there was nothing to
show what had been given out. The only
existing evidence of such supplies ever bav-
ing been in the department are the bills sent
to the clerk.
Ia the machine department in the yard,
to which the other supplies go, no accounts
are kept, as the articles that go there are
used in the shop. with some exceptions, such
as bydrants. OF these Mr. Broad knows
nothing OF the number that comes in, but he
goes out. The clerk has very much the same
difficulty with The forage supplies.
fOrty-nine hundred feet of hose is the total
of what could be furnished the department
ia case Of large fire besides that in actual
Use. There remains an unpaid bill Of $3.50
for hose.
Brass-work for hydrants, fittings, castings,
etc. in January, $780, cost $252 20; same
month this year. so %.