Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-30

suddenly reeollected that the city had
taken up an Old sewer there and had PIT |
down a new one, and that It had been con-
nected with the George street sewer sys-
tenn. Thus the matter dropped.
Mr.. Bassett, however, said nothing about |
the 50-cent permit of Kelly's to Mr.. Dillon, |
but afterwards he thought 1t was some |
what peculiar. The more he thought !
about It the more 1t annoyed him, and he |
finally decided to see Mr.. Wsldron about |
It. This he did within twenty four hours. |
Mr.. Waldron became somewhat evasive, |
intimating that there had been some
trouble over it, but 1t was SO long before
that he could not remember about 1t. Mr..
Bassett could get no information about 1t
nor about the George street sewer from
Mr.. Waldron, and he left him in as much
Of quandary as when he went to him.
He then determined to ascertain all about
the George street sewer for himself, and
then IL was that he found still another of
the permits which had been issued for 80
cents for which $50 had been paid. Sur
prised at what he found he then deter
mined to lay the matter before Mr.. Todd,
which he did, and then asked that he be
permitted to keep clear of any connection
with the matter as he had no wish to in
volve Mr.. Waldron in any dishonest pro-
ceedings, If any existed. From that time
with the case dropped and the subsequent
Investigations were carried on alone by
Commissioner Todd, and since the exposure
no one has regretted it for Mr.. Waldron's
sake more than has Mr.. Bassett, he even
refusing to say word in connection with
the case to the reporters or to give them
any information on 1t. So far as his being
desirious of retaining his place, the same
gentleman who narrated the above story
said: IT believe that it is Mr.. Bassett's
desire to resign and he would have long
ago if he could have consistently done So
AS it is now he cannot afford to resign in
the face of the charges which have repeat
eddy been made against him or while he is
under fire at the present time.n
Mr.. Bassett was seen by q COURIER re-
porter yesterday afternoon In reference to
the above story, but absolutely refused to
say anything in connection with the case.
One main feature of the case which is
being generally discussed is in reference to
| the checks which were given in payments
| of the $50 George street sewer permits.
Checks for cobble cutters and sewer per-
mits are made out to the city of New Hs-
ven, or in few cases to the board of pub
| lie works. Money or checks for miscellan-
eous accounts, such as snow, release of
liens, sale of supplies, ETC.. are made out
in the same way.
The money or checks from sewer permits
and cobbled cutters are deposited with the
| tax collector, as he has fee on all assess
ments. The money for miscellaneous &C.
counts Is deposited with the treasurer.
The tax collector has no means of know
ing for what particular department in the
board of public works a check is made
out. He is shown the permit book, ascer-
tsins the total amount due him and then
receipts for it when the amount is deposit
ed with him, either in money or checks.
For instance, if, as in the Buckley case,
the sewer permits called for $51, he would
receipt for that amount, AMI part or all of
it might be by checks, as In the Buckley
| case.
Therefore, if Mr.. Waldron 70 desired,
he could pay the amount called for on the
face of the stocks in checks, aud from the
cash that represented the amounts of dis
orepancies since discovered could abstract
the $40 so not credited on the stubs in
question. It is all easily understood when
the public know that there was nothing on
any check to show what 1t had been paid
for. After it left the signer's hands II
simply meant 30 much cash, and could be
deposited as such with either the tax col.
lector It the treasurer.
Among the men who paid the full
amount in check for George street per.
mits are: F. A. Curtis, plumber, of Elm
stIeet; Alderman William Keane, plumber
of Church street; Mrs. Caroline T. Child.
sey, of George street, and George Sch
leichter, of 1859 George street.
A reporter called at Alderman Keane'i
office yesterday. The stub of the checl
was found, showing that 1t was made out tx
the city of New Haven, November 81, 1899
Then, after search in his safe, Alderman
Keane found the check. 1t is for $50, ant
| ep1orso1 fo11o-a, SST1r Iaroa;t
P. Doyle, Supt. of Streets" Then I'M
derneath is the Endorsement, made by
rubber stamp, of set. A. Tuttle, tax col
lector."
This shows that the check, like the Buck
ley one, was deposited for sewer permi
account, to make up balance, while q
the stub of the permit bears the record O
only 80 cents there is $49.50 in cash miss
: ing.
Superintendent Doyle was asked why n,
endorsed the checks. He said it was be
cause Treasurer Stoddard so ordered. Thu
treasurer received checks payable to tn
city of New Haven from several depart
ments, and he wanted Mr.. Doyle's endorse
ment in order to know what were received
from the board of public works. But thi
endorsement simply denotes that tn
money was received in Mr.. Doyle's depart
ment 1t does not specify for what par
ticular permit, item or work.
The experts are hard at work, but repor
nothing of their doings. Whether the,
, have discovered more discrepancies in tn
oobbled gutter and snow accounts now II
hand, is not known. The commissioner
are also keeping silent.
Commissioner r. Il. Brown arrived I'm
; expectedly in town yesterday.
ENDORSED NO CHECKS.
J Ex-Clerk Waldron said yesterday tina
, he had never endorsed any checks of tn
department, but further than to make thi
statement absolutely refused to say any
! thing in connection with the matter excep
J that he would hereafter have a statemen
for the press which he would give out a
| u his attaruaxx s,zo1ld cxix .,ax