The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-18
sUPT, WILSON'S DEFENSE.
He Tries to Throw Dust and Accuses
Others.

he Tries to Throw Dust and Accuses
Others.
superintendent Wilson, of the water
works, attempts to defend his administra-
ton OF that department of city affairs in
the following:
SEATTLE, July II, 1892
To TIE EDrToR-Dear Sir: VIII you please al
low me little of your valuable space in which
70 reply to your article in today's paper entitled
"The City Looses 5000? Thus far l have re-
trained from saying anything that would bring
discredit upon Mr.. ALI Williams, former cashier
OF the water department, whom your article
wou!d lead your readers to suppose infallible,
but consider it has now become my duty as a
public servant to give the facts regarding his
competency, etc.
Any man of ordinary intelligence who would
mention the name of Mr.. ALI Williams in con-
nection with competency and the cashiership
would blush for shame should he examine the
books left by him when he was removed from
the Office.
First, Mr.. williams has allowed credits to
whoever demanded them to the total amount of
from $500 to $1,000 per month for vacancies
without the sanction of the law and without
the knowledge of the board of public works.
The rules OF the water office, which were adopt
ed by ordinance provide that all consumers Of
water wishing remissions of water rents on &C.
count Of vacancy shall pay the city in full for
all amounts then due, and notify the water of
fee in writing of the vacancy, and have the
water shut off from the premises. Mr.. WILL
Jams ignored this rule or law entirely, and took
upon himself the responsibility of allowing
these rebates to whomsoever asked them. There
was not one notice of vacancy on file in this
Office when the present administration took
charge, and to the best of my knowledge none
have ever been filed.
Could this possibly be considered as q careful
and competent discharge of his duty?
Water consumers will bear testimony to the
fact that many of them have held receipts for
moneys paid Mr. Williams by them for which
no credits appeared upon the cashiers ledger,
and many more to the fact that they have been
allowed credits for vacancy on their receipts
which have not been credited on the ledger.
A number of these receipts are now on file in
this Office which are open to the inspection OF
anyone who may wish to investigate the truth
of what say. Many more have obtained credits
on such receipts who have refused to leave
them with US because they were afraid of hav-
ing the amounts covered demanded again.
Mr. Williams, when we came into office, pre-
sented TO us balance sheet which purported to
be a trial balance. Upon investigation we
found that the cashiers books we're not kept in
double entry form, and it would be impossible
to take trial balance from such set without
forcing balance. Mr.. Williams so-called bal
auce was nothing but q cheat with which he
could impose upon anyone who did not trouble
themselves to investigate.
The principal duty OF the cashier is to attend
to the collection OF rents and enforce payment
by all delinauents. We found 500 or more who
were in arrears for three months to twelve
months, few of which we enumerate below: