Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-06-12

How about the Nels Morrls-swift.
Pack'ngtOwn water steals?
Is the administration going to do any.
thing about themg
II not, why not!
Are water thieves any better than
other thieves?
II so. why?
Ii II because they have more money?
That must be the reason, inasmuch as
no prosecution has ever been cOmmenc-
ell against Morris. Swift or any Of the
rest Of the gang who used the city
water without charge for 80 many
years.
Isn't It about time that these fellows
were indicted?
Ia the Civic Federation afraid Of them
that II don't net In the premises?
The way the city IL being robbed ut
present in the water meter line Is
shameful.
1t II being robbed every day by all
classes Of ''leading citizens" sugar re-
timers ~ well M blood and lard reiiners,
ana society reainers.
Alexander Harper. the expert inves-
tlgator. Inns broken silence ut last In r.
gard 10 his report on the conditions In
the city water Office. He IL cautious.
however. and In regard to the most
bnrefaced fraud speaks of meters that
are "Our OF order"
From other sources 1t II learned that
meters have been broken purpOsely IN
order to prepare the way for tlae sys.
TEN of estimat ing the amount Of water
used. II II also animated that by sys-
tom If juggling figures the first esti-
mates were largely reduced. 1t IL OK.
planned. for eXnraple. that the dropping
Of one figure easily transferred u rec.
ord Of II 900 gallons to 1000 gallons.
MIR. Harper II not prepared to say
how extensive these frauds have been.
becnuse he has not completes his In
vestigatiOn. His guarded admissions
give lntlmntiOns OF ether manipulatlons
Of wnter meters. He will cover this
phase In Ills Investigations In. report
to Commissioner McGnnn In few
days.
Mr.. McGann Is going to reform his
Office. He IL aroused by the disclosures
TINT have been made. and lanEe con-
sumers Of water wnO have been system.
atically rObbing Chicago ARE to In
brought to an accounting. Mr.. Mcianu
has unearthed Indications Of con.
Spirsicy between them and city Gzticlals
He. too. has discovered that nO.uy me.
tiers are tout Of ORDER" AMI that con
sumers are paying water taxes uuder q
system Of absurrlly low estimates
He hns also discovered TINT other con.
sunlefs put IN claims for "errors" and
are granted unjust rebates they are
not entitled to-. Mctiann luteads to col
lect these unjust rebates apal counts Oh
Nh enormous saving for Chicago by put
ting u stop to the frauds.
Expert Harper bns beeu busy fol
sOme time making an investigation Of
the affairs Of the water office. Will,
official etiquette bars him from max
ing public disclosures. he has admittet
enough to indicate ap extensive plot I,
rob the city.
"The city nOminally has $500 waite
meters to check large consumers" h
said. hut many have been out Of or
der for some time. 1t seems to hav'
been practice tn such cases to maxi
an estimate Of the amount Of water be
Ing used, instead Of repairing the me
tiers. That estimate was continued III
definitely, and. Of course, the consume
may have used much more water thu
the estimate. In such cases, Of course
the consumer made NO objection. i
other instances. however. consumer
complained that the estimates wer
too high, ami that brought the cond
ton Of the meter sharply to the atteI
ton Of the department"
Commissioner McGann expects to n
cover u large revenue by collecting Gel
tain rebates, ana he IL cOnsiderin
plans to stop that leakage In the II
ture.
~ should call It very liberal manage
ment on the part Of the water office
said the commissioner, In speaking
the responsibility for the rebates, bl
there was Il smile and tone which II
dicated that his convictions WEI
stronger than his language.
"There has been a system OF ALLOW
. Ing rebates on the claim OF consumer
that there was an error In their asses
ment. The investigation has Statistic
me that many Of these rebates al
either unwarranted or are In excess
what IL justly due. Chicago has bee
deprived OF considerable revenue b
this practice. When ] shall have 8
cured evidence of unjust rebates sha
proceed to collect the sums prOperl
due the city. II the delinquents refu'
, to pay promptly Ithink the city ca
bring them to time by shutting o
their water.
"The administration Is also cOnsl
ering plans for new system OF lev
ing the water tax. Many consumer
doubtless are escaping payment for Il
, full amount of water they use. The
| too, there Is an enormous waste.
haven't the figures to show what TIN
! waste IL, but there Is some reason Il
+ thinking that ut times the waste