The morning call., 1893-06-09
ON THE GRIDIRON.
An Extension Commission
and It's Ways.
The Board of Audit Holds an Inyesti-
CATION Into Expenses for Ex-
tending Streets.

A view of the operations of the commits
sion for extending Nineteenth, Twentieth,
Twen tv-first, Twenty-second and Twenty
third streets from their present terminus
to COrbett road was offered last evening by
an investigation OF the Board of Audit.
An itemized report OF expenditures was
presented to the committee. and each item
received careful scrutiny. 1t gave the
principal expenses as follows:
Three Commissioners, twenty four
months, at 5000 a month each, S14,40O;
McCraith Brothers, appraising. $1,000; F.
A. Rouleau, searching records. S24S5; J.
j. Kiugwell. secretary five aud a. half
months, SS25; Edward +. Welsh. clerk
eleven months, $3.50; W. E. Dinaw, clerk
seven and o1e-third months, S1100; }.
Cunn ngham, CLERK, $1,000; Pierson q
Mitchell, attorneys. $3.50; Frank Nc
Nally, attorney. $3.50; Van der NailIen
Bros. surveying. $4,000; ID. Barry, rent,
$3.50; ID. O'Shaughnessy. clerk. $3.50:
George ID. Chadburne, attorney, $1,000.
BESIDES there were other expenses at
similar proportion for work subsequent to
conform alton Of the report to March %
last.
The total was SIS, ,9O5 90.
Charles w. WEIGH, William NJ. O'Shaugh-
messy and James II. Bartlett, comprising
the commission, gave testimony regarding
their work on the commission and about
expenses. Tbev were appon ted to office
on November 16 1890. The most impor-
| tant testimony was given by Bartlett in
answer to questions that puzzled him for
| proper answers. He was eyasiye-so
much so indeed that Mayor Ellert reminded
| MIN of the fact.
Bartlett said he did some real-estate
business while commissioner and took
! lo4f ina ~ To hi COLI
necessary we did the work." he explained.
I'VE thought it safe to have appraisers and
| clerks, as we might need them"
! ''If You are an expert" asked the
Mayor. why should you appoint ap-
| praisers?
1--WE needed advice. We wanted to do
what was right"
Bartlett replied to other questions that
the commission met five nights week for
| twenty-eiGht months. He endeavored to
explain how so many clerks were neces-
! sary and why typewriter should be en-
ploved to send out letters at the same
time. Regarding legal advice he said
I'VE needed it all the time, and it was
cheap at the price," The price" was
! $500.
As to his own services Bartlett ex-
! planned that he was on the gridiron all
of the time and had much anxiety of mind
besides"
Fl. L. de Vaull, an appraiser, testified
that he earned his claim of $500 while
working for Tevis & Fisher, the real estate
firm. as Tree lance"
You can't gauge an appraisers value. "
said he. ''bv the minute"
Not at $40 a minute" added the Mavor.
The attorneys explained every detail of
their cases and claims, and J. j. Kim ba H.,
the secretary of the commission, sw0re
tn at only three meetings a week were held
on an average. He is son of ex-Super-
visor Kimbail IF the old sold-nine board.
The clerks said they worked from to 4
daily, hut could not tell to the satsfaction II
of the Board of Audit what they were
doing.
The borad adjourned subject to the call
! OF the chair when expert testimony is
! is gathered.