The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-04
is IT A SHORTAGE?
Books Of the Water Department
Show Queer Entries.
WILSON TO HAVE A HEARING.
Two Experts Employed ON the water
Rent Books Find Apparent Dis
crepancies-A Chinaman's Bill.
WILSON TO HAVE A HEARING.

There 10 q shortage in the books Of the wafer
department amounting to probably between
500 and $1,000 It may be only apparent, but
as soon as the experts now engaged on the
books have completed their task, which will be
on Friday, the board OF public works will invite
the late superintendent of the water depart
ment ". E. Wilson, to explain the discrep-
ancies.
When Mr.. Wilson was removed he demanded
that the books be examined by experts. and the
chairman. Mr.. Van Brocklin. promptly acceded
to his request. The board selected Douglas
Young and John Grunkraux who began
thorough comparison Of not only
the ledger and cash books, but receipt
stubs and every other document in the
ONCE. While looking over the papers they dis
covered a memorandum, whose contents cannot
now be sscertaned, and John Grunkranz asked
Wilson, who was visiting the ONCE, for an ex.
PLANTATION OF it While Mr.. Wilson was looking
at 1t. Mr.. Grunkrapz was called to the tele-
phone. several people came in, and by some
means the memorandum disappeared and cannot
since be found. Mr. Grunkranz had, however,
taken the precaution to make a copy and this ID
now in the hands of the board.
Ali the officials refuse to speak on the sub
tect, and 1t is not an easy matter to give the de-
tails, especially 40 there il a long list of the
discrepancies One or two instances have, how
ever, been obtained. One is that it was found
in the old ledger there was q credit OF
$7l.25 to ChiDaman, leaving a balance due the
city OF 1925. There was, however, no entry in
the cash book of the $7l.25 and no stub in the
receipt book. The Chinaman was sent for and
the receipts demanded. He produced receipts
for the two years up to the time of the credit of
xl.25 but for that amount he had none He
declared that Mr.. Wilson owed him 81. 25, and
the Chinaman OWED the city $74 So Wilson told
him 1t would be all right and promised to send
the receipt, but never did so. Mr.. Wilson may
cd hut fap pfpv haa
been found, and there is no warrant for any per-
son keeping q salary account for himself The
new ledger shows balance due the city Of
only $225.
Another case is q "rebate' of $lO2 allowed
Junius Rochester for over-sssessmeat The
charge In this case is not that Wilson received
the money, but that he exceeded his authority
In allowing such rebate without the Knowl-
edge and sanction OF the board. There are
many instances. varying in their character, of
entries calling for explanation.
A few weeks ago it 10 said that Mr.. Wilson
visited the board of works and warned them
that the experts were q long time over their
work, ana as they were receiving $40 day there
was a sufficient inducement for them to prolong
their labO.s While the old books are being ex.
amined new balances are being struck, 90 as to
complete the work. One expert works during
the day and the other at night. as some OF the
books are needed for the use of the public dur
ing the day.
1t is expected that even If the discrepancies
cannot be satisfactorily explained and there
should be a shortage the city will not lose any
money, as the bondsmen have not yet been re.
leased.
Superintendent Calligan has engaged p. p
Madden as bookkeeper, and a new system of
checking will be introduced. Mr.. Madden is an
old resident OF Seattle, and has held several
responsible positions bookkeeper. Joseph
Gavin has BEEN superseded a. foreman by Mr..
Corning, who has for some time been acting a.
bookkeeper.
1t 10 unfortunate, in view OF the develop
ments, that Mr.. Z. J. Chilberg, who was book
keeper during most of Wilson's term, should be
absent from the city. He is understood to have
renewed his old connections with the grain and
-four business and is now in South or Central
America. When T. w. Gordon, now county
clerk, left to undertake his canvass last fail his
books were examined and found correct He
had nothing whatever to do with the cash,
which was kept by Alfred Williams. who was
with the Spring Hill Water Company for some
years. His integrity. AZ also that of Mr.. Gordon,
has never been questioned, and when MI. WILL
Jams left the city's employ he was appointed by
Mr. Jacob Furth, who as q managing director in
the company. had long known Williams, to a re-
sponsible position in the Puget Sound National
hank