Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-11
STILL IN a TANGLE.
The Books of the Plumbing Inspector
Fail TO Balance.


Trouble, like a huge and ugly phantom,
conti..d des to pursue the inspector of plumb
ing. Yesterday he was of the opinion that
he was out of the difficulty which he brought
upon himself, but later developments indi-
cate that such is not the case.
Yesterday an employe of the comptroller's
Office visited the court house basement, where
the inspector holds forth, for the purpose of
checking up. He was informed that matters
were in the same condition as upon the pre-
ceding day; that number of vouchers had
been stolen by John Bolan. The comptroller's
clerk did not press settlement, but returned
to his Office, receiving an assurance that the
missing amounts would be turned over before
the end of the day.
During the afternoon reporter visited the
Inspector and after receiving cordial well
come was requested to inspect new desk
that had just been put IN place. After the
task had been completed, the inspector, with
smiles and frowus playing hide and seek over
his face, opened his batteries upon Boan, an
eX-lnspector.
Then the inspector wrapped himself in
silence for a brief period, but at last broke
forth and remarked: yesterday it looked
as though there might have been small
shortage in my Office accounts but have
Just completed statement and turned the
balance over to the comptroller"
The comptrollers Office was visited and
upon the question being asked, "Has the
plumbing inspector liquidated the little bill
he owes the cityr' the man behind the desk
promptly responded, "No,n
1t was possible that the inspector had made
mistake and had turned the money in to
City Treasurer John Rush. so that officer was
visited, out not a cent had found its way into
the city Golfers by way of the plumbing in
spectors route.
The office record of the city official was
dropped and again his manner OF doing bus-
ness in the field was investigated. The three
story brick building on the southwest corner
of Sixteenth and Howard streets is owned by
Charles l.. Wright, who occupies a portion Of
the second floor for Office purposes
The first floor is occupied as drug store and
the basement as barber shop. About Dc
cember last Mr. Wright, at the request of
the barber, put bath tub IN the basement
and partitioned off part of the room for
bath room. The work had been nearly com
pleted when, on December T. the inspector
happened to so into the basement,
and not, noticing that ,.as some plumbing
the building. He was given the
desired information, and going to Mr..
Wright's Office, said; ~ see you are doing
some plumbing and you have not taken out
permit
He was informed that such was the case,
the owner pleading that he did not know
that one was required.
ut is" said the major "and that work
down in the basement does not comply with
lDe requirements OF tHc ordinance.
"What is wrong with itN' asked Mr..
Wright.
your bath room,n replied the major,
"must have vent pipe passing to the roof of
the building, This you have failed to put in,
and all that you have done is to make sewer
connections, without making any provisions
for the escape of the gas"
"That is true" continued Mr.. Wright,
"but to do this would cost from SO to Sl00.n
81 don't care for that res ponded the i'll
l..
such manner as to comply with the Or
dinances.n
"Yes, that is true but can't we fix this
upln said Mr.. Wright
The major thought for a moment. and then
an idea popped into his mind and, brighten.
ing up, he said "Pay me S2. so and l will let
it go.h
Mr. Wright was glad to settle upon this
basis and at once drew check on the United
States National bank for the amount, at the
Same time asking for Il receipt.
"Ycu don't need any receipt answered
the inspector, "iOr when this check comes
back to YOU it will be evidence of payment
On December the check passed through
the clearing house and was returned to the
maker.
Strange as it may seem, there is no record
in the office of the plumbing inspector to
show that this amount was ever credited to
the city, nor was n duplicate received for the
amount ever turned over to the comptroller
though the December report WIS handed in
some time ago.
The inspector has proven himself to be as
vigorous a politician rs he is a slIllful fee
collector. During the city campaign in his
employ he had an inspector named John
Yernk. John was an expert plumber and had
served faithfully under Robert Duncan for
two years, and had been lauded TO the skies by
the present incumbent. One morning John
was called into the Office and was asked if he
was intending TO work for ID. H. Wheeler for
the council. His reply was in the negative,
and the next morning he was discharged. He
| asked why this was done, and was informed
that his work had been uusatisfactory,
though the day before no was told that he
was the most faithful emploYe on the force.