The Sunday morning news., 1891-11-08
THOSE old, old CLAIMS.
The Finance Commissioners
Look Over Them
Again.
CLOCK AND PUMP BILLS.
Employees Seem to Have Ordered
Goods Whenever They Felt In-
clined Claims Sold.

Finance Commissioners Kenny and
Hitler held consultation with several
claimants against tine water account in
the Office OF the Finance Board yesterday
afternoon. No definite action could be
taken upon any OF the claims. because a
quorum Of the Commissioners was not
present. The two Commissioners pres
ent merely questioned the claimants with
reference 70 their claims so as to fntelli-
gently discuss them ut the next meeting
OF the Board on Tuesday evening. No
vember II. All the claimants viii be
notified 30 be present at that meeting.
Among the claimants fnterrogated yes
ternay was Adolf Waiter, whose claim
for 50 for repairing clocks brought down
from Belleyille was presented on Deeem-
Der /. 1896. The bill was not ftemlzed
Mr.. Kenny said to hifn:-s'We are sworn
officers Of the law. We can't handle thc
peoples money as we please. How 40 we
know whether you did anything else Dut
look at the clocks, turn hair or s0ne-
thing of that sort. and then ask any price
upon your work you saw fit. That isn't
business.
Mr. Walter replied he had never been
Informed tnat an itemized bill was ncces-
sary.
Henry r. Worthinaton, the pump man.
hung uD:' claims. Que for s64 25 was
tented aud regular. and was passed by
the Street and Water Board on October
26 OF last year. Another bill of Mr.
Worthiugton for S.. 50 was concurred in
By tine Board of Finance August Is, and
MIR. Worthington didn't know it. But
MIR. WDrthingt0n surprised the commits
sioners somewhat Dy asking what had
become of a bill amounting TO $3.50. so,
dated December 10, 1890. This clafm mas
net reached the Finance Board.
A representative of the firm OF Hauck
Bros. WIS present to answer questions
relative to the ''hung uD'' claim against
the city for wood furnished for the Belle
vile works. The claims aggregate SlS2,
and the wood was delivered for sI4
cord. The representative stated that
this was one dollar cord less than was
charged private customers. It wzs
sawed and split before delivery.
Michael J. Griffin was also questioned
regarding his four claims, $43, $2S, $27,
and S52 for janitor's supplies Mr. GriffiE.
admitted that tie supplies furnished
were not ordered By reqaisition from the
Board OF Street and Water Comnis-
sioaess. nos By its President The janitor
simply left the orders and the goods were
furnished. This appears, according to
Mr.. Griffin, to have been customary. Mr.
Kenny remarked that II employees could
order goods at their own sweet will there
WAS no nse of having Municipal Boards
to transact that sort OF business. Mr.
Griffin said the charges were reasonable
James Hart, who has been employed by
the Street and Water Board distributing
water notices, has not received cent
from the city for his services since Feb-
ruary last His name does not appear
upon the pay roll of the Water DEPART
ment Yet his claims have been regular
ly passed By the Street and Water Board
and certified 10 By the Chief Engineer
"A funny way of doing business re-
marked Mr.. Kenny. and Mr.. Hitler
agreed with him. "Yet," continued Mr.
Kenny, these poor men who do their
work should be paid for their services.
This Is a horrible state Of affairs .
Hart explained in answer TO questions
put to him by the comniissi oners that ne
had sold all MS claims 20 a man named
Gisrla